We - KappAhl

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
GOOD
ENVIRONMENT
FOR SUSTAINABLE
FASHION
We welcome millions of visitors to our
stores every year. They expect friendly
treatment and the right feeling for fashion,
but also that we take responsibility
for our operations from the point of
view of sustainability. We take this very seriously and regard it
positively.
Work on this type of question is systematic at every stage of
our operations, from design and manufacture to distribution and
store sales. The work is based on two central documents: the
environmental policy and the code of conduct.
We have followed the BSCI (Business Social Compliance
Initiative) since 2004. In fact we participated in drawing up this
code, which basically builds on UN and ILO conventions. All
200 or more suppliers have signed to certify that they and their
sub-contractors will follow the code, which covers areas such as
work environment, health and safety, child labour, wages and
working hours.
ON AVERAGE TWO INSPECTIONS PER DAY Every year at
least 30 per cent of KappAhl’s suppliers are audited within the
framework of the BSCI by external audit firms. We conduct our
own ongoing inspections in parallel with the external audits.
They are carried out by nine inspectors with special training and
occupational experience, who are placed in our production
offices. Where necessary the supplier is given an action plan,
which is followed up at the next visit. This helps suppliers to continually
improve. In 2008/2009 we carried out 494 inspections of
our own. That is just over two inspections per working day.
FIRST IN THE WORLD WITH ISO ECO CERTIFICATION We
were the first fashion chain in the world to be certified under the
environmental management standard ISO 14001. This is some-
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thing we are proud of. We received certification for the first time
in 1999 and every year a new audit is conducted by the SP Technical
Research Institute of Sweden.
The ISO certificate covers the entire supply chain from
design via manufacture, transport and distribution to stores, as
well as operations at the head office, distribution centre and store
operations in Sweden and Finland. Certification of stores in
Norway is also carried out on the basis of the recognised national
standard. The ambition is to certify stores in all markets.
OVER 7 MILLION “GREEN” GARMENTS We were early to
offer eco-labelled garments. Our customers could buy them
from us as far back as in 1993. Today over 7 million, more than
10 per cent, of our garments have Öko-Tex Standard 100, EU
Flower or Organic Cotton labels.
We use our “Test and Manufacturing Guide” that suppliers
must follow. This is an area in which we have worked for many
years. The Guide covers, for example, compliance with chemical
and child safety requirements as well as other physical requirements
concerning the garments.
The “No Risk” project, started in spring 2008, where we regularly
test garments, is one of the initiatives to avoid prohibited
chemicals. In 2008 climate analyses were also made of t-shirts
and trousers.
In the past ten years we have continually raised requirements
regarding production of yarn and fabrics. In 2008, for example,
we carried out a pilot project in water purification with four suppliers
in Bangladesh. The project went well and since 2009 all
suppliers using wet processes are obliged to meet our water
purification requirements.
BAGS THAT BECOME WIND POWER, GREEN ELECTRICITY
AND RECYCLED HANGERS But production and garments are
Kappahl 2008/2009