RSN Welcomes New Board Members and Celebrates International Human Rights Day
Dear friends and colleagues,
On this International Human Rights Day, we are honored to reflect on the progress of our innovative due diligence initiative YESS: Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced™. This year, we focused on strengthening the foundation needed to scale YESS in 2026 and beyond—deepening partnerships, expanding our reach, and building tools to accelerate responsible sourcing throughout the cotton supply chain.
YESS members, including adidas, Amazon, INDITEX, The Walt Disney Company, USFIA, Verité, Walmart, other global brands, and 35 mills, are blazing the trail of implementing a due diligence approach that empowers and enables mills to vigorously manage their suppliers and raw materials to address root causes and prevent forced labor harm.
“Collaborating to address systemic risks is paramount for ensuring the well-being of workers up and down the value chain,” said Kristen Albertson, Vice President, Responsible Sourcing for Walmart. “YESS will help us work together to increase transparency, build capabilities, and manage risks in the yarn supply chain, and we are proud to be part of the first cohort of brands.”
“RSN and YESS address a critical gap in the T3/T4 space by advancing human rights due diligence where no other initiative operates. Driving progress in this area requires industry-wide coordination and collaboration and YESS offers an important opportunity to align efforts, reduce duplication, and maximize impact,” said a compliance director at a global brand.
Introducing New Board Members
We are proud to welcome three new distinguished leaders to the Board of Responsible Sourcing Network:
Peter Burrows
Peter brings more than 40 years of IT and executive leadership experience, including serving as CIO of the adidas Group and co-founding the Fair Factories Clearinghouse (FFC). After FFC’s acquisition by Worldly in 2023, Peter remained through the transition before retiring for a second time in 2025. Since 2018, he has served as Board Chair of the Open Apparel Registry (now the Open Supply Hub), supporting its growth as a vital public-good resource. His experience in compliance systems and supply chain transparency will be invaluable to YESS.
Cara Chacon
With nearly three decades of leadership in corporate responsibility, Cara has shaped ethical sourcing and sustainability strategies for Patagonia, Saks Global, and STR (UL). She has conducted more than 1,000 audits across 35 countries and has been a driving force behind initiatives addressing forced labor, living wages, climate action, materials traceability, and regenerative agriculture. Cara has also served on the boards of the Fair Labor Association, Textile Exchange, Organic Cotton Accelerator, and the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation. She holds an MA in International Affairs and a BA in Government, including a year of study at Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Karen Korponai
Karen brings more than 25 years of experience in sustainability, innovation, and social impact, with deep expertise in building strategic partnerships and advancing ethical supply chains. She was a Founding Executive at House of Marley, expanded global alliances for Daughters for Earth, serves on the Board of Playing for Change Foundation and advises ReThink Packaging, a Harvard Innovation Labs venture. A collaborator with Gap Inc., Estée Lauder, Eileen Fisher, Walmart, WWF, The Anti-Slavery Collective, and others, Karen is deeply committed to advancing RSN’s mission to end forced labor and promote ethical sourcing worldwide.
Quadrupling the YESS Participating Mill List
Launched in July 2024, the YESS Participating Mill List promotes transparency and recognizes mills actively working to reduce forced labor risks around the world. What began with just eight mills at launch, has now grown to 35 participating mills—a number we aim to grow exponentially over the coming year.
E-Learning & Virtual Capacity Building
In April 2025, YESS launched our first e-learning course for spinning and fabric mills. The learning platform is designed to scale our training capacity while strengthening mills’ understanding of responsible sourcing.
72 users from 35 mills are currently enrolled.
24 responsible sourcing policies and procedures addressing sourcing risk have been submitted for review and feedback with our team, growing our capacity building reach.
The full course is nearing completion and will be done in Q1 2026, with several translations available in Q2.
This strong engagement reflects the industry’s growing commitment to due diligence and ethical supply chain management.
Assessments: Strengthening Implementation
This was the first full year of implementing the updated YESS Assessment process. With a revised procedure and new tools for mills and auditors, 2025 served as a critical building period for YESS. Primary focus areas were: having brands integrate YESS into their supplier management programs, and building capacity with spinning and fabric mills to establish internal due diligence systems aligned with the YESS Standards.
While the total number of assessments was limited, they have provided valuable insights into the practical application of the new framework, informed refinements to our training and procedures, and validated mill progress. Several new assessments are planned for early 2026 in India, Pakistan, and Vietnam.
Join Us in Creating Lasting Impact
This International Human Rights Day, we encourage you to stand with us in our mission to end modern slavery and exploitation in the production of everyday goods. With your partnership, we will continue to shine a light on the issues affecting vulnerable communities and implement solutions that drive long-term change.
Your contribution allows us to:
Expand YESS globally
Grow our E-Learning platform
Support mills through training and assessments
Advance transparent, ethical cotton supply chains
Accelerate progress toward ending forced labor worldwide
Every gift brings us closer to a future where human rights are respected at every stage of production.
EIN 27-0727686
Mailing Address:
Responsible Sourcing Network
1019 Inspiration Way
Ventura, CA 93001
For more information or to learn how to get involved, please contact us at info@sourcingnetwork.org.
With Gratitude
We extend our deepest appreciation to the people and organizations that make our work possible:
Our generous funders
YESS Brand, Mill, and NGO Members
RSN Board of Directors, Staff, Interns, Consultants, and YESS Advisory Committee Members
Sumerra and all collaborating audit firms and auditors
Our diligent accounting team at Sutro Li
Thank you for your partnership, dedication, and commitment to advancing human rights in global supply chains. We could not have achieved this year’s success without you.
Best wishes for this holiday season and the year ahead,
Patricia and the RSN Team