Our Commitment to Ethical and Sustainable Supplier Practices

At Zay Bags, we take immense pride in working closely with our weaving families in Myanmar, who are at the heart of our business. We are committed to ensuring that every step of our supply chain reflects our values of fairness, sustainability, and community impact.

To uphold these values, we have developed a Supplier Code of Conduct, which outlines the social, environmental, and ethical standards we expect all our weavers to meet. This includes ensuring safe and healthy working conditions, protecting labour and human rights, and adopting environmentally responsible practices.

Our Supplier Code of Conduct also highlights our dedication to capacity building, as we work collaboratively with our weavers to improve productivity, quality, and sustainability practices while respecting their traditional skills and cultural heritage.

We believe in transparency and accountability, which is why we make this information publicly available. 

By sharing this, we aim to empower our customers to make informed choices and join us in supporting a supply chain that prioritises people and the planet.

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You can read our full Supplier Code of Conduct here:

Supplier Code of Conduct (Weavers)

 

1.    Introduction

Zay is committed to high standards of social and environmental responsibility and ethical conduct. Zay’s weavers are at the heart of our business, and form an important part of our commitment to supply ethically produced bags.          

This Code outlines Zay’s expectations in terms of ensuring fair, safe and healthy working conditions, protecting labour and human rights, and ensuring environmental protection throughout our weaving supply chain.  Weaving families are expected to provide safe working conditions and practices, to treat all weavers in the family with dignity and respect, and approach business with a sustainable and responsible outlook.  Zay works closely with its weavers to educate them on an ongoing basis on how to meet these expectations.

All weavers are required to commit to Zay’s Supplier Code of Conduct. This Code accompanies Zay’s Ethical Sourcing Policy, which covers our requirements for New Zealand-based suppliers and Myanmar-based weaving suppliers.

Zay requires its weavers to operate in accordance with these ethical principles and in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

2.    Training & Development (Capacity Building)

Zay pledges to help our weavers improve labour, health and safety, and environmental conditions in the workplace, and to help our weavers understand how to move from basic to leadership sustainability practices.

We recognise this effort requires listening to our weavers and their needs, and requires a collaborative approach using capacity building tools such as root-cause analysis, training, and systems/process development to drive meaningful change. 

Zay is very respectful of the traditional weaving skills of its weavers and the Myanmar culture.  We always endeavour to show the utmost of respect to our weavers and their skills whilst working with them to improve productivity, quality, social and environmental practices.  This includes, for example, highlighting several positive areas they are doing well for every one area where improvements are required.

Zay undertakes regular site visits with our weaving families as conditions permit (details outlined in section 7 – Monitoring & Evaluation – Site Visits). 

The practices and conduct required of our weavers is outlined below.

3.    Environmental Responsibility

Zay is committed to protecting the environment, as environmental responsibility is one of our core values. Zay’s suppliers are therefore expected to take action in the following areas:

a)    Be compliant with all relevant national and local laws and regulations relating to environmental performance & waste management.

b)    Demonstrate to Zay that they are committed to reducing waste and re-using recycled materials wherever possible (including upcycling pallet).  Upcycling is a significant part of Zay’s ethos.

c)    Use environmentally responsible practices wherever they can to make products or perform services for Zay.

d)    Demonstrates a commitment to utilising local raw materials (pallet tape) wherever possible.

 

3.1       Specific Weavers Environmental Requirements

a)    Tape Wastage

                                              i.        Weavers are encouraged to minimise tape waste as much as possible - note that most weavers purchase tape themselves so they have an economic incentive to minimise wastage.

b)    Recycled Tape

                                              i.        Zay encourages weavers to use recycled tape where this is possible.  See Quality requirements below regarding use of recycled tape.

c)    Packaging

                                              i.        Zay aims to reduce environmental waste and does not require individual bags to be packed separately.  Each bag model fits inside other bags, which helps protect the bags and negates the need for bags to be individually wrapped:

▪          Sols - bags of same size fit inside each other, e.g. small Sols, medium Sols, large Sols.

▪          Juno sets - set of 4 (XS, S, M, L) fit inside each other

▪          Willow sets - set of 4 (XS, S, M, L) fit inside each other

                                             ii.        The canvas sacks used for shipping are recycled at Raglan’s Xtreme Zero Waste centre. 

 

4.    Community and Social Responsibility

 

Zay encourages weavers to conduct their business in a way that helps foster social good and encourages community development. Zay has a solid history of supporting local community initiatives in Myanmar, and regularly donates funds to initiatives such as community ambulances, health visits & child welfare.  We seek long-term partnerships with weavers who share these same philanthropic values.

To this end, Zay donates funds to the local community of each weaving family in order to help and encourage them to get involved in their community.  Families are expected to:

                      i.        Demonstrate community involvement and/or positive social impact.

                     ii.        Ensure the weaver’s community involvement aligns with our core business strategy & capabilities.

                    iii.        Manage impacts on the local communities in which weavers operate.

                   iv.        Take an active approach to community involvement. This may include:

▪          Family volunteering

▪          In-kind donations

▪          Partnering/collaborative programmes

▪          Financial contributions (Myanmar is an incredibly generous culture who highly value donating to those in need as part of their everyday life)

5.    Ethical Conduct

Zay provides fair, equal and ethical working conditions for its employees and is committed to providing a workplace that is free from discrimination, harassment and ensures no form of abuse is tolerated.  Zay’s weavers are able to work from their homes, but are still expected to uphold high standards of ethical conduct in all their endeavours.

It is expected that all of Zay’s weavers provide a workplace where:

                      i.        Employment within the family weaving unit is freely chosen.

                     ii.        Freedom of association is respected, as per the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) principles.

                    iii.        Working conditions are safe and hygienic.

                   iv.        Child labour shall not be used & Myanmar’s Child Rights Law is to be abided (no child under 14 years is legally permitted to work).

                     v.        Living wages are paid.

                   vi.        Working hours are not excessive.

                  vii.        No discrimination is practised.

                 viii.        Regular employment is provided.

                   ix.        No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed.

Zay assesses its weavers’ compliance with this Supplier Code of Conduct, and any violations of this Code may jeopardise the weaver’s business relationship with Zay.

 

6.    Quality Assurance

Each weaving family specialises in a specific bag model and own their own specific weaving frames for that model.  Therefore, each weaving family has developed highly skilled weaving techniques & have a higher productivity rate per piece due to years of experience & proficiency.

6.1       Product Specifications

Size and specifications of Zay bags are outlined below:

 

 

6.2       Improving Weavers’ Capacity & Skills

Zay has high quality standards and works closely with weavers to ensure they meet the required skill level to produce quality bags fit for the New Zealand retail market.  Zay also works closely with its weavers to ensure they meet our shipping standards and methods.  The quality control criteria outlined below are also used to select potential new weavers to supply bags for Zay. 

Zay’s New Zealand Director visit weavers in their homes (as conditions allow) to educate and provide feedback on bag quality and shipping expectations. The following areas are regularly discussed in person during our site visits:

6.3       Quality Control Criteria

a)    Cleanliness

                                          i.    Weavers are required to weave bags on a clean mat to ensure bags are kept as clean as possible.

b)    Recycled Tape for Upcycling

                                          i.    Zay encourages the use of recycled tape where available and of sufficient quality

                                         ii.    Weavers are to check recycled tape for strength and integrity - do not use recycled tape for Zay bags if the tape shows any fading, cracks or signs of splintering

                                        iii.    Clean and prepare all recycled tape before weaving

                                       iv.    For printed tape, weave with print facing inside.

c)    Colour

                                          i.    Zay inspects weavers’ supply of tape and advises on colour preferences and colour combinations for the New Zealand market

                                         ii.    Zay works with weavers to develop new bag sizes and styles in response to consumer demand & feedback (e.g.we developed a new Tiny Sol bag for use as an Easter basket).

                                        iii.    If any weavers have any ideas for new styles & colours, please discuss with our Operations Assistant during their regular site visits.

d)    Bag Inspection - each completed bag needs to meet the following finish requirements:

                                        i.      Cut tape to consistent widths (Sol bags)

                                       ii.      Cut loose tape ends

                                      iii.      Ensure tape meets top edges

                                     iv.      Ensure smooth surface on each bag side (limited bobbles/indentations)

                                       v.      Tape colour combinations are followed

                                     vi.      Ensure handles are robust and moveable (Sol bags)

                                    vii.      Bags sit square on flat surface

e)    Weaving Frames

                                              i.        Zay inspects each family’s weaving frames and will supply new frames if required, to ensure consistent bag size and proportions.

f)     Storage

                                              i.        Weavers are required to store bags out of the sun with pest control measures to prevent sun fade and damage.

g)    Relationships

                                              i.        Weavers are encouraged to build relationships with local mobile sellers of tape to ensure first preference on recycled tape for purchase (note: this applies to Willow bags, where weavers purchase the tape themselves).

If any weaver has any issues, they are encouraged to contact Zay’s Director, Nicola Todd, on nicola@zay.nz, or if no email, use Facebook messaging.  

 

6.4       Shipping Requirements

Zay works closely with the weaving families to manage the logistics of transporting bags from storage in weaver’s homes to the Mandalay port for shipping to New Zealand. 

a)    Shipping Deadlines

                                              i.        Zay organises one container shipment per year and arranges for transportation of the bags from the weaver’s homes to the port.  The due date is communicated to all weaving families at the start of each annual weaving cycle.

                                             ii.        As some weavers are not used to deadlines, Zay works with families to ensure deadlines can be met.

                                            iii.        Note there is no penalty if a family can not meet the agreed number of bags established at the beginning of the annual weaving season.  Families will get paid for bags they have completed.  Zay takes into consideration Myanmar holiday periods and has in person discussions with weavers around time frames that are suitable to them to ensure they are not working excessive hours to supply the agreed number of bags.

b)    Packaging for Shipping

                                              i.        Weavers are shown how to pack bags tightly to maximise bags per cubic metre and to minimise damage in transit

                                             ii.        Zay provides canvas sacks to all weavers - weavers to pack bags 20-30 bags into each sack, depending on model and size

                                            iii.        Sacks are all recycled in New Zealand upon receipt of shipment

                                           iv.        For Willows and Junos, pack 8 bags into each other to create one set - this saves space for international shipping

                                             v.        Ensure handles are carefully packed to avoid creating indentations

                                           vi.        Packaging requirements are also discussed below in Environmental Requirements

 

7.    Monitoring & Evaluation - Site Visits

 

Zay prides itself on providing ongoing support to weavers on a regular basis to help them meet the expectations detailed in this Code of Conduct. There have been disruptions in this process due to ongoing civil unrest in Myanmar.

Zay’s Director undertakes site visits with the weavers as conditions allow.  During these visits, the environmental responsibilities, community and social responsibilities, ethical conduct and quality assurance requirements outlined above are routinely assessed with each family. 

During this feedback process, it’s important that we talk to the head of the weaving family alone so that their dignity is preserved. We regularly utilise our Myanmar-born contacts to ensure we have a good understanding of cultural practices to ensure we follow a clear and positive communication protocol.  

Weavers are provided with specific feedback and support to help them meet our criteria. The weavers are also encouraged to raise any issues so Zay can work with them to deliver a prompt resolution. 

Zay’s New Zealand-based team prepares each bag for dispatch by thoroughly cleaning each bag & checking for tape integrity issues.  This feedback is regularly provided to weavers during site visits with each weaver.

 

8.    Additional Criteria for Selecting Weavers

In addition to the environmental responsibilities, community/social responsibilities, ethical conduct requirements and quality control criteria outlined above, Zay considers location when selecting weavers to supply bags for Zay.

Zay prefers to work with weavers within a 5 hour drive of Mandalay to maximise transportation and logistics.  We are open to working with weavers in different locations in future as Zay grows and as bag volumes increase (this will make the logistics of different locations economically viable).

If any weaving family has any issues, please feel free to contact Zay’s Director on nicola@zay.nz or Facebook messaging.