Blendko Ltd - 2024 Modern Slavery Statement
Introduction
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps Blendko Ltd ("Blendko" or "the Company") has taken during its financial year ending 31 December 2024 to ensure that slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking (collectively, "Modern Slavery") is not taking place in any part of its business or in its supply chains.
1. Structure, Activities and Supply Chains of Blendko Ltd
Structure
Blendko Ltd is a UK-based fashion technology company that combines artificial intelligence with sustainable fashion practices. The Company is incorporated in England and Wales with its registered office at 85 Holgate Rd Raechester. Blendko operates as both a fashion retailer and a technology platform provider.
Activities
Blendko's core business activities include: Design and curation of fashion collections using AI-driven trend analysis and personalisation; Development of proprietary AI algorithms for sustainable fashion recommendations; Direct-to-consumer sales through our online platform and retail partnerships; Provision of AI-powered styling and wardrobe management services; Licensing of our AI technology to other fashion brands and retailers; Supply chain optimisation services using machine learning algorithms.
Supply Chains
Blendko's supply chain encompasses both fashion manufacturing and technology services. Fashion Supply Chain: Garment manufacturing primarily through suppliers in the UK, Portugal, Turkey, and India; Textile sourcing from mills in the UK, Italy, India, and Bangladesh; Sustainable materials sourcing including organic cotton, recycled polyester, and innovative eco-fabrics; Packaging and labelling materials from UK and European suppliers; Logistics and distribution services for fashion products. Technology Supply Chain: Cloud computing services from major international providers; Software development tools and platforms; Data processing and AI model training services; Hardware for offices and development teams; Professional services including legal, accounting, and technical consultancy. The fashion manufacturing element of our supply chain presents the highest risk for modern slavery, particularly in regions where labour standards may be less rigorously enforced.
2. Policies and Practices Regarding Modern Slavery
Blendko recognises the elevated risks of modern slavery within the global fashion industry and is committed to ensuring ethical practices throughout our operations and supply chains. We acknowledge our responsibility to conduct thorough due diligence, particularly given the complex, multi-tiered nature of fashion manufacturing.
Code of Conduct for Employees
All Blendko employees are required to comply with our Employee Code of Conduct, which explicitly addresses our commitment to: Respecting human rights and worker dignity; Promoting ethical business practices in fashion and technology; Ensuring fair treatment and equal opportunities for all workers; Maintaining transparency in our supply chain relationships; Supporting sustainable and responsible fashion practices. Employees receive comprehensive training on ethical fashion practices, modern slavery awareness, and our AI ethics framework as part of their induction and through regular refresher sessions.
Supplier Code of Conduct
Blendko requires all suppliers, particularly those involved in fashion manufacturing, to acknowledge and comply with our comprehensive Supplier Code of Conduct, which includes stringent provisions: PROHIBITION OF CHILD LABOUR - Suppliers must not employ workers under the age of 16 years, or under the minimum legal working age in the country of manufacture if higher than 16. Young workers between 16 and 18 years must not be engaged in hazardous work, night shifts, or overtime work. All young workers must have access to education and training opportunities. PROHIBITION OF FORCED LABOUR AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING - Suppliers must not use forced, bonded, indentured, trafficked, or involuntary labour. All work must be voluntary, and workers must be free to leave their employment with reasonable notice and without penalty. Suppliers must not withhold workers' identity documents, require deposits from workers, restrict freedom of movement, or use any other means of coercion. Workers must not be required to pay recruitment fees or related costs. FAIR WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS - Suppliers must provide wages that meet or exceed local minimum wage requirements and industry standards. Working hours must comply with local laws and not exceed 60 hours per week including overtime. Workers must receive at least one day off per seven-day period. Safe and healthy working conditions must be maintained at all times. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION - Workers have the right to form or join trade unions and engage in collective bargaining in accordance with local laws. Suppliers must not discriminate against workers who exercise these rights. The Supplier Code of Conduct is available in multiple languages on our website and is incorporated into all supplier contracts. Blendko conducts regular audits and reserves the right to terminate relationships with non-compliant suppliers.
Whistleblowing and Grievance Mechanisms
Blendko maintains multiple confidential reporting channels: Dedicated ethics hotline available 24/7 in multiple languages; Anonymous online portal accessible to workers throughout our supply chain; Local grievance mechanisms at manufacturing facilities; Direct reporting to our compliance team and senior management. We ensure protection against retaliation and investigate all reports thoroughly and promptly.
3. Modern Slavery Risks and Risk Management
Risk Assessment in Business Operations
Within our direct operations, Blendko considers modern slavery risks to be low due to: All employees being directly employed under UK employment law; Comprehensive HR policies and regular compliance monitoring; Transparent recruitment processes and proper documentation verification; Regular employee engagement and satisfaction surveys.
Risk Assessment in Supply Chains
We have identified varying levels of modern slavery risk across our supply chains. Higher Risk Areas: Garment Manufacturing - Particularly in regions with weaker labour law enforcement; Raw Material Production - Cotton farming, textile dyeing, and finishing processes; Subcontracting - Unauthorised subcontracting by primary suppliers; Migrant Workers - Use of migrant labour in manufacturing facilities; Home-Based Work - Piece-work and home-based manufacturing. Medium Risk Areas: Logistics and Transportation - International freight and local delivery services; Packaging Manufacturing - Production of labels, hangers, and packaging materials. Lower Risk Areas: Technology Services - Cloud computing, software development tools; Professional Services - Legal, accounting, and consultancy services; Office Operations - UK-based suppliers for office needs.
Risk Mitigation Measures
Blendko has implemented comprehensive measures to address identified risks: Supplier Mapping - Complete mapping of our supply chain to tier 2 and working towards tier 3 visibility; Enhanced Due Diligence - All fashion suppliers undergo extensive pre-qualification assessments; Regular Audits - Announced and unannounced social compliance audits conducted by third-party specialists; Technology Solutions - Use of AI and blockchain technology to enhance supply chain transparency and traceability; Capacity Building - Training programmes for suppliers on labour standards and best practices; Industry Collaboration - Active participation in fashion industry initiatives such as the Better Cotton Initiative and Sustainable Apparel Coalition.
4. Effectiveness and Performance Monitoring
Blendko measures the effectiveness of our modern slavery prevention efforts through comprehensive monitoring and performance indicators.
Key Performance Indicators
100% of fashion suppliers have completed social compliance assessments; 95% of tier 1 suppliers have been audited within the last 24 months; 100% completion rate for employee modern slavery awareness training; Zero tolerance policy maintained with immediate action on any confirmed cases.
Monitoring Activities in 2024
Conducted 47 social compliance audits across our fashion supply chain; Implemented blockchain traceability for 60% of our product lines; Provided training to 156 supplier personnel on labour standards; Completed supply chain mapping to tier 2 for 85% of our fashion products; Utilised AI algorithms to identify potential risk indicators in supplier data.
Technology for Transparency
Our AI systems continuously monitor supply chain data for risk indicators including: Unusual payment patterns that may indicate hidden costs or fees; Working hour anomalies that could suggest excessive overtime; Supply chain disruptions that might indicate labour issues; Social media and news monitoring for supplier-related concerns.
5. Training and Awareness
Employee Training
All Blendko employees complete: Annual modern slavery awareness training; Fashion industry-specific risk education; AI ethics training including algorithmic bias and human rights considerations; Supply chain transparency and due diligence procedures.
Supplier Development
We provide ongoing training and support to suppliers including: Workshops on labour standards and compliance requirements; Best practice sharing sessions; Access to our online learning platform; Regular compliance updates and guidance materials.
6. Future Commitments
For 2025, Blendko commits to: Achieve 100% supply chain mapping to tier 3 for all fashion products; Implement real-time monitoring technology across all tier 1 manufacturing facilities; Expand our AI-powered risk assessment capabilities; Conduct worker voice surveys across our key manufacturing partners; Collaborate with industry peers on shared audit programmes; Integrate modern slavery risk metrics into our AI recommendation algorithms.
Approval and Sign-off
This statement has been approved by the Board of Directors of Blendko Ltd. The Board recognises the particular challenges facing the fashion industry and remains committed to leading positive change through our business practices and technological innovations.
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our Company's modern slavery statement for the financial year ending 31 December 2024.
This statement will be reviewed annually and updated to reflect our ongoing commitment to preventing modern slavery. It is published on our website and will be communicated to all relevant stakeholders in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Signed:
[Director Name]
Chief Executive Officer
Blendko Ltd
Date: [Insert Date]
This statement is published on our website at blendko.com and will be communicated to all relevant stakeholders in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.