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RM Williams

OVERALL

Owned
AUS
Rating
Criticism, some praise

Clothing and footwear

Acquired for $190 million in 2020 by private equity group Tattarang, owned by Australian mining tycoon Andrew Forest. The company was owned by LVMH from 2013 to 2020.

Company Ownership

R.M. Williams Holdings Ltd   AUS     website   email   facebook   
  Tattarang Pty Ltd   
   owns 100% of R.M. Williams Holdings Ltd  
AUS     website   email      

Holding company

Holding company for the Forrest family's private business interests. Their investment portfolio spans across agri-food, energy, resources, property, hospitality, sport and entertainment. Formerly known as Minderoo Group.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
R.M. Williams Holdings Ltd
Social No COVID Fashion Commitments
In 2020 Baptist World Aid Australia released The COVID Fashion Report, a special edition of their Ethical Fashion Report. The report is framed around six COVID Fashion Commitments that ask companies to demonstrate the steps and measures they are taking to protect and support the most vulnerable workers in their supply chains. This company showed no evidence of actions that it covered any of the COVID Fashion Commitments.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2020)
Social Fined over worker injury
In 2016 this company was fined $90,000 over serious burns to a worker after admitting to its second breach of workplace safety laws in eight years.
Source: news article (2016)
Social Previous ethical clothing australia accreditation
This company was previously accredited and licensed to display the 'Ethical Clothing Australia' Trade Mark on their Australian-made garments, which ensures Australian workers receive fair wages and decent conditions. Their accreditation ceased in Sept 2018.
Source: Ethical Clothing Australia (2018)
Social 33/100 in 2022 Ethical Fashion Report
Baptist World Aid Australia's '2022 Ethical Fashion Report' assessed 120 companies on their efforts to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policy & governance, tracing & risk, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability. This company received a score of 33/100.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2022)
Tattarang Pty Ltd
Business Ethics Minderoo Foundation
Minderoo Foundation is independent, forward thinking and seeks effective, scalable solutions. Based in Australia, they are one of Asia's largest philanthropies, with $2 billion committed to a range of global initiatives.
Source: company website (2020)
Business Ethics Giving Pledge signatory
In February 2013, Andrew and Nicola Forrest were the first Australasian signatories to join the Giving Pledge - a commitment by some of the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. The campaign has founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett in 2009. The pledge is a moral commitment to give, not a legal contract.
Source: Giving Pledge (2014)
Business Ethics Climate policy claims
This company has a climate policy on its website which claims to be assessing emissions from investments, activities and operations to provide data for action.
Source: company website (2020)
Social Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Human Rights Law Centre's 2022 report, "Broken Promises: Two years of corporate reporting under Australia's Modern Slavery Act", examines statements submitted to the Government's Modern Slavery Register by 92 companies sourcing from four sectors with known risks of modern slavery: garments from China, rubber gloves from Malaysia, seafood from Thailand and fresh produce from Australia. Modern slavery statements are analysed to see if they comply with the mandatory reporting requirements, identify or disclose obvious modern slavery risks, and demonstrate effective actions to address risks. This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a rating in the 41-60% range. The average score was 44% and the highest score was 89%.
Source: Human Rights Law Centre (2022)
Animals Live export aspirations
A spokesman from this company said in 2014 that Minderoo "would also like to expand into the live export trade, but was mindful of animal welfare concerns."
Source: news article (2014)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Private company
Founded 1932
Employees 900 (2020)
Aus Manufacturing Yes

Contact Details

Address 121 Frost Road, Salisbury, SA, 5108, Australia
Phone 08 8259 1007
Freecall 1800 339 532
Email customerservice@rmwilliams.com.au
Website www.rmwilliams.com.au

Products / Brands

RM Williams
RM Williams Mens Shoes
RM Williams Work Boots
RM Williams Menswear (casual)
RM Williams Womens Fashion


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