Ethical sourcing & social responsibility
At Capital Prints, we believe it is the responsibility of everyone to contribute positively to our society. Doing the right thing by the people who make our products, and by the place we work, is part of how we run the business - not an extra.
We're a Canberra business, and a small player in a global supply chain. But every uniform, hoodie and drink bottle we supply was made by someone, and who we choose to buy from matters. That's why we take measures to make sure everything we supply comes from ethical suppliers who have been independently audited by the recognised bodies.
Our guiding principles
An ethical supply chain, made locally, with less waste.
An ethical supply chain
We only source from suppliers who can show their products are made in safe, fair and legal conditions. If a supplier can't, we don't stock it - however good the product.
Independently audited
The suppliers we work with are audited by the recognised industry and compliance bodies. We rely on third-party audits, not on a supplier's own word.
Made locally
Every logo we embroider or print is applied in our own 880m² facility in Fyshwick. Nothing is sent offshore to be branded and shipped back.
Less freight, less waste
We batch orders to cut freight, and send them out in recycled or reused cartons with as little plastic as the job allows.
The standards we look for
Audited against recognised standards
When we choose a supplier, we look for independent audits and certifications under recognised programs such as these. For any product we quote, we'll send the supplier's current documentation.
Working conditions
amfori BSCI
Factory audits for fair pay, safe workplaces and reasonable hours, with no forced or child labour, across the factories and farms a supplier buys from.
Learn more ↗Cotton farming
Better Cotton
Better cotton farming practices, for the people who grow it, the land it grows on and the future of the sector, from the field onwards.
Learn more ↗Product safety
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Textiles tested against a list of harmful substances, so garments are safe for the people who wear them, make them and sell them.
Learn more ↗How we source
Who we buy from
Choosing a supplier is the biggest decision we make about how a product was made, so it is the one we take most care over.
We only partner with suppliers who work to provide safe, fair, legal and humane conditions, and who are independently audited against the recognised standards. A good product from a supplier that can't show that is not one we'll stock.
Supply chains change, so we don't reproduce each supplier's documentation here, where it would go out of date. We hold it, and we'll send you the current version for anything we quote, along with its country of manufacture.
The branding itself is ours. Every logo is embroidered or printed by our own team in Fyshwick, so the last step in making your order happens down the road rather than overseas.
Lower-impact choices
Want to go further?
If it matters for your order, tell us in your brief and we'll put the options in front of you.
Sustainable promo
Bamboo, cork, cotton, jute and recycled materials, with recycled content passed on exactly as the supplier states it - never rounded up.
Learn more →Organic cotton
Organic cotton tees, tanks and hoodies are part of the range. Ask and we'll shortlist the styles for your order.
Learn more →Recyclable signage
Corflute signs are recyclable once printed, eyelets and all - part of why we use clear eyelets rather than metal.
Learn more →Garment care
The longer a garment lasts, the lighter its footprint. How to wash and look after decorated clothing so it keeps going.
Learn more →Tenders and procurement
Need it on paper?
Government departments, schools and large organisations often have to show what they buy is ethically made. Tell us what the form asks for and we'll send what applies.
- Country of manufacture
- For any product on your quote.
- Supplier documentation
- The supplier's current sourcing, factory and audit information, where they publish it - sent as the latest version, not paraphrased.
- Certifications and materials
- Which standards a product carries, its fibre content, and recycled content as the supplier states it.
- Questionnaires
- Your modern slavery or sustainability questionnaire, answered directly with the evidence behind each answer.
- Business documents
- ABN, certificates of currency and a formal written quote - see how we work.
Sourcing FAQ
What people ask us
The questions we hear most about where our products come from and how they're made.
Where are your products made?
Our apparel, promotional products and materials come from suppliers around the world, and every one of them is ethically sourced and independently audited. The branding - embroidery and printing - is done here in Fyshwick. We can tell you the country of manufacture for anything we quote.
How do you choose your suppliers?
We only work with suppliers who can show their products are made in safe, fair and legal conditions, and who are audited by the recognised industry and compliance bodies. If a supplier can't show that, we don't stock their range.
Can you tell me which factory made a garment?
Factory-level detail depends on the supplier. Some publish their full factory lists, and where they do, we'll send it. Country of manufacture we can give you for anything.
Do your suppliers publish modern slavery statements?
Under the Modern Slavery Act 2018, entities with consolidated revenue of $100 million or more must report each year, and their statements are published on the government's Modern Slavery Register. Where a supplier on your order has lodged one, we'll point you to it.
Can you meet our sustainable or ethical procurement policy?
Send us the criteria with your brief and we'll shortlist products that meet them, with the evidence for each. Where nothing in the range meets a criterion, we'll tell you before you commit rather than after.
Is recycled always the better choice?
Not always, and recycled content varies a lot between products. We pass on what the supplier states and help you weigh it up against how long the product will last - a garment worn for years often does more good than a recycled one worn twice.
Tell us the date. We'll tell you how it's possible.
Most quotes come back the same business day. Give us quantity, branding and deadline, and we can usually map out a way to get there.