RETURNS & DELIVERY

CODE OF CONDUCT

Effective Date: 12 August 2026

Brand: Maria Ro
Legal entity: Maria Ro Design Ltd
Policy effective date: 10 August 2026
Policy review date: 10 August 2027
Policy owner: Company Directors

1. Purpose and Commitment

Maria Ro Design Ltd (“Maria Ro”, “we”, “our” or “us”) is a UK fashion brand focused on original design, quality craftsmanship and the production of fashion accessories, including silk scarves and shawls.

We aim to combine thoughtful design with responsible business practices. We recognise that our responsibility extends beyond the products we create to include the people, businesses and communities involved in our supply chain.

We are committed to respecting internationally recognised human rights, promoting fair working conditions, preventing modern slavery and supporting responsible sourcing.

We aim to work with manufacturers and suppliers who share these principles and to develop long-term business relationships based on trust, transparency and mutual respect.

This policy is informed by the principles of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s fundamental principles and rights at work, and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector.

2. Scope

This policy applies to Maria Ro Design Ltd’s business operations and informs our expectations of suppliers, manufacturers, contractors and other relevant business partners.

It covers, as applicable:

Manufacturing and finishing of our products in the United Kingdom.
Suppliers of silk, textiles, dyes, printing services and other materials, including those located outside the UK.
Packaging, labelling and other product components.
Relevant subcontractors and third-party production facilities.
Other business partners involved in the production or supply of our products.

We recognise that our visibility of the supply chain may vary, particularly for internationally sourced raw materials. We aim to improve our knowledge of relevant suppliers and production processes as our business develops.

3. Human Rights and Labour Standards

Maria Ro expects its business partners to respect applicable employment laws and internationally recognised labour standards.

3.1 Modern slavery and forced labour

We do not tolerate forced labour, slavery, human trafficking, debt bondage or other forms of compulsory labour in our business or supply chain.

Workers should be free to accept or leave employment in accordance with applicable law. We oppose practices involving coercion, threats, unlawful recruitment fees or the withholding of identity documents to restrict workers’ freedom.

3.2 Child labour

We do not accept illegal child labour or practices that exploit children or jeopardise their health, safety, education or development.

We expect suppliers to comply with applicable minimum-age requirements and relevant international standards. Young workers must receive the protections required by law, including restrictions on hazardous work.

3.3 Wages and working hours

We expect suppliers to comply with applicable minimum wage, employment benefit, working-time and overtime requirements.

Workers should receive agreed wages accurately and on time, with clear information about their employment terms. We oppose unlawful wage deductions and excessive working hours.

3.4 Equality and respectful treatment

We support fair treatment and equal opportunity. Discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation and degrading treatment are unacceptable.

We expect suppliers to comply with applicable anti-discrimination and employment legislation.

3.5 Freedom of association

We respect workers’ rights to freedom of association, trade union membership and collective bargaining in accordance with applicable law.

Workers should be able to raise workplace concerns without retaliation or intimidation.

3.6 Health, safety and wellbeing

We expect suppliers to provide safe and hygienic working conditions, appropriate training, suitable protective equipment where necessary, and reasonable measures to prevent workplace accidents and occupational harm.

4. Responsible Sourcing

Maria Ro aims to work with reliable manufacturers and suppliers, prioritising UK manufacturing for our products where practicable.

We value British craftsmanship, production expertise and the development of long-term relationships with manufacturing partners.

We also recognise that some materials and components may be sourced internationally. We therefore aim to improve the transparency and traceability of our supply chain over time.

Where reasonably practicable, we will seek information about:

Supplier identity and manufacturing location.
The origin of key materials and components.
Relevant subcontracting and outsourced production.
Applicable labour standards and working conditions.
Relevant product safety, quality and legal compliance requirements.

We will consider human rights risks when selecting suppliers and developing business relationships. We will not knowingly rely on forced labour, illegal child labour or other serious labour abuses in the production of our goods.

5. Supplier Code of Conduct

We communicate the following expectations to our suppliers and manufacturing partners:

Comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Respect internationally recognised human rights and fundamental labour standards.
Prohibit forced labour, human trafficking and illegal child labour.
Provide lawful wages, working hours and safe working conditions.
Prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
Maintain appropriate employment and production records.
Provide relevant information about manufacturing locations and subcontracting arrangements when reasonably requested.
Notify Maria Ro of serious labour-rights concerns connected with products supplied to us.
Cooperate reasonably with proportionate requests for information and corrective action.
Work with Maria Ro to address identified risks and improve responsible business practices.

We recognise that suppliers vary in size and resources. Our approach will be proportionate to the nature of the relationship and the risks identified, while maintaining clear expectations regarding serious human rights abuses.

6. Human Rights Due Diligence

Maria Ro will take a proportionate, risk-based approach to identifying, preventing and addressing potential adverse human rights impacts connected with its business and supply chain.

6.1 Supplier assessment

Where practicable, before entering into significant new supplier relationships, we will gather relevant information about the supplier, its location, production activities and available policies or procedures relating to labour standards.

6.2 Risk identification and prioritisation

We will consider risks associated with the country of production, the materials and processes involved, the use of subcontractors and credible information about labour conditions.

Particular attention will be given to forced labour, child labour, unsafe working conditions, unlawful wages, excessive working hours, discrimination and lack of supply-chain transparency.

6.3 Prevention and mitigation

Where concerns are identified, we will consider appropriate steps, which may include requesting further information, discussing improvements with the supplier, agreeing corrective actions or reviewing the business relationship.

We will also consider whether our own purchasing practices, including pricing and production deadlines, could contribute to adverse working conditions.

6.4 Monitoring

We will review relevant supplier information and concerns as they arise. The level of monitoring will reflect the seriousness of identified risks, the scale of the relationship and our ability to influence the supplier.

We recognise that supplier declarations and certificates can provide useful information but do not, on their own, guarantee that adverse impacts are absent.

6.5 Corrective action and remediation

Where adverse impacts are identified, we will seek to understand the circumstances and consider appropriate corrective action.

Where Maria Ro has caused or contributed to an adverse impact, we will consider appropriate steps to cease or prevent it and support remediation where relevant.

If serious abuses cannot be adequately addressed, we may suspend or end the business relationship, taking account of the circumstances and potential consequences for affected workers.

6.6 Records

We aim to retain appropriate records of supplier assessments, relevant communications, identified risks and follow-up actions, proportionate to the size and complexity of our business.

7. Environmental Responsibility

Maria Ro recognises that textile production and processing can have environmental impacts, including those associated with material use, dyeing, printing, finishing, packaging and transportation.

We aim to:

Consider product durability and quality.
Reduce avoidable material waste and unnecessary packaging.
Seek relevant information about materials and production processes.
Encourage compliance with applicable environmental and chemical-safety requirements.
Consider more responsible materials and packaging where suitable and practicable.

We will seek to improve our environmental practices as our business develops. We will make environmental and sustainability claims only where we have reasonable evidence to support them.

8. Raising Concerns

Maria Ro encourages suppliers, workers and other stakeholders to report concerns about possible breaches of this policy.

Concerns may be raised using the following contact details:

Email: info@bymariaro.com
Business: Maria Ro Design Ltd

We will consider concerns in good faith and handle them sensitively and confidentially where reasonably practicable.

We do not tolerate retaliation against individuals who raise concerns honestly or participate in an investigation.

Where appropriate, we will seek further information, assess the concern and take proportionate action.

9. Governance and Responsibilities

The directors of Maria Ro Design Ltd are responsible for overseeing this policy and its implementation.

As a small business, we will use proportionate procedures appropriate to our operations and available resources. These may include supplier questionnaires, written supplier confirmations, reviews of relevant documentation and follow-up discussions where concerns arise.

We aim to integrate responsible sourcing considerations into supplier selection, purchasing decisions and the development of our business relationships.

10. Transparency and Continuous Improvement

We recognise that responsible sourcing and human rights due diligence are ongoing processes.

We will seek to improve our understanding of our supply chain, strengthen supplier engagement and address material risks as our business develops.

We will communicate our commitments honestly and distinguish between measures already implemented and future objectives. We will not claim that every supplier has been independently audited or certified unless this can be substantiated.

11. Policy Review and Approval

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and updated where appropriate to reflect changes in our business, supply chain, applicable legal requirements or recognised guidance.

Approved by: Directors of Maria Ro Design Ltd
Approval date: 12 August 2026
Next review date: 12 August 2027