Xiamen Elite, Chinese Manufacturer of 'Green Bags,' First Bag Producing Company in the World to Receive SA 8000 Certificate for Human Rights of Workers

Xiamen, China, April 04, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Xiamen Elite Nonwoven Manufacturing Co., Ltd. today announced that its production site in Xiamen, China has been certified to the Social Accountability International SA 8000 work place and human rights standard. Xiamen Elite is now the first and only bag producing SA 8000 certified factory in the world. The certification's scope covers the management and the whole production process of Xiamen Elite’s ‘green bags’ or environmental friendly PP Nonwoven bags.

SA 8000, an internationally recognized standard based on the ILO conventions, the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on Rights of the Child, focuses on child labor, forced labor, health and safety, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, compensation and the implementation of an efficient management system.

Xiamen Elite (www.elitenonwoven.com) is the first bag manufacturing company in the world and one of only 218 companies in China to be certified to SA 8000.

Over 200 full-time employees will benefit from the more human working environment and treatment, which will translate into a healthier, safer and more prosperous way of life for them and for their families.

This certification emphasizes Xiamen Elite’s on-going commitment to provide more human working conditions for all of its workers.

European owned and managed by the leading Nonwoven distribution company in Europe, Spanish ‘Diseño y Aplicaciones del No-Tejido S.L’ (www.notejido.com) and China based sourcing company ‘CEP Ltd. Group’, Xiamen Elite, whose main markets are in Europe and the US, is now able to offer to its clients a credible assurance for ethical purchasing decisions.

Xiamen Elite’s Director Ana Herrera stated that “It is a milestone in the history of our company, showing our social commitment to the people that have made Elite what it is today, the most modern Nonwoven bag factory in China. The benefits for both our employees and clients are a tremendous differentiator and will make our company even more attractive to consumers who care for social responsibility and ethical sourcing.”

The SA8000 Standard (Social Accountability 8000) was introduced in 1997 by the CEPAA (Council of Economical Priorities Accreditation Agency) and emanation of the CEP (Council of Economic Priorities), a former public research and service institute with seats in the United States and in Great Britain, founded in 1969 to provide investors and consumers with informative tools for analysing the social performance of companies.

In 2000 the CEPAA changed its name to SAI (Social Accountability International). SAI is the only Accreditation Body of the independent certification organisations.

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