Corporate Governance

The Iron Patina is built on craft, care, and uncompromising integrity. We make and maintain cast iron cookware. Governance starts where the iron is poured and continues through every seasoning, shipment, and service interaction. Our framework safeguards long-term value for our customers, employees, partners, and the communities we serve. No shortcuts. No excuses.

Code of Business Conduct

Our Code of Conduct applies to all employees, contractors, foundry partners, ambassadors, and board advisors—anyone who designs, casts, seasons, tests, markets, or ships a product carrying The Iron Patina name. We act lawfully, speak truthfully, disclose conflicts, respect human rights, and protect the craft we steward. We do not buy influence. We do not hide affiliations. We disclose material connections in marketing and reviews, consistent with global advertising standards and the FTC Endorsement Guides.

Anti-Bribery & Corruption

We maintain zero tolerance for bribery and improper influence—direct or indirect. No one at The Iron Patina may offer, give, solicit, or accept anything of value to sway a decision, win business, or obtain an unfair advantage. Gifts and hospitality are modest, infrequent, lawful, transparently recorded, and never tied to business outcomes. Charitable contributions and sponsorships undergo compliance review. Interactions with public officials receive additional scrutiny and pre-approval.

Fair Competition

We compete hard—and fair. We never engage in price‑fixing, bid‑rigging, market allocation, boycotts, or the exchange of competitively sensitive information with rivals. Our claims are substantiated, our marketing is honest, and our availability statements are accurate. We do not purchase or plant reviews, and we label affiliate relationships and sponsorships clearly.

Confidentiality

We protect sensitive information with rigor, including foundry specifications, seasoning processes, supplier terms, testing data, and customer information. Access is limited to a need‑to‑know basis. We use secure systems, confidentiality agreements, and defined retention schedules. We never sell customer data. When we share information with vendors, it is governed by contract and used only for agreed purposes.

Risk Management & Compliance

  • Data Governance: We treat privacy as a core governance duty. Our Data Protection Officer conducts periodic audits against GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and applicable local laws. We minimize data collection, honor access/erasure requests, and maintain a lawful basis for processing. Submit privacy requests via https://ironpatina.com/contact-us/ or email [email protected].
  • Whistleblower Protection: We operate a confidential, non-retaliatory reporting channel for employees, suppliers, and customers. Report concerns to [email protected] or use https://ironpatina.com/contact-us/. Reports may be made anonymously where permitted by law. All allegations are documented, investigated, and resolved with board‑level oversight where appropriate.
  • Product Safety & Food-Contact Compliance: Our cookware and maintenance products undergo third‑party testing for heavy metals and contaminants. We meet or exceed applicable FDA food‑contact regulations and California Proposition 65 requirements, and we do not use PFAS. Every production lot is traceable.
  • Responsible Marketing & Claims: Performance and durability claims are supported by lab results, field testing, and documented methodology. We follow the FTC Green Guides for environmental statements and clearly distinguish opinions from measurable outcomes.
  • Incident Response & Recall Readiness: We maintain an incident response plan covering safety notices, corrective actions, and recalls. If a safety issue arises, we notify affected parties promptly and provide remedies and guidance via our support team and contact page.

Supply Chain Ethics

We partner with foundries and suppliers that share our standards. Our Supplier Code of Conduct is a condition of doing business and is monitored through onboarding due diligence, periodic attestations, and on‑site or third‑party audits where risk warrants.

  1. Fair labor practices: no forced, child, or trafficked labor; freely chosen employment; fair wages and lawful working hours; freedom of association.
  2. Safe working conditions: effective safety programs, training, PPE, hazard control, and emergency preparedness in foundries and finishing facilities.
  3. Environmental stewardship and waste reduction: responsible energy use, emissions controls, proper handling of casting sand and spent oils, and continuous improvement targets.
  4. Material integrity and traceability: documented sources for iron, scrap, and coatings; lot-level traceability from melt to finished good.
  5. Chemical responsibility: compliance with applicable laws (e.g., REACH where relevant); prohibition of PFAS and other restricted substances; use of food‑grade oils in seasoning processes.
  6. Business integrity: anti‑bribery policies, transparent subcontracting, and cooperation during audits and investigations.

Experience matters. Our leadership brings decades in metallurgy, cookware engineering, lab testing, and supply chain compliance. Expertise is earned, not claimed. We publish clear care and maintenance guidance, maintain rigorous quality gates, and invite scrutiny when we fall short. Trust is the seasoning that lasts.

Questions or concerns about this policy? Reach us at https://ironpatina.com/contact-us/.