Social Responsibility

Sustainability @ COTSWOLD

Being a “family” owned business, we at COTSWOLD, understand the importance of providing a better living environment for our children. Being a part of one of the largest industries in the world, we recognize our responsibility towards protecting the environment, doing business ethically and giving back to the community. We value our customers and strive to provide them with quality goods and services. Cotswold Industries does not comprehend Sustainability as only environment related and hence takes genuine steps towards taking care of its employee’s safety and health.

Corporate Social Responsibility

We take our corporate social responsibilities (“CSR”) seriously. Management is committed to advancing policies and systems to ensure that aspects of CSR are implemented and monitored. These include good ethical behavior, concern for employee health and safety, care for the environment and community involvement. Although the Board takes ultimate authority for CSR, every employee is made responsible to be sustainable in their actions. We believe that a company can only be truly sustainable if sustainability is made part everybody’s job. Cotswold adheres to the fundamental commitment that creates and sustains long term value for shareholders. Driven largely by technological innovation, we strive hard to reduce dependency on the natural resources by being more efficient. Cotswold takes pride in the people we employ as their talents and skills are our main assets. The Board does not believe that the activities of the company present any significant environmental risks.

Ethics

Cotswold conducts all of its business in compliance with high ethical standards of business practice. We apply these standards to all dealings with employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders.

Employees

As a third generation family business, we value relationships and believe that a company is its employees. We provide equal opportunity to our employees and encourage their personal and professional development. We try hard to provide an environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Appropriate career paths and internal recognition programs are developed for both technical and non-technical staff. Employees are provided with numerous learning and development opportunities to fulfill their potential.

Health and safety

The CEO is the director appointed by the Board to have responsibility for the health and safety performance of the company. The CEO reports any major health and safety issues to the Audit Committee and the Board as necessary. Health benefits for employees and safety regulations for machinery are important and very detailed.

Environmental

We feel that good environmental practice and the impact of business operations are of extreme importance. We take responsibility our actions. Cotswold proudly complies with environmental legislation in all jurisdictions in which we operate. Business units are required to comply with company policy and local statutory regulations. The units are encouraged to set their own environmental targets complying with our Environmental Policy. Wherever possible our products are designed and manufactured to take into account the recycling and disposal of the product at the end of its lifecycle to minimize the effect on the environment.

Supply Chain

Although almost all of our production takes place in the US, some of our products continue to be manufactured by outside contract manufacturers. Since Cotswold recognizes the importance of being truly sustainable, we check the environmental policies of our suppliers through audits and surveys. This helps in maintaining transparency and acts as an advantage for our customers.

Community

We feel great to share that more than half of our production takes place right here in the US. Cotswold industries believes producing locally providing jobs to people and an opportunity for businesses to grow. Most of our products are ’Made in USA’ and adhere to government policies. Cotswold aims to build stronger and healthier global communities through education, charitable donations and support of non-profit agencies in the communities in which we operate. Working with established non-profit organizations maximizes the impact of our community building initiatives.

Innovation

Management at Cotswold believes that innovation is the key to success. Throughout our corporate history we have relied on our ability to provide innovative solutions to our customers. Today, in order to be more efficient and decrease the use of natural resources, Cotswold has entered in a development agreement with Crailar Technologies Inc., which produces and markets CRAiLAR®, a natural fiber made from flax and other bast fibers. With initiatives like this, Cotswold continues to find more innovative ways in protecting the environment and in providing sustainable solutions for their customers.