Our Commitments
This page sets out why Conner Hats exists and the commitments behind it. We review it every January.
Our purpose
Conner Hats exists to prove that hats can be made with less harm and more good: by choosing materials that replace plastic and petroleum where we can, by requiring the factories that make our hats to treat workers fairly, and by sharing what we learn so other businesses can do the same.
Fairness and inclusion
We're a small family business that designs and sells hats. Our decisions affect the people who make our hats in Australia, Sri Lanka, China, Pakistan and Mexico, the few people who work with us directly, our customers, and the communities in St. Augustine, Byron Bay and American Fork, Utah, where we work and ship from.
We know the people with the least say in our decisions are often the factory workers who make our hats. That's why our Supplier Code of Conduct requires fair wages, non-discrimination and freedom of association.
We commit to running Conner Hats in a just, equitable, diverse and inclusive way in our operations, for our customers, and in our communities. That means:
- treating everyone who works with us fairly, with equal access to opportunity;
- selling hats that fit as many people as we can, including larger head sizes, and working to make our website usable for everyone;
- welcoming concerns from anyone affected by our business, without fear of retaliation (see "Raise a concern" below).
Will Conner, President and sole director, approved this commitment, is accountable for it, and reviews it every year.
Our Climate Action Plan (2027 to 2029)
Our commitment: we support the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, and we will keep cutting the emissions our business causes.
Where our emissions come from. As a company that designs and sells hats, most of our footprint is outside our own building:
- making the hats and their materials at our partner factories;
- freight that brings hats from the factories to our warehouse;
- shipping orders to customers from American Fork, Utah;
- packaging.
What we've already done. Bloom algae foam instead of petroleum-based foam in many brims and some crown tops; Repreve recycled material in our recycled hats; no single-use plastics in our packaging; FSC-certified hang tags attached with biodegradable string. Our original St. Augustine warehouse runs on 100% solar power (orders ship from American Fork, Utah).
| Target (and deadline) | First action | Resources | Responsible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measure our first full carbon footprint, including factories and freight, by Dec 31, 2027 | Collect 2026 freight, shipping and purchase data and run it through a small-business carbon calculator | Part of the yearly climate budget below | Will Conner |
| Ask each of our 5 hat factories for its energy use and renewable energy plans, by Dec 31, 2027 | Include the questions in our yearly supplier letter | Will's time | Will Conner |
| Ship at least 90% of inbound freight by sea rather than air, every year from 2028 | Place orders earlier so less air freight is needed | Earlier ordering | Will Conner |
| Add Bloom algae foam, Repreve, Yulex or organic cotton to at least 4 more hat styles by Dec 31, 2029 | Ask factories for options on new styles each season | Sample budget, part of the yearly climate budget | Will Conner |
| Keep our packaging free of single-use plastic, every year | Check every new packaging item before ordering | None extra | Will Conner |
Resources: up to 20 hours of Will Conner's time and $500 a year for samples, data and tools.
How we track it: a yearly review every January, with progress published on this page. We update this plan at least every 3 years.
Approved by Will Conner, sole director.
Raise a concern
If our business has affected you in a way you think is wrong, we want to hear from you. That includes customers, the people who make our hats, suppliers, neighbours, and anyone else affected by what we do.
What you can raise: the treatment of workers at Conner Hats or at a factory that makes our hats; environmental harm; discrimination or unfair treatment; misleading claims about our products; or a breach of our Supplier Code of Conduct. (For an order, sizing or return question, our customer service team can help at the same email or 904-688-9705.)
How to raise it: email customerservice@connerhats.com with "Concern" in the subject line. Tell us what happened, when, and who was involved. You can stay anonymous, but then we may not be able to update you.
What happens next
- We confirm we've received it within 5 business days.
- We decide whether it falls under this procedure. If it doesn't, we tell you why and where to take it.
- We look into it, which may include talking to the people or supplier involved.
- We tell you what we found and what we'll do within 30 days. If it needs longer, we tell you why and give you a new date.
- If you're not satisfied, you can ask for a review. If your concern is about Will Conner himself, it is reviewed by an independent adviser outside the business.
No retaliation. We will not punish anyone, or allow anyone to be punished, for raising a concern in good faith. Retaliation by a supplier is a breach of our Supplier Code of Conduct.
Records. We keep a private record of every concern and every update we send.
Lobbying and political activity
Conner Hats does not lobby governments or regulators, does not make political donations, and does not pay anyone to lobby on our behalf. If this ever changes, we will first adopt and publish a responsible lobbying policy, approved by our director, that is consistent with our purpose and open to concerns through our "Raise a concern" procedure.
Approved by Will Conner, sole director.