Ahimsa Ethical Sourcing Policy

At Aadaten, Ahimsa — non-violence in thought, word, and deed — is not an aspiration. It is the operating principle. This Ahimsa & Ethical Sourcing Policy codifies the minimum standards Aadaten expects of every Seller, manufacturer, supplier, and partner whose products are offered through the Platform.

This Policy reflects the Jain principle that the pursuit of commerce must never come at the cost of sentient life, human dignity, or ecological balance. It applies to all product categories on the Platform.

Cosmetics, personal care, and beauty products must be cruelty-free — no animal testing at any stage of production, including raw material testing. Sellers must provide cruelty-free certification (PETA, Leaping Bunny, or equivalent) upon request.

Apparel and accessories must not use leather, fur, suede, exotic animal skin, or silk (where silk is not consensually farmed). Plant-based, TENCEL, organic cotton, or recycled alternatives are preferred.

Down and feather fills in bedding or apparel are not preferred. Recycled or plant-based fill alternatives are encouraged.

No products derived from endangered or CITES-listed species.

Sellers represent and warrant that their products are manufactured without the use of child labour (persons under 14 years of age) or bonded/forced labour, in compliance with the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, and applicable ILO conventions. Aadaten reserves the right to audit or request declarations from Sellers in this regard.

Sellers are encouraged to use minimal, recyclable, or biodegradable packaging. Excessive or single-use plastic packaging is discouraged.

Aadaten's own packaging for Cloud Kitchen and Aadaten Stores is progressively transitioning to sustainable, compostable materials.

Products marketed as 'eco-friendly' or 'sustainable' must carry verifiable third-party certification or declaration.

Aadaten prefers to partner with producers who pay fair wages, operate in safe working conditions, and support local artisans and small farmers. This is not yet a mandatory condition for all Sellers, but is a scored metric in Aadaten's Seller rating system and in the curation of Aadaten-featured products.

Products marketed as 'organic' must carry USDA Organic, India Organic (APEDA/NPOP), or equivalent certification.

Products marketed as 'natural' should not contain synthetic dyes, artificial preservatives (beyond FSSAI-permitted levels), or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) without declaration.

Aadaten's 'Clean Label' designation (applied to select Pure Pantry and Wellness Labs products) requires: no artificial colours, no artificial flavours, no chemical preservatives, no MSG or synthetic glutamates.

In keeping with the Jain principle of Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), Aadaten does not endorse or participate in manufacturing urgency, fake scarcity, or predatory pricing tactics. Aadaten commits to never running promotions designed to trigger impulsive overconsumption. This principle extends to the Platform's own marketing practices.

Sellers must represent in the Seller Agreement that their products and manufacturing practices comply with this Policy. Non-compliance discovered post-listing will result in delisting and may result in account termination. Aadaten may request third-party audits of Seller facilities as a condition of listing premium products in the Aadaten Curated or Aadaten Certified collections.

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