Responsible Sourcing Network

What Responsible Sourcing Network does

Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN), legally Responsible Sourcing Network, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Berkeley, California (EIN 27-0727686). The company confronts human rights abuses and forced labor connected to raw materials in products, with two principal programs: (1) YESS (Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced), an OECD-aligned due diligence initiative targeting the Tier 2/3 cotton yarn spinning and fabric mill tier where materials from multiple origins converge, and (2) Mining the Disclosures, an annual evaluation of companies' conflict minerals reporting.

YESS is built on the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector and consists of proprietary YESS Standards (v1.0 for Fabric Mills, v2.0 for Spinning Mills), a library of 15+ assessment workbooks and checklists (standard review, KYS, supply chain risk, forced labor, due diligence management), a member-only YESS Portal, a public YESS Participating Mills List, and a Sumerra-hosted e-learning training platform. Third-party assessments are managed by Sumerra through approved auditors including ARCHE Advisors, ASSESS International, and TÜV Rheinland, with operations currently spanning India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.

Revenue is generated through YESS membership fees (multi-stakeholder subscription model, prices not publicly disclosed), foundation and government grants (Humanity United, Disney, Fair Labor Association, U.S. Department of Labor via Verité's STREAMS Project), and donations. The organization is led by CEO Patricia Jurewicz and supported by a small staff of approximately five, with a Board of Directors recently expanded in December 2025. Customers include six founding brand members (adidas, Walmart, INDITEX, The Walt Disney Company, Amazon, Fanatics), 35 participating mills as of September 2025, NGO/industry associations (Verité, USFIA), and academic stakeholders.

Name

Responsible Sourcing Network

Legal name

Responsible Sourcing Network, Inc.

Website

https://sourcingnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Responsible Sourcing Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs YESS, an OECD-aligned due diligence initiative to eliminate forced labor from cotton yarn and fabric mills, serving global brands, mills, and NGOs across South Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supply Chain Due Diligence Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Supply Chain Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing (SMETA, supplier ESG) (EUAHAJAE)

Keywords

• Supply chain due diligence
• Forced labor prevention
• Ethical cotton sourcing
• Conflict minerals reporting
• Human rights compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. YESS Membership Fees: Multi-stakeholder membership model where brands, mills, NGOs, industry associations, and academics pay membership fees to access YESS framework, training, assessments, and working groups. 70% of surveyed stakeholders welcomed the shift to membership model.
2. Grants and Foundation Funding: Funding support from foundations and government agencies including Humanity United, Disney, Fair Labor Association (FLA), and U.S. Department of Labor via the STREAMS Project managed by Verité.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RSN develops and operates the YESS (Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced) due diligence initiative, providing OECD-aligned standards, third-party assessments, e-learning training, and a participating mills list to help brands, mills, and other stakeholders identify and address forced labor risks at the Tier 2/T3 cotton spinning and fabric milling tier. It also produces the annual Mining the Disclosures report evaluating companies' conflict minerals reporting under Section 1502, and the Investing to End Modern Slavery investor resources.

Product overview

Responsible Sourcing Network operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of due diligence frameworks and tools rather than a unified software platform. The core offering is YESS: Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced, a multi-stakeholder initiative that provides standards, e-learning courses, and assessment tools for spinning and fabric mills to eliminate forced labor from cotton supply chains. YESS consists of standards documents, the YESS Portal (member-only resource hub), the YESS Participating Mills List (public registry), and Mill Training E-Learning courses. The organization also runs a Minerals Program with Mining the Disclosures reports and Investing to End Modern Slavery publications. These products work together to provide supply chain stakeholders with due diligence frameworks, training resources, assessment tools, and industry research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YESS (Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced): A due diligence initiative by RSN to eliminate forced labor from cotton supply chains by equipping spinning mills and fabric mills with risk-based due diligence framework, capacity building, and annual assessments aligned with OECD Due Diligence Guidance
• Mining the Disclosures
• Investing to End Modern Slavery

Products and services

• YESS: Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced A multi-stakeholder due diligence initiative that equips yarn spinning mills and cotton fabric weaving/knitting mills with a risk-based framework, capacity building tools, and annual third-party assessments to eliminate forced labor from cotton supply chains. Membership is open to brands, mills, NGOs, industry associations, academics, and service providers.
• YESS Standards for Spinning & Fabric Mills Practical OECD-aligned framework documents that assess operations and sourcing procedures of cotton yarn spinning mills and weaving/knitting fabric mills, guiding mills to identify, assess, and address forced labor risks. Includes YESS Standard for Spinning Mills v2.0 and YESS Standard for Fabric Mills v1.0.
• YESS Portal Member-only online portal providing access to webinar recordings, slide decks, quizzes, and resources for spinning and fabric mills preparing for YESS Assessments.
• YESS Participating Mills List Publicly-available registry of yarn and fabric mill suppliers participating in the YESS due diligence initiative, with status and assessment details accessible to YESS members. Provides transparency into which mills have undergone third-party YESS assessments.
• YESS Mill Training E-Learning Online learning courses hosted on Sumerra's training platform providing training for spinning and fabric mills on policy and procedure development, due diligence implementation, and YESS standards, with quizzes, progress tracking, and 5 seats per mill membership.
• Mining the Disclosures Annual evaluation of companies' activities to address conflict minerals, including their risk management, human rights impact, and reporting quality under Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
• Investing to End Modern Slavery Reports Reports and roadmap resources providing guidance and case studies on tools and documents used by companies, investors, and other stakeholders to identify and address modern slavery in manufacturing supply chains.

Quantifiable outcome

• YESS quadrupled participating mills from 8 to 35 in one year (2024-2025), demonstrating rapid adoption and industry momentum.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• adidascoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2024adidas is a founding brand member of YESS first cohort. As a member, adidas participates in implementing due diligence in their cotton supply chains through the YESS framework.
• WalmartcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2024Walmart is a founding YESS brand member. Vice President of Responsible Sourcing Kristen Albertson stated YESS will help increase transparency, build capabilities, and manage risks in the yarn supply chain.
• INDITEXcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2024INDITEX is a founding brand member of the first YESS cohort, committing to implement due diligence practices through the YESS framework.
• The Walt Disney CompanycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2024The Walt Disney Company is a YESS brand member participating in the first cohort to implement due diligence in cotton supply chains.
• Fanatics ApparelcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2024Fanatics Apparel is a founding YESS brand member in the first cohort, committed to ethical sourcing through the YESS framework.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2024Amazon is listed as a YESS member brand actively participating in implementing due diligence in the cotton supply chain.
• Nishat MillscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2024Nishat Mills is a Pakistani spinning mill that underwent inaugural YESS assessments in Pakistan in 2023. Published Cotton Sourcing Policies in English and Urdu on their website demonstrating transparency commitments.
• RaymondcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2024Raymond (Raymond Denim) is an Indian manufacturer that joined YESS as an initial mill member. Participated in assessments as part of establishing due diligence practices.
• U.S. Fashion Industry Association (USFIA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2024USFIA is a YESS member and Advisory Committee member. President Julia Hughes noted YESS fills a missing piece for accountability at every step along the cotton value chain.
• ARCHE AdvisorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 13 November 2024ARCHE Advisors is one of the approved third-party auditor firms conducting YESS assessments. Auditors are managed through the Sumerra oversight body.
• ASSESS InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 13 November 2024ASSESS International is one of the approved third-party auditor firms conducting YESS assessments. Part of the auditor network managed by Sumerra.
• TÜV RheinlandcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 13 November 2024TÜV Rheinland is one of the approved third-party auditor firms conducting YESS assessments. Auditors coordinated through the Sumerra oversight system.
• SumerracoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 16 July 2024RSN partnered with audit management company Sumerra to scale YESS globally. Sumerra manages YESS auditors and coordinates assessments worldwide. The partnership enables RSN to leverage existing infrastructure and relationships for efficient scaling. Sumerra currently manages audits for SLCP, Cascale, and Ethical Supplier Engagement Program (ESEP). Jason Roberts, CEO of Sumerra, stated commitment to training auditors and driving positive impact up the supply chain.
• VeritécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Verité collaborates with RSN on the STREAMS Project (Supply Chain Tracing and Engagement Methodologies) funded by U.S. Department of Labor. Verité conducted YESS assessments in India and supported isotope testing pilot with Oritain. Verité is also a YESS member.
• Shahi ExportscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2023Shahi Exports partnered with RSN for the first YESS assessments in India in 2023. India's largest apparel manufacturer (115,000+ employees, 50+ facilities) piloted YESS standards in 2022 and became the first Indian mill to undergo assessment. Partnership aims to build transparent and forced labor-free supply chain for cotton.
• Sree Santhosh GarmentscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2023Sree Santhosh Garments is an Indian manufacturer that underwent YESS assessments in India in 2023 as part of the STREAMS project with Verité.
• ELEVATE (LRQA Company)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2023ELEVATE conducted inaugural YESS assessments in Pakistan in 2023 as part of the Global Trace Protocol (GTP) project. ELEVATE is an LRQA company providing supply chain sustainability services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Fair Labor Association: Multi-stakeholder nonprofit that accredits brands and conducts independent assessments of working conditions in apparel supply chains. Directly comparable to RSN as a similarly sized nonprofit running a participation-based due diligence program in the same industry, and is itself a YESS supporter.
• Better Work (ILO/IFC): ILO/IFC joint program improving labor standards in global apparel and footwear supply chains through factory assessments and capacity building. Comparable to RSN as a multi-stakeholder due diligence initiative that assesses and trains apparel suppliers, with a similar public-purpose mission.
• Textile Exchange: Nonprofit operating the largest multi-stakeholder standards system for preferred fibers and materials in apparel. Comparable to RSN as a standards-body serving yarn and fabric mills, with a closely overlapping member base of brands and suppliers.
• Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP): Multi-stakeholder initiative converging social and labor data collection across apparel and footwear. Highly comparable to YESS as a convergence/assessment framework already managed by Sumerra, creating direct overlap on auditor infrastructure and brand-side buyer needs.
• Cascale (formerly Sustainable Apparel Coalition): Industry coalition of apparel and footwear brands, retailers, manufacturers, and NGOs driving sustainability measurement through the Higg Index. Also managed in part by Sumerra; comparable as a multi-stakeholder sustainability framework directly relevant to the same member set as YESS.
• Sedex: Member-driven platform for sharing ethical supply chain data, including the SMETA audit methodology. Comparable to YESS as a purpose-built platform for supplier due diligence assessments used by overlapping brand and supplier audiences.
• Verité: Nonprofit research and advocacy organization focused on labor rights in global supply chains, and a YESS partner running the STREAMS project. Strongly comparable in mission and footprint, with deep overlap in target geographies (India, Pakistan) and mill-tier assessments.

Broad incumbents

• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Sustainability consultancy advising large multinationals on supply chain human rights and ESG strategy. Comparable as a broader incumbent adjacent to YESS, with overlapping brand-side clients but a much wider scope (global, cross-industry, advisory-driven).
• ELEVATE (an LRQA company): Global supply chain sustainability services provider that conducted YESS's inaugural Pakistan assessments in 2023. Comparable as an assessment and audit incumbent in the same mill tier, though operating as a commercial firm rather than a nonprofit.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global testing, inspection, and certification body running approved YESS assessments. Comparable as an established certification incumbent offering overlapping supplier audit services, though at materially greater scale and across many industries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubesourcingnetwork.org/yess-videos-and-webinars
• Xx.com/SourcingNetwork
• Facebookfacebook.com/SourcingNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/responsible-sourcing-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Responsible Sourcing Network