Hugo Boss

May 05, 2022

Hugo Boss is a German fashion retailer founded in 1924 in Metzingen by fashion designer and businessman Hugo Boss. The multinational clothing-retail company creates luxury fashion for men and women.

Hugo Boss makes clothing, accessories, shoes, eyewear, watches, and fragrances. It specializes in designer fashion and high-quality ready-to-wear and is one of the largest German apparel companies.

Hugo Boss invests in sustainable apparel technology to reduce its environmental impact. It has committed to environmental and climate protection, human rights, and labor rights.

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Sustainability Rating: 4/10

Rating FAQ

Category: Clothing, accessories, shoes, bags

For: Women, men

Type: Basics, denim, knitwear, underwear, loungewear, outerwear, nightwear, sandals, heels, flats, boots, sneakers

Style: Chic, classic

Quality: Medium

Price: $$

Sizes: 2XS-3XL, 2-14 (US), 4-16 (UK), 34-48 (EU), 4-16 (AU)

Fabrics: Cotton, linen, hemp, ramie, jute, lyocell, modal, viscose, cupro, acetate, polyester, nylon, spandex, acrylic, polyethylene, polypropylene, neoprene, polyurethane, rubber, leather, wool, silk, down

100% Organic: No

100% Vegan: No

Ethical & Fair: No

Recycling: Yes

Producing countries: not transparent enough

Certifications: BCI, GRS, FSC

Sustainability Practices

Hugo Boss takes wide-ranging measures in the implementation of its sustainability strategy. It makes progress in improving its environmental footprint with environmentally and climate-friendly processes.

Hugo Boss only uses a tiny proportion of organic materials such as organic cotton and hemp or recycled materials such as recycled polyester and regenerated nylon.

Most of the fabrics it uses are natural without relevant certifications, such as conventional cotton or linen, or synthetic petroleum-based fibers such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and more.

Hugo Boss also uses a small amount of semi-synthetic fibers or regenerated cellulosic fabrics such as Tencel lyocell, modal, acetate, cupro, and viscose.

Tencel is an eco-friendly fiber made with wood pulp from certified sustainable forests. But only a tiny proportion of the materials used by Hugo Boss are environmentally friendly and sustainable.

The German luxury fashion house created a dedicated approach for more sustainable products. But only 15% of its product range consists of responsible styles.

Hugo Boss doesn't publish a list of its manufacturers on its corporate website. It sources finished goods from 156 external suppliers producing in 185 production sites.

The 2021 Fashion Transparency Index gave Hugo Boss a score of only 34% based on how much the group discloses about its social and environmental policies, practices, and impacts.

Hugo Boss manufactures its clothes in Turkey and many other East Asian countries where human rights and labor law violations still happen every day.

The German clothing retailer doesn't show any labor certification standard that ensures good working conditions, decent living wages, health, safety, and human rights for workers in its supply chain.

Hugo Boss has a code of conduct that applies to all its suppliers and subcontractors to address human rights, labor standards, and occupational safety.

Hugo Boss assesses compliance with its Code of Conduct by informal visits or third-party audits with or without notice. 96% of its goods come from finished goods suppliers who feature in one of the two best levels in social audits.

Hugo Boss doesn't use exotic animal skin, hair, fur, or angora. But it uses leather, wool, silk, and down feathers to manufacture many of its clothing pieces.

These animal-derived materials are cruel and unethical. They also harm the environment by producing greenhouse gases and waste. More sustainable alternatives exist.

Sustainability Goals

Hugo Boss has committed to reducing its environmental impact across the entire supply chain. It stands for impeccable style, uncompromising quality, and a responsible approach to the world.

Hugo Boss will make more than 30% of its product range consist of responsible styles by 2025. It will source more than half recycled synthetic fibers and 100% sustainable cotton by 2025.

Hugo Boss has committed to having 100% of its suppliers feature in one of the two best levels in social audits by 2025. 100% of its suppliers have been trained in social responsibility and chemical management.

Hugo Boss will achieve a 30% reduction in carbon emissions from transport, production, and raw materials production (Scope 3 in comparison to 2018) by 2030.

It will also drive a 51% reduction of carbon emissions within its area of responsibility (Scope 1+2 in comparison to 2018) by 2030.

Hugo Boss has committed to reducing its water consumption by 40% in relation to sales (in comparison to 2016) by 2025.

It plans to purchase 100% paper and plastic packaging made from recycled and/or certified material by 2025.

Buy Here

Discover Hugo Boss's sustainable collections at Hugoboss.com.

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