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At Brands Fashion, we strive for a holistic approach towards close loop principle: broadly speaking, use of sustainable materials by ensuring environmental and social standards in our supply chain, extending up to resource-saving packaging and concepts for textile recycling. We are also taking further initiatives in our own premises that would contribute to environmental protection and raise ethical behaviors. Together with our suppliers and customers, we would continue on this path for making the sustainable textile goals possible.
Rabea Schafrick
Head of Sustainability
Transparent Supply Chain
BRANDS Fashion is fully transparent – all production steps from the cotton field to the tag on the finished garment and far beyond are tested, certified and traceable.
1. Cotton cultivation
Cotton is mainly grown and harvested without the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers.
2. Ginning
Mechanical separation of cotton fibres and seeds, removal of impurities.
3. Spinning mill
The combed cotton is made into yarns.
4. Weaving / Knitting mill
The yarns are processed into high-quality weaving or knitting surfaces.
5. Dyeing plant
Only environmentally friendly dyestuffs are used. The water is purified and 95% reused.
6. Print shop / Finishing
The cut fabrics are mainly finished with GOTS-certified inks and printed materials.
7. Assembly
The finished blanks are processed into garments.
8. Distribution
The finished product is stored and then shipped to the customer.
On the way through the supply chain
Our specially developed digital tool TRACYCLE accompanies you on your way through the entire supply chain. We offer complete transparency about the origin and manufacturing of your products. Follow the journey by entering the corresponding tracking code or scanning the QR code.
Social Standards
Rabea Schafrick
„The first step towards sustainable production is to create transparency of the complex supply chains. Only if I know the factories – preferably personally – can I ensure that social standards are adhered to. As a rule, implementation is a process in which we accompany our suppliers on a long-term basis. Step by step.“
Certified Supply Chains
Annekatrin Mohr (parental leave)
„Independent certifications for organic cotton and recycled materials enable us to control social- and environmental standards along the whole value chain. Choosing the right certifications allows us to create transparency and ensure high standards for our customers.“
Sustainability Communication
Maret König
„My passion is to internally and externally communicate about the sustainable efforts of the company. By raising ecological and social topics, I feel a reliable and creative discourse is the best way to raise awareness.“
Sustainability Reports
These Sustainability Reports are a factual and transparent compilation of our relevant activities and provide an insight into our core areas of activity – materials, supply chains, initiatives and company locations.
Sustainability Seals & Initiatives
Cradle to Cradle
Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM products are evaluated for material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.
Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM is a certification mark licensed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.
GRÜNER KNOPF
As the first state seal, the GRÜNER KNOPF (“Green Button”) distinguishes textiles which have been produced socially and ecologically and which are brought onto the market by responsibly acting companies.
Fairtrade – Cotton
The Fairtrade seal guarantees stable minimum prices and a Fairtrade premium to sustainably improve the lives of cotton farmers. By purchasing Fairtrade-certified cotton you contribute to fair prices and good working conditions for producers in developing countries.
All of the cotton is Fairtrade certified, traded, audited and sourced from Fairtrade producers. Fairtrade means fairer trading conditions and opportunities for cotton producers in developing countries to invest in their businesses and communities for a sustainable future. Visit info.fairtrade.net/sourcing
All products with Fairtrade-certified cotton are marked accordingly.
GOTS
GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard and guarantees a sustainable production of textiles, starting with the first textile working step with biologically produced, natural raw materials up to environmentally and socially responsible production.
OEKO-TEX Made in Green
The label MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® confirms that a product has been manufactured from materials tested for harmful substances and under environmentally and socially friendly working conditions. A product ID also enables the consumer to trace the entire supply chain.
Fairtrade Textile Production
The Fairtrade Textile Standard aims to make textiles manufacturing socially responsible and sustainable, putting workers’ rights, freedoms and safety at the heart of the production. Living wages are in progress in this certified supply chain. Find out more about Brands Fashion’s commitment and progress in achieving living wages, visit www.brands-fashion.com
For more about the Fairtrade Textile Standard, fairtrade.net/textile-standard
All products with Fairtrade Textile Standard certification are marked accordingly.
amfori
Since 1 January 2018, the Foreign Trade Association (FTA), the parent organisation of BSCI and BEPI, has been called amfori.
– The members of the amfori-BSCI commit themselves to the inspection of their suppliers by external inspection companies and the improvement of the social and labour law framework conditions of the workers in the production countries.
– The amfori-BEPI initiative has set itself the goal of improving the environmental requirements along the supply chains worldwide, among other things through the more targeted use of raw materials and the design of efficient production processes.
Alliance for Sustainable Textiles
The German Textile Alliance is made up of representatives from industry, civil society, standard organisations and trade unions who work together to continuously improve social, ecological and economic sustainability along the entire textile chain.
Sedex
Sedex is similar to the BSCI-amfori initiatives, an initiative to improve social and environmental standards in supplier companies, which is also based on independent controls by external third parties.
The ACCORD
Within the framework of the „Bangladesh Fire Protection Agreement“, extensive inspections are carried out in the areas of building safety, fire protection and electrical safety in textile factories in Bangladesh and suppliers are supported in implementing improvement measures.
Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
Products with the GRS seal consist of at least 50% recycled material. The entire supply chain, from the recycling process to the sale of the goods, is certified according to the requirements of the standard.
Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)
The FSC has defined globally uniform basic principles for responsible forest management.
We offer our customers shoes made of FSC-certified natural rubber.
Look for our FSC®-certified products!
Organic Blended Content Standard
The Organic Blended Content Standard distinguishes products that contain natural fibres from biological origin. The material flow from use to the end product is controlled and the entire process is certified by independent third parties.
ISO 9001 2015
The globally recognized standard EN ISO 9001 defines the minimum requirements for a quality management system (QM system). It considers the different areas of the organisation and defines them with the help of a manual in such a way that products and services can be provided that meet the expectations of third parties.
Sustainable Development Goals at BRANDS Fashion
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 and provide the current framework for sustainable development of the global community until 2030.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)
17 Goals for sustainable development
As an internationally working company that operates in a resource-intensive industry which is repeatedly criticized for its impact on people and the environment, we are aware of our social responsibility. We make our contribution to the SDGs largely through our sustainable core business. Matters of personal interest and conviction such as the School for Life in Thailand (school-for-life.org) or the promotion of the Sea Shepherd marine conservation organisation and the NABU environmental association also contribute to the gradual achievement of our goals. The chart below shows how we are involved in the various areas.
Documents
Declaration of Compliance
As part of our corporate duty of care, we are publicly committed to respecting human rights. To ensure this, we rely on internationally adopted guiding principles and conventions of the United Nations as well as the standards of the International Labor Organization.
The requirements that we place on our employees, suppliers and business partners for compliance with human rights and environmental protection are reflected in our Declaration of Compliance.
