Packaging & Logistics
Our goal: reduce packaging and develop sustainable alternatives
At HUGO BOSS, packaging is used at various stages in the value chain and for different reasons. For example, we protect our goods in accordance with our premium standards, bundle units of orders and transport, present our goods in retail stores and hand them over to our customers in shopping bags or gift packaging. Our goal is always to save material, use sustainable raw materials or develop reusable solutions. In doing so, we rely on recycled plastics and FSC®-certified paper, for example. In order to meet our high standards we have developed a Packaging Guideline with material specifications and concrete targets.
Optimize packaging
Sales packaging
Product packaging
Transport packaging
On the way to more sustainable logistics
HUGO BOSS produces its products worldwide. To meet the complex sourcing requirements, our logistics processes involve all relevant modes of transport: road transport, sea freight, air freight, combined traffic (sea and air freight), and rail traffic. Wherever our delivery promises to our customers allow it, we always use the mode of transport with the smallest CO2 footprint. HUGO BOSS strives to capture optimization potential throughout the supply chain:
1. Production
HUGO BOSS enables its producers to use supply chain software that optimally plans the on-time delivery of freight shipments in order to use the most efficient transport mode. In addition, it suggests the optimal cardboard packaging and packing method in order to save packaging materials. This reduces CO2 emissions and minimizes the impact on the environment.
2. Shipping
HUGO BOSS is increasingly using environmentally friendly transportation channels. One example is the inbound shipping chain from Hong Kong to Germany, for which five alternative transportation channels exist. We always give priority to the mode of transport with the smallest CO2 footprint, such as ship and rail. Compared to other modes of transport, rail traffic has moderate lead times and low CO2 emissions. Ships also cause comparatively few emissions. They can sail to both northern ports (in northern Germany) and southern ports (in southeast Europe). We only use much higher-emission air freight for extremely time-critical customer needs. Combining sea and air freight is a potential compromise here: as can be seen in the example below, we start with the ship and can thus complete a large part of the route with the lower-emission means of transport. This is followed by the transfer to the airplane and the last distance is completed with the faster means of transport, thus saving time.The following graphic gives an overview of the average transit times as well as the CO2 emissions per transport mode using the example of a T-shirt from Hong Kong.
3. Handling
Goods consignments can often be consolidated to cut down on shipments. To optimize the utilization of shipping container capacity, for example, we often group many small shipments into larger units abroad.
4. Distribution
Our goods are increasingly distributed via environmentally friendly transport routes. In addition, goods are increasingly transported directly to the markets without making a detour via the central distribution centers in Germany. This enables us to shorten transport routes enormously and reduce the environmental impact of transport. For the shipment of our goods, we rely on recycled and reused transport packaging to avoid waste. In addition, when procuring new cardboard packaging for goods shipped from Germany, we only use FSC®-certified cardboard packaging (FSC® N002527).
Targets in the field of packaging and logistics
- 5 % reduction of packaging paper by 2025
By 2025, we will reduce our packaging paper per sold unit by 5 % compared to 2019. For example, HUGO BOSS is continuously reviewing how cardboard boxes can be used in the best possible way.
Current status: Increase by 1%
- 3 % increase in reused transport packaging in outbound shipments by 2022
HUGO BOSS has set itself the goal of increasing the proportion of cadboard boxes in the logistics sector. We will therefore reuse 3% more transport packaging by 2022 compared to 2019.
Current status: 1% increase (Current total share of 50%)
- 100 % certified and/or recycled paper packaging by 2025
HUGO BOSS has set itself the goal of sourcing 100 % of its packaging paper – from labels to shipping cartons – from sustainably managed forests and/or in recycled form by 2025.
Current status: 87 %
- 10 % reduction of single-use plastic by 2025
We will reduce our single-use plastic used in packaging by 10% per sold unit compared to 2019. To achieve this goal, we are examining, for example, which shipments can be made without a garment cover or where the film size can be reduced.
Current status: Reduction of 1%
- 100 % sustainable plastic packaging by 2025
We have set ourselves the target of having 100 % of our plastic packaging made of recycled or other sustainable material by 2025. For example, almost 90 % of the protective garment covers used in our own hanging-garment warehouse have long been made of recycled material.
Current status: 42 %
- 30% reduction in CO2 emissions (Scope 3) by 2030
We have set ourselves the goal of reducing Scope 3 emissions, which mainly come from transport, production and raw material extraction, by at least 30% by 2030 (compared to 2018). These emissions account for over 90% of emissions across the company's value chain. For this reason, we strive to reduce our transport-related emissions, for example by continuously optimizing transport flows and working closely with our transport service providers, thereby limiting our impact on the environment.
Current status: 28 %
Sustainable development in the field of plastic packaging
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Target 2020 | ||
| Total weight of all plastic packaging | 1,297t | 1,269t | 1,192t | 845t | 935t | |
| Thereof single-use plastic packaging | 820t | 742t | 668t | 523t | 520t | |
| Recycled content within all plastic packaging | 5% | 25% | 32% | 42% | 40% |
