Mettle Gifts - Ethical by outcome, ethical by operation.

Deciding to operate a national gift delivery service came secondary to launching our charity, Mettle Women Inc. We knew that women in these dangerous positions needed access to safe and stable employment but we weren’t quite sure what the best “mechanism” was to make this happen.

Whilst conducting research with women’s shelters around Australia and setting up the employment framework for Mettle Women Inc. I wanted to buy the women I’d been interviewing some meaningful gifts, nothing was quite right. There was a gap in the market for ethical gift delivery services - it seemed like the perfect fit! Mettle became a social enterprise that could employ these women as a training and support ground whilst we helped them to find permanent work with the help of various recruitment providers. We pride ourselves on offering a service that is affordable, ethical & is driven by our social purpose.


SO, WHAT DOES ETHICAL MEAN?
The word ethical gets thrown around a lot, so we want to be transparent about what the word means to us here:

ENVIRONMENT
We put in every effort to ensure that our suppliers can assist us in providing environmentally sustainable products, products that are certified organic, or products that are sourced ethically. We do everything within our means to support local suppliers and manufacturers & do this not only to support the local economy, but to reduce the carbon miles our products travel. As we want to direct the majority of our profits to employing survivors, it is sometimes more financially practical to purchase stock from interstate.

PACKAGING & PAPER
- Our stickers & tissue paper are 100% biodegradable
- Our mailer boxes are 100% recycled cardboard and we recommend re-purposing them if possible.
- Our mailer bags are 100% biodegradable compost packs
NOTE: As a very high demand product, these are often out of stock due to COVID19 demand. On these instances, we may need to resort to non-degradable post packs.
- We keep all large boxes and padding from deliveries to re-purpose for our large orders.
- Undue and unnecessary use of materials shall be avoided, and recycled materials should be used wherever appropriate.

FAIR TRADE PRODUCT - TOTE BAGS

FAIR TRADE ORGANIC CERTIFICATION.
Fair trade is about decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms-of-trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices, Fair trade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. This certification enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives and we are proud to offer Fair Trade Cotton provided by The Bag People.

OVERSEAS PURCHASES:
In the event that our local suppliers procure or procure any of their materials from overseas, we will validate that the entire supply chain adheres to ethical standards that align with our own activities, such as:

  • CERTIFIED SUPPLIERS
    Suppliers who prove that they are operating under relevant laws, regulations treaties, covenants or other agreements, such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards.  We only work with suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to implementing policies and practices consistent with and complementary to, our own.  

  • FREELY CHOSEN EMPLOYMENT & INVOLUNTARY LABOUR
    Suppliers will not use forced, bonded or involuntary labour.  Workers must not be required to lodge ‘deposits’ or their identity papers with employers; they must be free to leave once their shift ends, or after giving their employer reasonable notice. Suppliers shall not use involuntary labour.  ‘Involuntary Labour’ is defined as work or services extracted from any person under threat or penalty of its non-performance, and for which the worker does not offer himself or herself voluntarily.  It includes all manner of prison, bonded, indentured and forced labour.  Workers must be free to leave once their shift ends and free to leave their employment after reasonable notice.

  • CHILD LABOUR
    Suppliers shall not use child labour.  ‘Child’ is defined as a person who is younger than the local legal age for completing compulsory education.  Suppliers shall verify the age of their workers and maintain copies of their workers’ proof of age.  Suppliers shall follow all applicable laws, regulations and the ILO standards regarding working hours and conditions for all employees.

  • IMMIGRATION LAW
    Suppliers shall only employ workers who have a legal right to work, including workers obtained through an employment agency.  Workers’ legal rights to work must be validated by reviewing original documentation prior to commencement of work.

  • SAFE & HYGIENIC WORKING CONDITIONS
    Suppliers shall provide a safe and hygienic working environment.  They shall also provide continuous monitoring to ensure compliance with applicable legislation, regulations and the ILO standards.  Suppliers shall ensure that personal protective safety equipment is available and that workers are adequately trained in its use.  Safeguards on machinery must meet or exceed local laws, and workers shall be provided with all appropriate protective equipment.

  • WORKING HOURS
    All working hours will comply with national laws and benchmark industry standards, whichever affords greater protection.  Overtime work should not be voluntary, and overtime should not be requested on a regular basis.  Suppliers shall guarantee breaks and days off in compliance with applicable law.

  • WAGES & BENEFITS
    Suppliers shall provide wages and benefits that comply with all local laws and regulations or match prevailing local manufacturing or industry rates, whichever is higher.  Overtime pay shall be calculated at the legally required rate, regardless of whether workers are compensated hourly or by piece rate.

  • REGULAR EMPLOYMENT
    To every extent possible, suppliers must ensure that all work is performed according to a recognised employment relationship established through national law and practices.  Obligations to employees still apply even if employees :
    - work under labour-only contracts
    - work from home
    - work under apprenticeship schemes where there is no real intent to impart skills or provide regular employment
    - are required to sign and re-sign fixed-term contracts of employment

INCLUSIVITY:
Mettle Women Inc. is committed to assisting all women and children in the community experiencing domestic & family violence. We understand and value the importance of supporting the intersectional groups that are impacted by domestic & family violence and are working with leaders in this space to enhance our offering to ensure that marginalised communities and groups are not excluded by our offering.

We exist to help women and children, trans and gender diverse individuals of all ethnicities, races, sexual orientations, religions, ages and physical abilities. We will work with these groups as we expand to ensure that our offering is appropriate and sensitive to each individuals particular needs. We will engage with all stakeholders with the utmost respect, integrity and honesty.

Our operations are guided by a comprehensive set of policies and procedures to maintain the most fair and nourishing working environment for all staff and stakeholders of Mettle Women Inc.

 WE ARE NOT YET PERFECT, CAN YOU HELP US GET THERE?

We’re not yet perfect, there are a few ethical goals that we are working towards. If you are a supplier that can assist us in reaching this goals sooner, please get in touch.

- To ensure that your products remain fresh and safe, we are currently using kraft pouches that have an element of plastic in their lining. We are looking to move to aluminium tins when our small charitable budget allows.
- We are working with our suppliers to request that product be sent to us in the most environmentally sustainable way possible.

-The way in which we send your goods to you - At the moment, our main goal is to get profits from products into the pockets of survivors of domestic & family violence. For this reason, we have opted for the most financially sustainable postage option. Australia Post now offer carbon neutral delivery but we’re always exploring new ways to get the gifts to your loved ones in the way that is most gentle on the planet.