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How sustainable is Champion ?

Champion & sustainability


Champion

7 out of 21

Sustainability summary

Brand owner: Hanesbrands Inc.
Head office: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Sector: Sport & outdoor - clothing & shoes
Categories : Male, Female, Kids
Free Tags: Champion, Bags, Caps, Shirts, Pullover, Jackets

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What's your sustainability news about Champion?

Champion sustainability score report

Last edited: 6 May 2013 by Mario
Last reviewed: 6 May 2013 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 4
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Hanesbrands (brand owner of Champion) has various policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as the use of renewable energy sources and the use of transportation methods with the lowest environmental impact (See link). Source
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual absolute carbon footprint of its 'own operations' (Scope 1 & 2) and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years? Hanesbrands has published it carbon footprint for 2011 and reports about cumulative reductions of 27% per manufactured pound since 2007. However, it is neither clearly reported which Scopes are comprised by this carbon footprint, nor what the actual figures, e.g. in metric tonnes, are (See link, 'Corporate Report 2011, page 10). Source
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its absolute ‘own operations’ carbon emissions by at least 20% within the next 5 years? Hanesbrands says it has set a goal of reducing CO2 emissions intensity (CO2 emissions per manufactured unit) by 15% by 2012 from a 2007 baseline. The company plans to establish an updated goal in the coming year. This information was from 2010 (See link). 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 (Scope 3)? Hanesbrands measures the emissions made in the supply chain (see scope 3 of 2009 carbon footprint). Its CO2 reduction goal encompasses total emissions of own operations and of supply chain. However, since information about climate protection were updated for the last time in 2010, its too unclear what the current status is. Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 8
1. Does the brand (company) have a policy to substitute raw materials such as leather and synthetic rubber with environmentally friendlier materials? Hanesbrands uses EcoSmart® recycled polyester. EcoSmart® is the Hanesbrands trademark for fibers made with recycled content - both polyester (e.g. PET bottles) and cotton. Source
2. Does the brand (company) use these environmentally friendlier alternatives for raw materials such as leather and synthetic rubber for more than 25% of the total use of materials? Hanesbrands claims to use recycled yarn in its socks production and to use recycled plastic botles for its fleece garments. However, the company does not give clear percentages on the total use of materials used. Source
3. Does the brand (company) use these environmentally friendlier alternatives for raw materials such as leather and synthetic rubber for more than 50% of the total use of materials? See remark for environmental policy question 2. Source
4. Does the brand have a clear and effective policy to avoid the use of leather that originates from cattle farms in deforestated Amazone areas? Neither Hanesbrands nor Champion do not openly communicate a policy to prevent the destruction of rainforest caused by cattle farm expansion for meat and leather production. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective policy to minimize environmental pollution of chromium and other harmful substances from leather tanning processes, e.g. by waste water treatment or by vegetable tanning? Hanesbrands (brand owner of Champion) reports about an in-house restricted substances list but doesn't make this list publicly available. Also the information about environmental responsible manufacturing were updated for the last time in 2010. Therefore the scale and impact of Hanesbrands' environmental policies aren't clear and up to date enough. Source
6. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures to make the clothing and footwear? See remark for environmental policy question 5. Source
7. Does the brand (company) have a clear target to phase out PVC in their products, and has the brand already achieved a PVC phase out level of more than 90%? See remark for environmental policy question 5. Source
8. Has the brand (company) a clear and effective policy to minimize the use of solvents based chemicals in their shoe production, and has the brand already achieved a level of average max. 40 grams of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions per pair of shoes? See remark for environmental policy question 5. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

5 out of 9
1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? All standards are mentioned in Hanesbrands Global Standards for Suppliers (GSS) (see page 4). 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 and paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage? 1. Not mentioned; 2. No, supplier must comply with applicable laws and regulations regarding work hours, but maximum workweek and hours of overtime is not specified; 3. No, mentioning of minimum wage, not living wage. 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 and collective bargaining is mentioned, but nothing found about situations in which this right is restricted by law (see page 4). Source
4. Does this labour conditions policy also apply further down the production chains, at least covering the leather production or the animal farms? Neither Hanesbrands nor Champion do not make clear if the Code of Conduct and consequent labour conditions policy also applies further down the footwear production chain, such as leather tanning or cattle farms. Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? Neither Hanesbrands nor Champion do provide a significant and up to date list of direct suppliers on its website. Source
6. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labor conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labor conditions? Hanesbrands is a member of the Fair Labor Association (FLA). In addition, all Hanesbrands-owned facilities outside the USA are certified by the Worldwide Responsible Accreditation Program (WRAP). Source
7. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labor unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes? FLA is acknowledged as a ‘Multi Stakeholder Initiative’ (MSI). Source
8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Hanesbrands is an accredited FLA Company. Source
9. Has the brand’s labor conditions policy resulted in a ‘compliance level’ of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a ‘monitored level' of at least 80%? All factories producing for Hanesbrands are FLA certified, thus 'monitored'. Source