Partners – “Achieving joint responsibility”
Long-term partnerships with suppliers
Observance of environmental and social standards along the entire global supply chain is of crucial importance for HUGO BOSS and its stakeholders. The Company attaches key importance to the careful selection of partners, cooperations based on a spirit of mutual trust and the establishment and maintenance of long-term strategic relationships. The creation of a joint understanding and assistance in the furtherance of social and environmental skills also plays an important role.
Suppliers undertake to observe social standards
The Company is committed to observing the HUGO BOSS social standards and imposes the same obligation on its suppliers, incorporating it as a fixed part of their contractual agreements. They are based on internationally acknowledged standards such as the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and include rules governing the observance of national legislation, working-hour restrictions, human and safe working conditions, bans on child labor, forced labor and discrimination, the payment of reasonable salaries, the right to form coalitions and environmental protection. Regular audits are performed to ensure compliance. In 2017, the Company conducted social compliance training at various suppliers for the first time to heighten awareness of social and environmental issues. This is to be expanded over the next few years.
List of suppliers published on the corporate website
Moreover, HUGO BOSS requires its suppliers to sign a guarantee of compliance with the Restricted Substances List (RSL). This governs the observance of laws regarding the use of chemicals and other substances that potentially pose health hazards, thus contributing to the safety and quality of its products. Accredited laboratories regularly perform hazard testing to verify compliance with this requirement. Last year, HUGO BOSS published a detailed list of its suppliers for the first time in the interests of enhanced supply chain transparency. group.hugoboss.com
Cooperations promote observance of jointly defined standards
In connection with sustainability, HUGO BOSS attaches great importance to cooperation and therefore works actively in such organizations as the Fair Labor Association (FLA), the German Federal Government’s Alliance for Sustainably Produced Textiles (“Textilbündnis”) and the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety. The Company is working on improving sustainability along its supply chain with the aim of observing jointly defined standards. As well as this, it joined the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), the Leather Working Group (LWG) and the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) initiative in 2017. The purpose of these alliances is to encourage industry-wide exchange and to jointly promote sustainable conduct in cotton, leather and chemicals management.