Australian-born global manufacturer Active Apparel Group has attained B Corp certification.
The group’s formation was initiated in 1987 with the launch of Eclipse Textiles in Queensland. Since then, the group has expanded internationally. The group manufactures for select local brands including Camilla and Aje Athletica, alongside international brands.
AAG achieved a score of 84.9 points on the rigorous B Impact Assessment (BIA), exceeding the 80-point threshold required for B Corp certification. The strongest areas represented in this score were governance (17.6 pts), workers (24.9 pts) and customers (4.1 pts), which are significantly higher compared to country, sector, and size benchmarks for similar B Corp certified companies.
"We’re proud to be recognised as a B Corp, which is a natural extension of our commitment to building a more sustainable and equitable business,” Active Apparel Group CEO Henry Jones said.
“It sets us apart as a premium service provider and manufacturer in the global marketplace, assuring all stakeholders of our compliance with global best-practice standards. These standards also encourage continuous sustainable innovation, drive valuable operational efficiencies, and enhance our ability to attract and retain top talent."
According to AAG, the company already pays all workers a living wage. In 2023, an audit by third-party Bureau Veritas of AAG’s factory in China, Ningbo Longson Garments Co. Ltd (Longson), confirmed a 100 per cent pass rate.
Employees received wages exceeding the calculated living wage, 29 per cent above the local minimum wage and 140 per cent greater than the poverty line in Ningbo.
Remuneration at this level remains a rarity in the manufacturing industry in China, according to AAG.
Other key highlights of the assessment, according to AAG, include the achievement of hard-to-earn Impact Business Model (IBM) points for their practices in Toxin Reduction/Remediation.
“This recognition highlights AAG’s deep commitment to reducing harmful chemicals in their production processes through the use of 100 per cent OEKO-TEX certified inks and responsible chemical management practices,” the group reported in a media release.