Climate Change Data

BRANDS Fashion GmbH

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020-2021, 2022-2023)

Reporting Period: 2020-2021

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 1 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 2 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:Not disclosed
Total Energy Consumption:Not disclosed
Water Consumption:Not disclosed
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed

ESG Focus Areas

  • Materials & Products
  • Team & Site
  • Supply Chains & Partners
  • Initiatives & Standards

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced product packaging made of composite materials by around 15% and aluminium by 91% by 2021 compared to 2020.
  • Increased proportion of organic cotton to 83% in 2021 (from 63% in 2020).
  • Increased proportion of Fairtrade-certified cotton items to around 50% in 2021 (from 44% in 2020).
  • Increased proportion of GOTS-certified cotton articles to 87% in 2021 (from 77% in 2020).
  • Increased proportion of GRS-certified items to 5% in 2021 (from less than 1% in 2020).
  • Achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold certificate in April 2020 for various organic cotton items.
  • Green Factory in India achieved 60% renewable energy use.
  • Reduced CO2 equivalents by 61 tonnes and crude oil equivalents by 20 tonnes in 2021 through DSD recycling scheme.

Social Achievements

  • Implemented the Fairtrade Textile Standard, becoming the first and only company worldwide to do so with a partner in India.
  • Successfully obtained certification of their first supply chain in the world in accordance with the Fairtrade Textile Standard.
  • Conducted 62 social audits in 2021, with most facilities classified as 'Acceptable'.
  • Introduced a committee-based complaints mechanism in their Indian supply chain.
  • No infringements regarding child labor or forced labor were identified during the reporting period.
  • Won the German Sustainability Award in the ‘Global Partnerships’ segment.

Governance Achievements

  • Established a Sustainability Department in 2012.
  • Created a part-time position in sustainability monitoring in 2021.
  • Hired an expert in chemicals management.
  • Enhanced sustainability communication efforts.
  • Developed TRACYCLE, a digital application for supply chain transparency and product-specific CO2 footprint calculation.
  • Developed a catalogue of measures to deal with supplier infringements.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Achieve full compliance with GRI Standard principles for the 2022-2023 report (published in 2024); further develop TRACYCLE for internal supply chain management.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Gradually increase employee wages to guarantee a living wage; convince more customers of the benefits of the Fairtrade Textile Standard; calculate and publish CO2 emissions from at least 10 further supply chains by the end of 2022.
Short-term Goals:
  • Increase organic cotton proportion to 70%; expand portfolio of products with recycled inputs; implement internal program in primary tier 2 wet processing facilities (at least 20% of the pool) by the end of 2022; add best practice examples and recommendations for sustainable packaging to guidelines in 2022; all GOTS articles to come in sustainable or recycled packaging.

Environmental Challenges

  • Low supply of organic cotton and high mark-ups in early 2021 due to false labeling, market changes, and speculation.
  • Fluctuating raw materials prices.
  • Political developments in procurement countries.
  • Significant human rights, social, environmental, and corruption risks in the textile industry.
  • Covid-19 pandemic impacting global supply chains.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Met with organic and Fairtrade-certified cotton producers to understand price increases and secure supply.
  • Initiated a project to increase organic cotton production with GIZ and customers, providing financial support to farmers.
  • Forged close partnerships in procurement countries.
  • Participated in projects to boost biodiversity and promote sustainable materials cultivation.
  • Developed a statement on the German Due Diligence Act.
  • Implemented a hybrid working model during the pandemic.
  • Provided guidelines and support to suppliers regarding health and safety measures and Covid-19 management.
  • Included a clause in General Terms and Conditions of Purchase to ensure responsible procurement practices during crises.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 62 in 2021

Responsible Procurement
  • amfori BSCI Code of Conduct; Code of Business Conduct; Ten Golden Rules for Sustainable Procurement; responsible procurement practices during crises; guidelines and support for suppliers.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Not disclosed
Transition Risks
  • Not disclosed
Opportunities
  • Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold collection; Green Factory; Fairtrade Textile Standard-certified products.

Awards & Recognition

  • German Sustainability Award; Fairtrade Award

Reporting Period: 2022-2023

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 1 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 2 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:Not disclosed
Total Energy Consumption:Not disclosed
Water Consumption:Not disclosed
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed

ESG Focus Areas

  • Materials & Products
  • Initiatives & Sustainability Standards
  • Supply Chains & Partners
  • Team & Location

Environmental Achievements

  • Installed a photovoltaic system on the roof in Buchholz, reducing CO2 emissions by 42,470 kg annually.
  • Transitioned many product packages to paper bands, reducing CO2 emissions and increasing recyclability.
  • Increased the share of organic cotton to 83% and recycled polyester to 28%.
  • Renewed Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold certification.

Social Achievements

  • Achieved Fairtrade Textile Standard certification for the world’s first supply chain.
  • Generated over €1.275 million in Fairtrade premiums over seven years.
  • Implemented the "From Field to Fanshop" initiative, improving living conditions for 450 farmers and 1,000 children and young people.
  • Conducted 74 social audits at tier 1 suppliers.

Governance Achievements

  • Awarded 'Gold' status by EcoVadis for four consecutive years.
  • Implemented a comprehensive concept for capturing product packaging data based on ERP.
  • Implemented a whistleblower protection system.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • 50% reduction in GHG emissions (absolute Scope 1 & 2) by 2030.
  • 100% reduction in GHG emissions (absolute Scope 1 & 2) and 70% reduction in absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 2045.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Ensure continuous wage increases at tier 1 and throughout the upstream supply chain.
  • Open TRACYCLE to external users in sourcing countries.
  • Measure GHG emissions at Scope 3 level.
Short-term Goals:
  • Successful implementation of the project to increase organically grown cotton.
  • Onboarding additional tier 2 factories onto BHive and exploring further tools.
  • Development of products with recycled cotton.

Environmental Challenges

  • Balancing sustainable product innovations with quality requirements.
  • Ensuring living wages throughout the supply chain.
  • Maintaining transparency and compliance with social and environmental standards across a complex global supply chain.
  • Tracing the origin of cotton and preventing the use of materials from Xinjiang.
  • Overtime in Chinese factories.
  • Lack of acceptance of technical tools for chemical management in China.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Collaborative efforts between Quality Assurance and Sustainability departments.
  • Implementation of the Fairtrade Textile Standard.
  • Regular audits, factory visits, and corrective action plans.
  • Isotope testing to verify cotton origin.
  • Discussions with production partners to address overtime issues.
  • Use of BHive for chemical management.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 74 social audits in 2023

Responsible Procurement
  • amfori BSCI Code of Conduct
  • Fairtrade Textile Standard
  • Responsible Sourcing Practices
  • Defined requirements and processes, including due diligence.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Natural disasters
Transition Risks
  • Fluctuating raw material prices
  • Changes in legislation
Opportunities
  • Strengthening leadership in sustainable workwear.
  • Development of energy-efficient products.

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI

Certifications: ISO 9001, Oeko-Tex 100, GOTS, OCS, GRS, Made in Green, Fairtrade Textile Standard, FSC, Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold, Green Button 2.0

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 8
  • SDG 9
  • SDG 12
  • SDG 17

The report details how various initiatives contribute to these goals.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Eco Pro Polo Shirt
  • Undyed Collection
  • Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold collection

Awards & Recognition

  • Fairtrade Award