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How sustainable is Hugo Boss ?

Hugo Boss & sustainability


Hugo Boss
First milestones, should be better Click here for score rapport: 7 out of 31

Sustainability summary

Hugo Boss has achieved the D-label. Hugo Boss has started to take sustainability into account. Still, a lot more can be done.

Brand owner: Hugo Boss AG
Head office: Metzingen, Germany
Sector: Premium brands
Categories : Male, Female
Free Tags: Bags, Caps, Shirts, Suits, Jackets, Jeans, Dress, Shoes, Boots

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What's your sustainability news about Hugo Boss?

Hugo Boss sustainability score report

Last edited: 27 April 2017 by Mario
Last reviewed: 27 April 2017 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 6
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Hugo Boss implements several measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as a car sharing program, an energy management system, and heat recovery in its raw material warehouse (see link, page 37). 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? Hugo Boss publishes its climate footprint (Scope 1-3). The 2015 footprint of own operations (53,560 tons CO2), represents a reduction of around 5,9% compared to 2014 (56,864 tons CO2 (see link, page 34). Source
3. Is at least 50% of the electricity used by the brand (company) generated from renewable resources, such as wind or solar energy? Hugo Boss states that all electricity came from renewable energies in its outlet stores in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland . But, it is unclear what percentage of its overall electricity consumption this figure represents. Also sources of supply and additionality are not specified (see link, page 33 & 87). Source
4. Is all the electricity used by the brand (company) generated from renewable resources, such as wind or solar energy? See remark for carbon emissions policy question 3. Source
5. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its absolute ‘own operations’ carbon emissions by at least 20% within the next 5 years? Hugo Boss aims to reduce its Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions by 30% until 2020 compared to 2010 in relation to group sales, but does not specify target reductions for its absolute climate footprint (see link, page 87). Source
6. 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)? Hugo Boss mentions implementation of an energy management system at production sites, but it does not provide any clear policies and concrete results on reducing climate emissions in the supply chain beyond own operations (see link, page 34 & 87). Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

2 out of 12
1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume? Hugo Boss provides a clear overview of raw materials used, and aims to increase the use of recycled materials, but does not yet specify the share of environmentally preferred raw materials processed (see link, page 68 & 69). 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) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 50% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
5. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 75% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
6. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 90% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
7. 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? Hugo Boss implements several measures to limit the use of hazardous chemicals, including membership with the 'German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles' and AFIRM, but does not yet report concrete results of its policy (see link, page 63, 72 & 74). Source
8. Has the brand (company) eliminated at least one suspect chemical group, such as Phthalates or Per fluorinated chemicals from its entire garment production? See remark for environmental policy question 7. Source
9. Has the brand (company) eliminated at least three suspect chemical groups, such as Phthalates or Per fluorinated chemicals from its entire garment production? See remark for environmental policy question 7. Source
10. Does the brand (company) have clear objectives to minimize the environmental impact of its shipping packaging and carrier bags, by reducing, re-using, recycling and responsible sourcing of packaging materials, and does the brand annually report on these results? Hugo Boss uses recycled and FSC certified packaging material and paper for its consumer packaging. Furthermore, concrete aggregate results regarding its consumer packaging materials footprint are made public (see link, page 107-109). Source
11. Does the brand (company) have clear objectives to minimize waste, by reducing, re-using and recycling, and does the brand annually report the results? Hugo Boss implements several measures to minimize the environmental impact of its generated waste and reports a total waste material footprint of 4,874 tonnes in 2015 (increase by 14,3% compared to 2014) (see link, page 35). Source
12. Does the brand (company) encourage the return or re-use of garments? Hugo Boss does not report whether the return or re-use of garments by its customers is encouraged. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

4 out of 13
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? In Hugo Boss' Supplier Code of Conduct these standards are mentioned (see link, page 2-3). 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. Yes, legally-binding employment relationships; 2. Yes, maximum workweek of 48 hours, overtime (max 12 hours) is voluntary; 3. Yes, compensation for a regular work week that is sufficient to meet the workers’ basic needs and provide some discretionary income (see link, page 2-3). 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 (see link, page 3). 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? Hugo Boss reports, that it maintains contractual relationships with 257 suppliers and merchandise partners. But, Hugo Boss does not provide a significant list of direct suppliers on its website (see link, page 8). 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? Hugo Boss is a member of FLA. 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? FLA is acknowledged as a Multi-Stakeholder-Initiative (MSI). Source
7. Is there a policy for the brand (company) for capacity building at the apparel manufacturers for improved labour practices? Hugo Boss implements measures contributing to making cost and time savings by increasing the efficiency of processes and to moving the development of the its own operations forward. However, whether respective measures are implemented at its suppliers as well is not specified (see link, page 43). Source
8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Is at least 90% of the brands production volume from apparel manufacturers monitored for labour conditions? Hugo Boss communicates that 82% of its production facilities were audited in 2015, 32% of which were by third party and 51% of which were by self-assessment. Therefore, less than 90% of the brand's production volume was monitored (see link, page 58). Source
9. Is at least 25% of the production volume from apparel manufacturers approved as socially compliant by independent third parties, such as FWF, GOTS or SA8000? Hugo Boss does not publicly report on what percent of its production volume is verified by eligible third parties (see link, page 58-63). Source
10. Is at least 50% of the production volume from apparel manufacturers approved as socially compliant by independent third parties, such as FWF, GOTS or SA8000? See remark for labor conditions policy question 9. Source
11. Does the brand (company) implement a policy to establish the payment of living wages at its apparel manufacturers? Are at least first living wage payments realised? Hugo Boss implements measures to achieve the payment of living wages at its apparel manufacturers. However, concrete results are not yet reported (see link, page 60-62). Source
12. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy for the fabric manufacturing phases, including a reasonable overview of the number and region of workplaces covered by the policy in relation to the total production volume? Hugo Boss does not publicly report clear results of its measures to improve labor conditions at its fabric manufacturers. Source
13. Are at least 50% of the fabric manufacturing phases - from spinning to final fabric - approved as socially compliant by independent third parties, such as FLO-Cert, GOTS or SA8000? See remark for labor conditions policy question 12. Source