Rank a Brand

How sustainable is Prima Donna ?

Prima Donna & sustainability


Prima Donna

3 out of 16

Sustainability summary

Based on our sustainability criteria, Prima Donna has achieved the D-label. This is our second lowest possible sustainability score, and Prima Donna has earned it by communicating barely concrete about the policies for environment, carbon emissions or labor conditions in low-wages countries. For us as consumers, it is unclear whether Prima Donna is committed to sustainability or not.

Brand owner: Van de Velde N.V.
Head office: Schellebelle, Belgium
Sector: Lingerie & underwear
Categories : Female
Free Tags: Prima Donna

Compare other brands

What's your sustainability news about Prima Donna?

Prima Donna sustainability score report

Last edited: 17 May 2013 by Mario
Last reviewed: 17 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? Van de Velde (brand owner of Prima Donna) has taken several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as optimising heat provision and generating electricity from PV panels. See page 71 of Annual Report 2012 in 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? Van de Velde does not communicate a carbon footprint on its website. 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? 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 (Scope 3)? Van de Velde does not communicate a policy to reduce carbon emissions in its supply chain that is beyond own operations. 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 whether it uses environmentally preferred raw materials on 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 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. Does the brand (company) have an environmental policy related to the ‘wet processes’ within the production cycle, like bleaching and dying of fabrics? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

2 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 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 and paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage? In Van de Velde's 'Ethical and Social Charcater': 1. Mentioned (page 16, point 8.5.); 2. No, maximum working week is 48 hours, but overtime may be mandatory 3. No, living wage is respected, only industry resp. legal minimum standards are obligatory. 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? This right is mentioned, with reference to parallel means for the situation of law restrictions (see link, page 12) 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 mentions two plants in Belgium, but does not publish a list of all direct suppliers on its website (see p. 71). 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? Van de Velde works with SA8000 certified factories, but it seems like only the Belgian factories have this certification. No mention is made of the factories in the other countries (see p.69 & 71). 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 policy question 5. Source
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Van de Velde states that its factories are audited twice a year by SGS to check compliance with the social standards laid down in SA8000. However, it seems that only the Belgian factories are SA8000 certified, no mention of the production facilities in the other countries (see p. 71). 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 policy question 7. Source