Australian-born underwear brand Step One has achieved end-to-end First Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
This includes certification of both the suppliers within the company’s supply chain and Step One itself.
The FSC is an international NGO aimed at promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.
The underwear brand began its certification process with FSC in October 2022, when it achieved the Chain of Custody Certification.
Under Chain of Custody certification, Step One showed compliance with FSC’s core labour requirements, including no child or forced labour, no discrimination in employment and occupation, and freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
In August 2023, the company became the first Australian signatory of the FSC Fashion Forever Green Pact - a pledge supporting FSC certification for fabrics and yarns.
Step One said its partnership with FSC adds to its commitment to zero forestation, fair wage and work environments, plant and animal species protection and supporting local communities in production of its bamboo viscose underwear.
“Each stage within Step One’s supply chain possesses formal accreditations for their environmental and social practices,” Step One founder and CEO Greg Taylor noted in its FY23 report.
“During FY23, the final step in the full supply chain accreditation was attained when Step One itself received certification from the FSC.
“While this is a source of great pride to me personally, it also assures our customers that the Step One underwear they’ve chosen was manufactured to the highest ethical and environmental standards.
“Step One is the first Australian clothing company to be certified by the FSC.”