The production of fabric can be highly water intensive and involves the use of chemicals. Fabric mills are second-tier suppliers with which H&M has no direct business relations. Through our Mill Development Programme, we have started auditing some selected mills. However, a voluntary approach to encourage more fabric mills to improve their environmental performance is still needed to extend good practice.
We therefore address environmental issues through programmes in Bangladesh and China. The programmes promote around 40 easy-to-implement environmental measures that are directly linked to cost savings and profitability.
As announced in our 2009 sustainability report, the programme now involves the NGOs Solidaridad and the Natural Resourcse Defense Council, as well as the Chinese Dyeing Mill Association, to further promote better practices in Chinese mills. The programme runs on-site evaluations, provides action plans and workshops and shares best practice examples. Currently 10 mills are participating in the programme.
Since May 2010 the programme has been a multistakeholder initiative involving the NGOs IFC-SEDF, TNO and Solidaridad, as well as a number of other brands. It is designed to have a sector-wide impact through the promotion of environmental improvement measures. Six vertically integrated H&M suppliers are currently participating.
Karl-Johan Persson, CEO gives his opinion on H&M's sustain-ability program. Click here
Watch videos about our sustainability work. Click here
A few case studies on some of the work we do. Click here
H&M has defined seven ambitious commitments on sustainability which we work hard every day to achieve.
1 - Provide fashion for conscious customers
2 - Choose and reward responsible partners
Find out about our sustainability performance in the latest Concious Actions Sustainability Report 2012.
Little time? Take a quick glance through the highlights from 2012.
