Responsible Sourcing & Manufacturing Standards
The products RVM Australia brings to market are designed here and manufactured by carefully selected partners around the world. Choosing the right manufacturing partner is one of the most consequential sustainability decisions we make.
How we select manufacturers
RVM has been importing products for over 25 years. In that time we have developed a rigorous approach to manufacturer selection that goes well beyond price and production capability. Our selection process evaluates:
Quality standards
Manufacturers must demonstrate consistent production quality against RVM's specifications. Products are reviewed against these standards before and during production runs.
Packaging compliance
All manufacturers must meet RVM's packaging standards — including the requirement that packaging contains no EPS and minimal single-use plastic components, consistent with bans now in effect across all Australian states and territories. This is a non-negotiable condition of supply.
Ethical business practices
RVM expects its manufacturing partners to operate ethically — fair labour practices, safe working conditions and compliance with the laws of their operating jurisdiction.
Reliability and stability
We prefer long-term manufacturing relationships over short-term cost optimisation. Stable, established partnerships produce more consistent quality and allow for continuous improvement over time.
Countries of manufacture
RVM sources products from manufacturers across multiple countries. In all cases, Australian regulatory compliance and RVM's own standards apply regardless of country of origin. Where local regulations in a country of manufacture are less stringent than Australian requirements — particularly regarding packaging materials — RVM's Australian standards take precedence.
Packaging specifications
When RVM works with a manufacturer on a new product, packaging is specified alongside the product itself — not added as an afterthought. Our packaging specifications cover:
- Material type and weight — with a preference for corrugated cardboard and paper-based materials throughout
- Recyclability of all components through standard Australian kerbside streams
- Elimination of EPS and single-use plastic packaging components in compliance with Australian state and territory legislation
- Use of recycled content where available and suitable
- Correct consumer labelling, including recycling instructions for Australian consumers
- Minimisation of overall packaging volume and void fill
These specifications are reviewed against APCO guidelines as part of our annual reporting cycle.
Quality control
RVM's quality control procedures apply at multiple points in the supply chain — from factory approval through to pre-shipment inspection. This ensures that what arrives in Australian retail stores meets the standard that was designed and specified, including the packaging.
We are selective about who we work with because we believe that supply chain integrity is part of what it means to be a responsible business. Our retail partners and their customers deserve products they can trust — and that trust starts well before the product reaches the shelf.