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Garments and linens

Read our guide to sustainable procurement of garments and linens when choosing clothing suppliers to better understand the impacts of your procurement choices.

From the practices involved with growing raw materials, such as cotton, to the production factory, to shipping the final product to our stores, there are many crucial considerations to make when choosing clothing suppliers.

Four students shopping at the Dal Bookstore. One student is in front wearing a green HÂþ»­ hoodie and holding up two travel mugs.

Key considerations

Key considerations that should be made for clothing purchasing include:

  • compliance with local law
  • employment standards throughout the supply chain: no forced or child labour, occupational health and safety standard, working hours and wages which meet legally mandated and industry standard, workplace free from harassment, abuse and discrimination, and freedom of association and right to bargain collectively
  • active work to improve and environmental and social conditions in local communities
  • written environmental sustainability policy, plan and program which address energy, waste, emissions, water, and local economic and community development
  • organic practices or minimized use of pesticides in the production of raw materials
  • shortened and transparent supply chain
  • locally produced, where possible
  • durable, long lasting clothing
  • made with recycled materials 

Guide for student societies

By considering the impacts of your student society’s procurement choices and educating others, you are helping foster a culture of sustainability at HÂþ»­.

  • When making purchases, consider:
  • Can it be rented instead?
  • Proper sizing
  • Durability
  • Efficiency
  • Locality
  • Sustainability impacts of product
  • Responsibility
  • Reusability
  • Size
  • Materials used

Fair Labour Association (FLA) and Worker Rights Consortium (WRC)

HÂþ»­ is a member of the . Ongoing research and program modifications are being undertaken to guide strategies for University textiles purchases. FLA & WRC are non-profit labour rights monitoring organizations. When purchasing, ask if the factories producing the textiles comply with FLA and/or WRC Codes of Conduct.

Fair Labour Association (FLA)

  • Affiliated companies held accountable for holding up the FLA Code of Conduct
  • Verifies working conditions of affiliate factories

Worker Rights Consortium (WRC)

  • Assists universities in enforcing the WRC Code of Conduct
  • Verifies working conditions of affiliate factories

Questions to ask when purchasing

  • Are vendors and factories compliant with international labour standards that protect workers rights by prohibiting child/forced labour, protecting health and safety, and ensuring wages and hours meet legal industry standards?
  • Ask vendors for their code of conduct.
  • Are vendors and factories FLA and/or WRC compliant?
  • Do packaging options reduce waste? 
  • Are leading industry practices being followed to conserve resources and reduce carbon emissions?