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How sustainable is Tommy Hilfiger ?

Tommy Hilfiger & sustainability


Tommy Hilfiger

2 out of 18

Sustainability summary

Based on our sustainability criteria, Tommy Hilfiger has achieved the E-label. This is our lowest possible sustainability score, and Tommy Hilfiger has earned it by communicating nothing concrete about the policies for environment, carbon emissions or labor conditions in low-wages countries. For us as consumers, it is unclear whether Tommy Hilfiger is committed to sustainability or not.

Brand owner: Phillips-Van Heusen Corp.
Head office: New York, NY, USA
Sector: Premium brands
Categories : Male, Female, Kids, Baby
Free Tags: Tommy Hilfiger, Bags, Caps, Pullover, Shirts, Suits, Jackets, Jeans, Shoes

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What's your sustainability news about Tommy Hilfiger?

Tommy Hilfiger sustainability score report

Last edited: 24 March 2013 by Mario
Last reviewed: 24 March 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? PVH (brand owner of Tommy Hilfiger) has carried out a baseline assessment for Scope 1 and 2 with the aim of establishing a carbon footprint baseline before the 2013 (see page 45). PVH is also aiming to reduce CO2 emissions from its corporate offices and distribution centers by 240,000 pounds of CO2 with the help of the solar photovoltaic rooftop system. 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? PVH (brand owner of Tommy Hilfiger) has reported emissions of 85644 tons of CO2 in 2011 (page 59), however, there is not enough information to calculate the percentage of carbon emission decrease/increase within 5 years. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. 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? PVH (brand owner of Tommy Hilfiger) does not communicate any information on target reductions for its carbon emissions on its website. 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)? Tommy Hilfiger states its business partners are required to to comply with all applicable environmental laws, rules and regulations. Furthermore, its expected they incorporate environmentally responsible practices into all of their activities that relate to their business with Tommy Hilfiger (see 'The Environment'). However, no tangible results are mentioned. 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? Tommy Hilfiger 'started to investigate the possibilities of incorporating sustainable materials' only at the end of 2011 (page 53). Tommy Hilfiger also runs the Hands On! campaign encouraging brand's associates to use sustainable raw materials (page 62), However, it is not clear if Tommy Hilfiger uses any environmentally friendly materials yet. 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? PVH (brand owner of Tommy Hilfiger) reports the commitment to "detoxify" the PVH supply chain within one generation. However, PVH does not specify this any further. Also PVH has not yet signed the Zero Discharge Commitment from Greenpeace (see page 52). 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? PVH (brand owner of Tommy Hilfiger) is developing methods to minimize the environmental impact of the wet processes, and is identifying goals for the future. However, PVH does not openly communicate a policy to to limit chromium and other harmful substances pollution caused by leather tanning processes. (see page 53). 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 PVH nor Tommy Hilfiger 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

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 labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? All standards are mentioned in Tommy Hilfiger Code of Conduct. 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, maximum working week is 48 hours and a maximum of 12 overtime, 'other than in exceptional circumstances', which can mean anything; 3. Yes, commitment to implement payment of living wages. 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. 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? Tommy Hilfiger does not provide a significant list of direct suppliers on its website. Source
5. 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? PVH (the owner of Tommy Hilfiger) is a member of the Fair Labor Association (FLA). Although, in the Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2011 PVH states that Tommy Hilfiger is in progress of attaining 'A Shared Commitment' code of conduct, including the requirements of FLA (page 26), Tommy Hilfiger is not yet binded by FLA regulations. Source
6. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labor unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes? See remark for labor conditions question 5. Source
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? In 2011 PVH (the owner of Tommy Hilfiger) has audited 84% of its factories and it provides detailed graphs and descriptions about the factory compliance statuses (page 30-34). However, it is not clear if data for Tommy Hilfiger is also inlcuded. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
8. 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%? See remark for labor conditions question 7. Source