Environment
The health of our planet is essential to the well-being and prosperity of all living beings. From addressing climate change to promoting responsible resource consumption, protecting the environment is not just a responsibility, it is a vital part of who we are as a brand. At Hunkemöller, we recognise the significant impact of our operations on the planet and are fully committed to reducing our environmental footprinty.
Our environmental strategy is designed to integrate sustainability across every aspect of our business. It focuses on measurable progress and long-term goals, built around supporting suppliers in implementing environmental management systems, developing environmental policies to address critical challenges, using data to drive improvement, and supplier engagement. The main data-driven tool used for environmental due diligence is the Higg FEM developed by Cascale. The Higg FEM provides detailed insights into areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, water use, wastewater management, air pollution, waste disposal, and chemicals management, guiding targeted actions for improvement. We actively work with our suppliers to uphold the highest environmental standards. Where impacts are identified, we assist them in implementing remediation programmes, ensuring compliance with certifications, permits, and Hunkemöller’s sustainability goals.
Climate Action
If we have a chance to meet the climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement, we must drastically cut our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2023 we committed to Science Based Targets (SBTs). Science-based targets provide a pathway for companies to reduce GHG emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. We want to reduce our emissions both within the direct scope of our own operations and the wider indirect scope associated with transportation, manufacturing and material sourcing. We are working towards setting validated 2030 Science-Based Targets.
Sustainable chemical management
Wet processing is one of the most important parts of textile processing and concerns the finishing operations of fabrics such as bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing. These processes use huge amounts of water, dyes and chemicals as well as other materials which can – when not discharged properly – cause a lot of damage to people and the environment. We are taking steps to reduce our environmental impact along the supply chain. This is why we have developed a new Chemicals Policy this year, to encompass chemical management at product- and supply-chain-level, which aligns with ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) guidelines.
We understand that it is crucial to engage directly with stakeholders on the ground for change. Over the last two years we have been involved in the Better Mills Initiative. Find out more about the work we have been doing with one of our mills in Bangladesh in partnership with Solidaridad.
BMI
In 2022 we joined the Better Mills project of Solidaridad, an NGO operating in over 50 countries, helping to foster more sustainable supply chains. Other parties participating in the project are America Today, G-Star, and Zeeman. The aim of the Better Mills project is to identify the social and environmental risks of wet processing and will focus on mill capacity building, multi stakeholder dialogue & outreach and raising awareness. Through the project, Solidaridad will offer trainings, network meetings, as well as on-site and off-site technical support to mills. The project covers a wide range of thematic aspects including resource efficiency (energy and water), sound waste management (including effluent), chemical management and awareness of social aspects. The project will help implement measures to improve their environmental and social impact of production facilities and serve as a learning project for us and other brands. The project takes place over two years, and is planned to end with the sharing of knowledge, information and tools with our other production facilities.
In 2023, we completed phase A of the project, which identified the risks and opportunities within the facilities. In 2024, we started phase B of the project, which aims to work directly with the facility to focus on improvement areas. Our work in 2024 and 2025 will focus on microfibre pollution, water usage efficiency, and chemical management.
