H&M scores 8 out of 16 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

H&M Info

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8 out of 16
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Brand Owner: H&M
Head Office: Stockholm, Sweden
Sector: Fashion, Clothing & Shoes
Categories: Retailer, Underwear & Lingerie
Free Tags: H & M, Hennes & Mauritz, HM, Affordable Fashion, Flash Fashion, Divided, LOGG

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Last Updated: 20 January 2012
Last Verified: 12 December 2011

H&M Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

2 out of 4


1. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions?	H&M attempts to reduce their carbon emissions by sourcing energy from renewable sources, increasing energy efficiency in stores, optimizing lighting and so on (see page 72-99 for details regarding different activities).	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years?	H&M publishes a carbon footprint of its operations. In absolute terms, their emissions for scope I-III emissions in 2010 were 497,265 tonnes, an increase of 25% compared to 2009 (see page 71).	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of its 'own operations' by at least 20% within the next 5 years?	H&M has set a target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions relative to sales (only) by a minimum of 5% per year from 2010, compared to each previous year, until 2012 (see page 70).	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations?	H&M has conducted factory reviews to identify carbon emissions reduction potentials and has implemented pilot programs in supplying factories in China and India to improve energy efficiency (page 76).	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 4


1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume?	H&M's Ecolabel-certified garments are 3-100% organic (page 137). Environmentally-friendly materials are used in all divisions (page 87). H&M is also a member of the Better Cotton Initiative with a target to source only sustainable cotton by 2020 (page 84). But it is unclear what percentage of the total volume the environmentally-friendly garments represent.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 10% of its volume?	See remark for environmetal policy question 1.	SOURCE
3. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 25% of its volume?	See remark for environmetal policy question 1.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have an environmental policy related to the ‘wet processes’ within the production cycle, like bleaching and dying of fabrics?	Baby collections have EU Ecolabel (page 20). For the other garments, there is a publicly available restricted chemical substance list (page 24), and H&M also has rules for wastewater treatment in the production of these garments (page 96) and monitors water efficiency of suppliers (page 95).	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

5 out of 8


1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	H&M is a member of the Fair Labor Organisation (FLA), but has its own Code of Conduct, in which all of these standards are mentioned (see pages 2-3).	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage?	1. Yes, formally registered employment relationship; 2. Maximum working week of 48 hours, voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum; 3. "Living wage" is not mentioned (see pages 3-4).	SOURCE
3. Does this Code of Conduct include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining?	Freedom of association is mentioned, but nothing found about situations in which this right is restricted by law (see page 3).	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume?	H&M's production takes place at 1,700 factories owned by 700 suppliers, mainly in Asia and Europe (page 27). However, no significant list of direct suppliers has been published.	SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labour conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labour conditions?	H&M is a member of FLA and a number of other sustainability initiatives (see page 10).	SOURCE
6. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labour unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes?	FLA is acknowledged as a Multi-Stakeholder Initiative.	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	H&M conducted 1,938 audits of active factories in 2010. The results are published annually (see page 110-132 for 2010 reports).	SOURCE
8. Has the brand's labour conditions policy resulted in a 'compliance level' of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a 'monitored level' of at least 80%?	According to the Fair Labor Association, H&M is in compliance with the FLA code, but only for the production in China and Turkey. It is not clear what percentage of the total this represents.	SOURCE