Tomorrow’s fashion – made by today’s innovation.
Tomorrow’s fashion cannot be produced using yesterday’s ideas. That is why we aim to use better and innovative materials; safe production processes with lower environmental impacts using for example green energy at the production sites of suppliers; and circular products. For us, the highest quality and ecological and social standards go hand-in-hand.
The careful use of natural resources such as water is an essential part of our environmental commitment. In addition to reduced consumption, it is also important to keep the resource as pure as possible where it is needed by means of professional chemical management.
We are working to reduce the impact of our products on our planet. Valuable resources should be kept in the loop for as long as possible. That is why we have developed a circularity strategy. By 2030, 80% of our apparel products, measured by production volume, will be circular.
We aim to improve the environmental footprint of our company's own sites, production facilities and shops, and the entire supply chain. Our goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. On the way there, we strive to reduce emissions in the entire value chain (Scope 1-3) by at least 50% by 2030 in comparison to 2019.
Our goal is to preserve biodiversity in our oceans and waters. A major contribution to this can be made by reducing synthetic fibers: the fewer synthetic fibers, the less microplastics in the oceans. Coral Gardeners, our foundation's strategic project partner, also makes an important contribution here. This organization focuses on coral reef restoration and reviving reef ecosystems with heat-resilient corals, which are adapted to surviving rising ocean temperatures.
Preserving biodiversity and protecting the climate are particularly important to us at HUGO BOSS. For example, by using more sustainable materials and processing them in an environmentally friendly way, we want to protect valuable ecosystems and reduce the loss of biodiversity on land. Our focus here is currently on the use of materials from regenerative agriculture. By 2030, for example, we will use 100% natural materials from regenerative agriculture or closed-loop recycling.
Close collaboration with partners is a prerequisite for HUGO BOSS to meet its sustainability goals. That is why we are active in a number of initiatives and associations, such as the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Leather Working Group.
This is how we make our products even more sustainable
SUSTAINABILITY STARTS WITH THE MATERIALS
To meet the demands posed by the times we live in, fashion must not only be characterized by high-quality, but also by responsibility. This is why we also select the materials for our products in accordance with environmental compatibility and animal welfare, which means that we use for example materials from regenerative agriculture and are in close contact with animal welfare organizations. Additionally, we develop new materials through strategic partnerships with innovative companies and start-ups for tomorrow’s fashion trends, such as the cellulose yarn of the Swiss innovation company HeiQ. Collaborations like this are crucial to reach our target of 0% polyester and polyamide in our fabrics and linings by 2030.
We also work closely with recognized international initiatives in order to reach our sustainability goals. These include the Leather Working Group (LWG) or NGOs such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and 4 Paws.
As we use materials of animal origin, such as wool and leather, in many of our products, animal welfare is very important for us. The following examples show some of our measures: For years now, we have only used specific types of leather that are by-products of the food industry. We ensure that the down we use is not obtained through live plucking and force-feeding.
Whether it’s wool or cotton,the source of fashion is intrinsically connected with nature. Our choice of materials determines the impact we have on the planet and our goal is to reduce this impact. Regenerative agriculture is a particularly promising method to achieve this goal since it can help to protect soil and biodiversity. We have scrutinized our supply chain in this regard and are working with partners investing in this area such as SEKEM, ZQRX or Raddis®Cotton. Together with our partners, we aim to ensure biodiversity and soil health by sourcing 100% natural materials from regenerative agriculture or closed-loop recycling by 2030.
Our materials in detail
WE CARE: MORE SUSTAINABLE STYLES
We're making a difference one piece at a time, using future-friendly processes which conserve valuable resources like water and energy in order to reduce the environmental impact of our products.
Our more sustainable products (BETTER BOSS and WE ACT) which are part of our WE CARE initiative are a key element on our path to more sustainability:
They comprise at least 60% better raw materials based on recognized sustainability standards and external certifications and, additionally, meet environmental as well as social standards in processing. We are also increasing the proportion of products with dyes and treatments which have less impact on the environment. The more sustainable styles are easily recognizable via dedicated hangtags and by labelling in the online shop.
See for yourself
Discover our latest styles in the HUGO BOSS online shop now.
FOR CIRCULAR PRODUCTS IN FASHION
The sustainability of a product starts with design, but does not end with sale. How long does the clothing remain wearable? Is the quality so good that the product could continue to make wearers happy a second, third, or fourth time? How can the materials be reused and processed afterwards to create new fashion?
For us, service life and recycling are important factors in completing material cycles and conserving resources. Our goal: By 2030, 80% of our apparel products will be circular.
Our designers are considering the circular economy even while planning a new collection, and our employees also receive regular training on this subject. Furthermore, we are developing a large digital media library with information concerning materials and processes that are particularly suited to recycling, so that our team can make informed decisions during the development process.
More on the circularity strategy
OUR SUPPLIERS – THIS IS WHERE OUR PRODUCTS ARE MADE
The majority of our finished products – 83% – are manufactured by suppliers from all over the world. We know them very well, and have been working with our strategic Tier 1 suppliers in the spirit of mutual trust for 11 years on average. Together, we ensure the high quality for our products and have implemented long-term measures to improve working conditions and production processes on-site. The remaining goods (17%) come from our own HUGO BOSS factories in Germany, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland and Poland.
Whoever wishes to partner with HUGO BOSS has to go undergo a strict selection process with detailed questions regarding social, environmental and governance (ESG) aspects, ESG training and the submission of relevant questionnaires and documents. We have stipulated all our standards in the Supplier Code of Conduct, which is a binding document for our suppliers. To ensure compliance with this document, we conduct regular checks and support our suppliers with further development activities.
Our production facilities in detail
TRACEABILITY OF PRODUCTS
Transparency is of major importance to HUGO BOSS and an essential component of our sustainability commitment. We aim to demonstrate our sustainability activities to our stakeholders as simply and transparently as possible. Therefore, we provide insight into the different processing stages of our products and the raw materials used. In the stores, information can be found directly on the product: Our products have specific hangtags that provide information on more sustainable materials. In line with legal requirements, we have integrated information on the traceability of our products in our online store and on our corporate website. Additionally, we are currently rolling out our traceability solution to provide full upstream traceability and transparency on all our products in the future.
Areas of our commitment
Strategy – Responsibility with a plan
PEOPLE – responsibility for employees and for society, as a whole
