Become an Ethical EQ Business
Look at the label of your latest pair of breeches or horse blanket. Where was it made? Probably not anywhere near to you.
Most products we buy today are mass-produced. Manufacturing is more often than not outsourced to countries with cheaper labor costs. Then those products are shipped thousands of miles, across the ocean in containers, to be sold. Multiply this by millions of products and you can imagine the amount of cargo ship traffic on our waterways.
A more sustainable approach
There are companies that consciously choose to produce their goods in a more sustainable way. They design, manufacture and hire from within their own communities. They are mindful of fair-labor practices, living wages and safer workplace environments for their employees. We want to make it easier to make responsible shopping decisions by elevating brands that prioritize these ethical values. The Ethical Eq label identifies companies that meet two very important criteria:
1. Products that are locally produced for a smaller footprint.
2. Adherence to fair labor standards.
It’s up to all of us to make changes that support a healthier and safer world, and the people in it. By supporting businesses who make sustainability and fair labor their priority, we’re all helping make the world a better place.
Get Verified
Do you own or work for a company that puts ethical practices into action? Get verified for your work and share your commitment with your customers. Apply to be Ethical Eq verified.
How it works:
Equestrian businesses which meet sustainability and fair-labor standards can apply to be Ethical Eq verified. Approved vendors can display the Ethical Eq label on their website, social media accounts, in their storefronts and on their products for customers to see.
To apply:
- You must be the creator or executive of the company, or highly involved in the production of the work.
- Products must be made in your country of residence.
- If you are an employer, the company must adhere to fair-labor practices (statutory minimum wage, time-and-a-half overtime pay).
Once verified, an Ethical Eq company will receive one complimentary advertisement per year in the Heels Down Spark newsletter, which reaches nearly 12,000 equestrians worldwide every day ($350 value). In addition, the company will be listed on the Heels Down Mag website as an Ethical Eq verified business with a link to your website. Ethical Eq hang tag templates for products are available for your use.
All products within the Ethical Eq network will be promoted to equestrian retail stores.
Ethical Eq verified companies pay an annual fee of $45 to be part of the network.