DESIGN FROM FINLAND
The DESIGN FROM FINLAND label reflects the origins of Finnish design and the investment in Finnish professional design. The use of the label is supervised by the Association for Finnish Work. The label was awarded to North Outdoor on 19 April 2018.The appreciation of Finnish work, lifestyle and nature are at the heart of North Outdoor's activities. That is why it is of paramount importance for us to design and test all our products under the cover of Finnish conifers. In addition, all the knitwear in the Nature collection is made in Finland. Our head office is located in Oulu, where we have built our own knitting mill in connection with our warehouse and logistics centre. This is a very exceptional investment in the clothing industry. Our modern machinery and top textile experts ensure that Finland designs and manufactures the world's best seafood in the world.
Mulesing-free merino wool
Used by North Outdoor merino wool is MULESING-FREE. Mulesing is a surgical procedure used by Australian sheep farmers to remove a piece of loose skin from around the sheep's backside. The formation of a scar prevents parasitic flies from settling and laying eggs on the skin of the sheep. When not anaesthetised, the procedure is painful for the sheep, which is why our merino wool comes from farms where mulesing is not practised.
Oeko-Tex ® Standard 100
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is an international, uniform testing and certification system for textiles. The certificate, issued by an independent research institute, guarantees that North Outdoor products do not contain substances harmful to health in contact with the skin.
Woolmark®
WOOLMARK® is a global specialist company that guarantees the high quality of merino wool, and its logo is one of the world's best-known and most respected trademarks. North Outdoor's Pure New Wool (100% merino wool) and Wool Rich Blend (49.9%-99.9% merino wool) are Woolmark's hallmarks of merino wool content. The Merino Extra Fine label is used on merino wool sweaters and accessories from the Oulu knitting mill. Our own knitting mill products are 100% merino wool.
Amfori BSCI in a nutshell
AMFORI BSCI supports its member companies in their goal to promote ethics and social responsibility in their international sourcing and operations. The BSCI Code of Ethics provides the tools for this. The initiative's implementation framework and policies are based on well-known international agreements, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and Recommendations, and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The BSCI develops its own and its member companies' performance through audits, training, communication and advocacy.
Responsibility and Amfori BSCI
North Outdoor has been a member of amfori BSCI since 2019. Amfori BSCI (formerly known as the Business Social Compliance Initiative, BSCI) is a global initiative aimed at improving working conditions in international supply chains. For North Outdoor, we want to have an impact on our China-based merino wool- and packaging factories. Through the initiative, North Outdoor will be in a better position to guarantee responsible working conditions.
Although North Outdoor's order volumes from China are small, the amphora BSCI Code of Conduct is the best way to positively influence the local operating and working culture. The Code of Conduct is also the basis for cooperation when North Outdoor's Chinese factory manufactures products for other companies. We systematically work with the producers in our supply chain and instruct them to act in accordance with the BSCI Code of Conduct to improve working conditions.
Products in North Outdoor's Nature range are made in a Finnish factory. Our other products are made in China. We regularly visit all the factories used by North Outdoor, and we have also hired a local employee who is in constant contact with the Chinese factories. The aim of this is to increase cooperation and communication with the factories.
The Chinese factories are audited by a third party.
Prior to the audit, the factory conducts a self-assessment according to the BSCI model. The factory is then audited by a neutral body accredited by SAI (Social Accountability International) in China.
The audit can be used as the basis for a corrective action plan.
We closely monitor factory audit reports. The factories used by North Outdoor have an average grade of C (acceptable), with grades of A (very good) and B (good) in many areas. The only reason for the C grade is seasonal overtime for factory workers, which was given a D (insufficient).
Our factories have a good level of employee involvement and long working hours are also something that employees want. The factories have such a seasonal production that overtime is available. Overtime is paid at an appropriate rate. Overtime in the factories we operate is not forced labour but voluntary, paid overtime.
Although North Outdoor's order volumes from China are small, the amphora BSCI Code of Conduct is the best way to positively influence the local operating and working culture. The Code of Conduct is also the basis for cooperation when North Outdoor's Chinese factory manufactures products for other companies. We systematically work with the producers in our supply chain and instruct them to act in accordance with the BSCI Code of Conduct to improve working conditions.
Products in North Outdoor's Nature range are made in a Finnish factory. Our other products are made in China. We regularly visit all the factories used by North Outdoor, and we have also hired a local employee who is in constant contact with the Chinese factories. The aim of this is to increase cooperation and communication with the factories.
The Chinese factories are audited by a third party.
Prior to the audit, the factory conducts a self-assessment according to the BSCI model. The factory is then audited by a neutral body accredited by SAI (Social Accountability International) in China.
The audit can be used as the basis for a corrective action plan.
We closely monitor factory audit reports. The factories used by North Outdoor have an average grade of C (acceptable), with grades of A (very good) and B (good) in many areas. The only reason for the C grade is seasonal overtime for factory workers, which was given a D (insufficient).
Our factories have a good level of employee involvement and long working hours are also something that employees want. The factories have such a seasonal production that overtime is available. Overtime is paid at an appropriate rate. Overtime in the factories we operate is not forced labour but voluntary, paid overtime.
North Outdoor uses Intense Pro, All Day, Active, Sensitive and Arctic -yarns produced by the Südwolle Group. The Südwolle Group produces 100% wool yarns and wool blend yarns. The wool used by North Outdoor originates from Australia and is only purchased MULESING-FREE. The Südwolle Group emphasises nature conservation and social and sustainable development in all its activities. The company is known for its high quality, environmental friendliness and good personnel management. The company's organic products are produced in a transparent and responsible manner. Südwolle was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany. Südwolle employs 3200 people worldwide. The company has factories in Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and China. The high quality Südwolle Group yarns used by North Outdoor are Woolmark and Ökö-Tex certified.
The yarns for the merino wool sweaters and outfits in the Nature collection are produced in the Lanerossi Filati mill in Italy. The wool comes from South America and South Africa. In these countries, the mulesing method is not practiced and the wool used by North Outdoor is always purchased MULESING-FREE. Lanerossi Filati emphasises sustainability and sustainability in all its activities. The entire production value chain from wool to yarn takes place within the EU. The high quality Lanerossi Filati yarns used by North Outdoor are Woolmark and Ökö-Tex certified.
North Outdoor uses Intense Pro, All Day, Active, Sensitive and Arctic -yarns produced by the Südwolle Group. The Südwolle Group produces 100% wool yarns and wool blend yarns. The wool used by North Outdoor originates from Australia and is only purchased MULESING-FREE. The Südwolle Group emphasises nature conservation and social and sustainable development in all its activities. The company is known for its high quality, environmental friendliness and good personnel management. The company's organic products are produced in a transparent and responsible manner. Südwolle was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany. Südwolle employs 3200 people worldwide. The company has factories in Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and China. The high quality Südwolle Group yarns used by North Outdoor are Woolmark and Ökö-Tex certified.
The yarns for the merino wool sweaters and outfits in the Nature collection are produced in the Lanerossi Filati mill in Italy. The wool comes from South America and South Africa. In these countries, the mulesing method is not practiced and the wool used by North Outdoor is always purchased MULESING-FREE. Lanerossi Filati emphasises sustainability and sustainability in all its activities. The entire production value chain from wool to yarn takes place within the EU. The high quality Lanerossi Filati yarns used by North Outdoor are Woolmark and Ökö-Tex certified.