“The ocean is alive and we need to take care of it.” - Jack O'Neill
Founded on outside-the-box thinking, we search for new solutions and work on minimising our overall impact through innovations, better material choices, latest technology, and partnerships. Now opting for an O'Neill product, you can enjoy your playground longer and more thoughtfully.
We work towards visibility and full transparency in our supply chain (Tier I and Tier II) and improving working conditions across our value chain by being transparent in our communication to our business partners and by collaborating on Multi-Stakeholder Initiative projects.
OUR RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS CONDUCT
We commit to working actively with due diligence for responsible business conduct. Due diligence is a risk-based approach to respect and safeguard people, society and the environment in our own business and throughout the supply chain. We expect our suppliers and business partners to follow the same approach.
All O’Neill Europe’s suppliers have gone through risk assessment processes; both country risk assessment and factory assessment. Valid factory audits also need to be in place before the factory can be approved for further collaboration.
CODE OF CONDUCT
We work towards better practices, transparency and fair working conditions for everyone in the O’Neill Europe supply chain. Our Code of Conduct is grounded in the principles of the International Labour Organization and the UN Declaration on Human Rights.
BUSINESS TRANSPARENCY
We build lasting supplier relationships with our business partners who are willing and able to create positive developments in the supply chain. We buy our ready-made products in Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Vietnam and India. Our factory and mill list is available through on our website and published on the Open Supply Hub.
SAFE AND HEALTHY WORKING CONDITIONS
We are committed to ensuring the safety of workers in our supply chain. In 2013, O’Neill Europe signed the Bangladesh Accord, which has led to significant improvements in building safety and a fundamental change in mindset among factory owners and employer associations in Bangladesh. Currently the agreement has a more international focus and is called the International Accord.
In addition, we support the Multistakeholder Alliance for Decent Employment in Myanmar (‘MADE in Myanmar’), which is a four-year project, started at the end of 2022, which is primarily funded by the European Union and participating brands and retailers. Their objective is to strengthen responsible business practices in the textile, clothing, and footwear sector, achieving critical industry improvements and protecting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of families.
BUYING PRACTICES
We do not own or manage the factories we work with; instead, we purchase ready-made products from business partners shared with many other fashion and sports brands. Our products are largely seasonal and produced in specialised factories, resulting in an irregular buying and production cycle with peaks and troughs. This makes production planning a key aspect of responsible sourcing, helping to support a healthy work environment and good working conditions in the factories.
ANIMAL WELFARE POLICY
O’Neill business partners must comply with the preferred material list which includes our animal welfare commitment. Our commitment to ensuring animal welfare made us phase out real fur from all products in 2006. Since 2018, we don’t offer down products and we phased out all leather badges from our apparel in 2020. See our animal welfare policy.
CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT
We work by a Restricted Substances List, which our suppliers indirectly commit to when they sign our Code of Conduct, ensuring no substances of concern are applied when producing our fabrics and materials.