Marie Jo scores 2 out of 16 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

Marie Jo Info

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2 out of 16
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Brand Owner: Van de Velde N.V.
Head Office: Schellebelle, Belgium
Sector: Fashion, Clothing & Shoes
Categories: Underwear & Lingerie
Free Tags: Women, L'aventure, Marie Jo Intense

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Last Updated: 23 September 2011
Last Verified: 23 September 2011

Marie Jo Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 4


1. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions?	Van de Velde (brand owner of Marie Jo) has taken several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as optimising heat provision and generating electricity from PV panels (see page 84 of Annual Report 2010 in link).	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?	Van de Velde does not communicate a carbon footprint on its website.	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?	Van de Velde does not publish a carbon footprint and does not mention any reduction targets.	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?	Although one of the buildings from one plant generate electricity from PV panels, no goals and no reports with tangible results are provided at Van de Velde's website.	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

0 out of 4


1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume?	Van de Velde does not communicate an environmental policy - if there is one - through its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 10% of its volume?	See Remark for Ecology Question 1.	SOURCE
3. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 25% of its volume?	See Remark for Ecology 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?	Van de Velde states that all of its textiles fulfill German Oeko-tex standards , however it does not specify which of exact Oeko-tex standard it fulfills. The minimum Oeko-tex 100 standard for textiles is not acknowledged since it, for example, does not cover the water effluent issues for the production stages.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

1 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?	All standards are mentioned in Van de Velde “Ethical and Social Character”.	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?	Van de Velde works with SA8000 certified factories and is audited twice a year by SGS. However, the document of the Van de Velde “Ethical and Social Character” referring to the following obligations 1)Minimal wages; 2)Employment age of 15; 3) obligations to the legal limits of working hours. Those standards are not sufficient.	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 not mentioned in Van de Velde's "Ethical and Social Character".	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?	Van de Velde does mention two plants in Belgium, but does not publish a list of all direct suppliers on its website.	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?	Van de Velde works with SA8000 certified factories that are audited twice a year by SGS. However it is unclear whether all the manufacturing facilities are SA 8000 certified. In 2010 91% of employees (excl. Tunisia) took place in a satisfactory survey, yet no concrete labour improvement policy was issued.	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?	Although SA8000 is an acknowledged MSI and Van de Velde works with SA8000 certified factories, no verifiable numbers or percentages of certified factories are mentioned.	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	Annual reports found from 2001/2009, including mentioning of labour conditions policy and audits. However, no measurable goals or results are mentioned (see pages 83-84).	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%?	Although Van de Velde works with SA8000 certified factories, Van de Velde does not communicate any clear results or monitored percentages.	SOURCE