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How sustainable is Monsoon ?

Monsoon & sustainability


Monsoon

7 out of 20

Sustainability summary

Brand owner: Monsoon Accessorize Ltd.
Head office: London, UK
Sector: Retailers
Categories : Female, Kids, Baby
Free Tags: Monsoon, Bags, Pullover, Shirts, Jackets, Jeans, Dress, Shoes, Boots

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Monsoon sustainability score report

Last edited: 4 April 2013 by Mario
Last reviewed: 4 April 2013 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 5
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Monsoon Accesorize (brand owner of Monsoon) has taken several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as implementing a ‘Green Action Programme’ and integrating more energy efficient fittings into its stores. For 2012 the company has a target of 10% energy reduction in the UK and claims to be on track reducing air freight by 20% between 2009-2012. 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? Neither Monsoon nor Monsoon Accesorize do publish the annual carbon footprint of last years on their websites. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
3. Is the efficiency of greenhouse gas emissions below 200 kg CO2-eq per square meter shopping floor per year, or does the brand use at least 25% green electricity for the shops? Monsoon Accesorize claims to have acheived significant savings through a "Green Action Programme" and through integrating more enrgy fittings into its stores, but the company does not report the exact percentages. Source
4. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its absolute ‘own operations’ carbon emissions by at least 20% within the next 5 years? Monsoon does not communicate any information on target reductions for its carbon emissions on its website. Source
5. 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)? See remark for carbon emissions policy question 4. Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

0 out of 6
1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume? Monsoon Accessorize has organic collections and claims to undertake projects intitatives to help Indian cotton farmers convert to organic farming methods.There are also Fairtrade collections.However it is not clear what percentage of the total volume the organic and Fairtrade clothes represent. Source
2. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 10% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
3. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 25% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
4. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures to make the clothes and footwear? Monsoon Accesorize claims using vegetable dyes since 1970s. However, Monsoon Accesorize has not published any commitment to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole life cycle of products. 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? Neither Monsoon nor Monsoon Accesorize openly communicates a policy to limit chromium and other harmful substances pollution caused by leather tanning processes. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
6. 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%? Neither Monsoon nor Monsoon Accesorize report about having a plan to phase out PVC in their products. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

6 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? Monsoon Accesorize is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). For ETI Base Code, see link for question 2&3 below. In the Base Code all these standards are mentioned. 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? In ETI Base Code: 1. Yes, legally binding employment relationships (see point 8); 2. Yes, maximum workweek of 48 hours, overtime (max 12 hours) is voluntary (point 6); 3. Yes, commitment to implement payment of living wages. (point 5). 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? In ETI Base Code: This right is mentioned, with reference to parallel means for the situation of law restrictions (see point 2). Source
4. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective health and safety policy for the workers in the finishing process of jeans, at least covering the ban on sandblasting? Monsoon Accesorize has not publicly issued that sandblasting is banned from the brand's supply chains. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. 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 Monsoon nor Monsoon Accessorize provides a significant list of direct suppliers on their websites. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. 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? Monsoon Accesorize is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). 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? Monsoon Accesorize is a member of ETI, which means that Labour Unions and/or business-independent NGO’s have a formal and co-decisive voice within the initiative and are co-responsible for the integrity and credibility of the initiative. Source
8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Monsoon Accessorize publishes a yearly detailed report of its labour conditions policy with information on the implemenation of its labour conditions policy. 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%? Monsoon Accesorize claims to conduct monitoring visits and supplier audits (see page 2). However the company reports no information regarding the ‘compliance level’ or the ‘monitored level’ percentages. Source