Social Compliance in the Supply Chain

The fragmentation of supply chains, the disruption of the production fabric due to brand-driven delocalization, and the various crises affecting small, primarily artisanal enterprises have created significant challenges for supply chains. To address the growing need to safeguard its reputational capital and that of the brands it serves, Pattern has implemented a comprehensive system of periodic monitoring. This system, conducted by SA8000:2014-certified auditors, evaluates all suppliers involved in production phases to ensure compliance with standards and legal requirements. 

The resulting assessments provide an overview of the risk level within the supply chain and are followed by a continuous improvement plan, requiring companies to commit to meeting the required standards.

The risk classification policy is based on compliance with the sector’s National Collective Labor Agreement (CCNL), labor regulations, Legislative Decree 81/2008, and the eight social responsibility criteria outlined in the SA8000 standard. Suppliers are assigned a rating in one of four categories:

• EXCELLENT: The company excels in managing its employees, meets all requirements of Legislative Decree 81/2008, and has no identified non-conformities. 
• MINOR: The company demonstrates good maturity in employee and safety management but exhibits minor deficiencies. 
• MAJOR: The company shows significant deficiencies in worker and safety management, with notable non-conformities detected.
• CRITICAL: The company fails to fully respect employee rights and/or poses risks to their physical safety.

Failure to meet any of the requirements outlined in the Social Responsibility section automatically results in a "Critical" rating. Pattern has decided not to work with companies classified as Critical and closely monitors high-risk subcontractors to guide them toward achieving the desired level of social compliance.