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  • Animal Welfare Policy

Animal Welfare Policy

As at March 2021

I. INTRODUCTION

At Celtic Sheepskin & Co. Limited (“Celtic & Co.”), we want to bring transparency to our supply chain. We want consumers to know about the materials and craftsmanship used to create our unique styles. This policy is a statement of our commitment to Ethical Sourcing and Animal Welfare. It guides Celtic & Co., as well as our suppliers and manufacturers (collectively, “business partners”), to act responsibly when sourcing materials on behalf of Celtic & Co.

II. SCOPE

This policy applies to Celtic & Co. and all suppliers who source materials on behalf of Celtic & Co.

III. PERMITTED/PROHIBITED ANIMAL HIDES

A. Permitted Animal Hides

Celtic & Co. ONLY accepts Animal Hides that are a by-product of the meat industry and are not raised exclusively for their pelts. This includes, but is not limited to:

Sheep (leather + hair-on hides)

  • Cow (leather)
  • Goat
  • Reindeer
  • Pig

B. Prohibited Animal Hides

Animal Hides must NOT be any of the following species:

  • Water Buffalo
  • Any species of domesticated or feral dog or cat
  • Raccoon Dog
  • Angora or rabbit hair
  • Astrakhan/Karakul
  • Seal, Polar bear, leopard, ocelot, tiger, cheetah, jaguar, sable antelope, wolf (Canis lupus), zebra, whale, cobra, python, sea turtle, colobus monkey, kangaroo, vicuna, sea otter, free-roaming feral horse, dolphin or porpoise (Delphinidae), Spanish lynx, or elephant
  • Crocodile, alligator or caiman
  • Endangered species, based on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (see www.cites.org for a list of species) or the IUCN red list as
  • Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable (www.redlist.org).

C. All Animal Hides used in Celtic & Co. products must originate from a Celtic & Co. approved tannery. For clarity, no Animal Hides shall be sourced outside of Celtic & Co. approved tanneries. This is a requirement for approved suppliers, factory-sourced suppliers, licensees, and agents.

IV. SOUND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND MULESING

A. Sound Animal Husbandry

Suppliers must source animal hides from processors which use sound animal husbandry, humane animal treatment, and slaughtering practices. Celtic & Co. does not accept hides from animals that have been slaughtered exclusively for their pelts or skinned alive. We define sound husbandry as the internationally recognized Five Freedoms*:

a. Freedom from hunger or thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

b. Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

c. Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

d. Freedom to express (most) normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities, and company of the animal's own kind.

e. Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

B. Mulesing: Celtic & Co. does not support the practice of mulesing. Sheepskin and Wool suppliers must certify that they do not supply any materials or products to Celtic & Co. from sheep which have been mulesed. Further, Celtic & Co. will accept Merino wool from Australia only from certified non-mulesed or ceased-mulesed wool sources.

V. RESPONSIBLE ALPACA

The Responsible Alpaca Standardis being developed to ensure that this fibre comes from animals that have been treated responsibly and that land and biodiversity has been managed appropriately. Although the standard has not been finalized, we support the standard and are committed to sourcing our alpaca fibre from the Responsible Alpaca Standard once available – by the Autumn 2023 season. In the interim, we are committed to tracing our alpaca back to the source and the source must certify their compliance with this Animal Welfare Policy.

VI. RESPONSIBLE COTTON

Celtic & Co. is always striving to source cotton responsibly and understands the importance of sourcing cotton produced in a way that is better for the people who produce it and the environment in which it grows. Rather than committing to one particular membership, we make sure that the cotton is either organic, BCI (Better Cotton Initiative), Fair Trade, recycled or similar. We do not support forced labour or human-rights abuses and will not source, or accept, such cotton.

Approved suppliers, factory-sourced suppliers, licensees, and agents must

  • not source from textile mills in Xinjiang, 
  • manufacturer in the Xinjiang region of China and
  • only use cotton sourced via a responsible cotton scheme including the following:
    • Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) Cotton
    • Organic Cotton
    • Recycled Cotton
    • Fair Trade

VII. RESPONSIBLE LEATHER

All tanneries supplying finished leather (sheep hides) to Celtic & Co. are required to provide a Leather Working Group audit report demonstrating for the country of origin a 100% traceability to the processing facility, including the date of processing.

VIII. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CELTIC & CO.S BUSINESS PARTNERS

A. Annual Certification: On an annual basis, Celtic & Co.s business partners must certify their compliance with all applicable policies (including this Animal Welfare Policy).

B. Source Origin and Traceability: Suppliers must be able to trace raw hides back to its country of origin and provide source origin documentation upon request. Celtic & Co. does not accept sheepskin sourced from countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Celtic & Co. does not support the practice of transporting live animals overseas.

C. Labelling: All Animal Hides must adhere to product labelling requirements including, but not limited to, the Fur Products Labelling Act and the Wool Products Labelling Act.

D. Legislation: Suppliers must comply with all applicable global legislation which applies to animal hides.

E. Trade Regulation: Suppliers must comply with country specific import/trade regulations which apply to animal hides. Where applicable, products made with animal hides will be accompanied by the appropriate export certificate.

IX. CELTIC & CO.S ETHICAL SOURCING AND ANIMAL WELFARE GOVERNANCE

Celtic & Co.s Product Development department is responsible for ensuring our business partners and our employees are fully compliant with this Policy.

X. INDUSTRY COLLABORATION

A. Leather Working Group

Celtic & Co.s supplier tanneries are members of the Leather Working Group (“LWG”), an industry organization that developed and maintains a rating system and certification for environmental performance in tanneries. Approximately 100% of all leather used in Celtic & Co. products is sourced from a LWG certified tannery.