Suppliers
Our suppliers
HUGO BOSS factories are located in Metzingen (Germany), Radom (Poland), Morrovalle (Italy), and Izmir (Turkey). A large portion of the product range in the men’s and women’s segments are produced here. The company’s sites generate knowledge, for example, in production technologies. Sharing this knowledge with its partners and suppliers is an important part of the HUGO BOSS procurement strategy.
The majority of the products – 83% – is produced by independent suppliers in subcontracting and merchandise business. That’s why it’s especially important to choose these partnerships carefully. High-quality work, mutual trust, and transparency are prerequisites for the strategic, long-term relationships HUGO BOSS strives to achieve. These trusting partnerships also make it possible for us to disclose all of our finished goods suppliers and their corresponding production sites. Our supplier map contains all production sites of finished goods suppliers that HUGO BOSS plans to continue partnerships (with the exception of own production sites). This map is updated regularly (Latest update: January 2022). Due to these regular updates, the number of suppliers identified on the map differs from the number in the sustainability report. The total cost of our procurement activities (measured by the cost of materials) amounted to EUR 569 million in 2020. In addition to our own supplier map, we provide our data to the charitable organisation Open Apparel Registry (OAR). It has published a comprehensive database of textile and apparel facilities worldwide. Visualised as an interactive world map, the database can be filtered according to countries, individual factories or even brands. HUGO BOSS is one of the first companies which has uploaded its data to the OAR and thus actively supports this project.
List of Suppliers
Regional distribution of procurement and production volume
Share in %
2020
Collaboration
HUGO BOSS has business relationships with its strategic partners that go back ten years and more. Long-term partnerships are essential to finding answers to social and environmental challenges together.
Verification of new partners
New partners run through a standardized, multi-stage process before they are added to the HUGO BOSS supplier portfolio:
1. Questionnaires
Potential suppliers must disclose general information about their business activities, how they handle social and environmental topics, and adherence to basic compliance roles and customs regulations.
2. Contracts
In the second step, potential partners must approve contracts regarding the general purchasing and production conditions. Among other elements, this includes a self-commitment to the HUGO BOSS Supplier Code of Conduct and the Restricted Substances List as well as the Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) of the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC). It is also necessary to successfully complete an online training course on the topics of social responsibility and the environment – including chemical management.
3. Verification
All suppliers must submit valid certificates for examination before entering into an active business relationship or, if these documents are not sufficient, submit a self-disclosure. Depending on the country risk, an audit is carried out six or twelve months later. You can learn more about our social compliance audit process here.
Collaboration with existing partners
HUGO BOSS works together closely with its suppliers after they are added to the portfolio. HUGO BOSS holds training courses on social standards and chemicals management for all suppliers, to help them implement the high standards. Should a social audit reveal that a partner is not maintaining the agreed standards, HUGO BOSS and the supplier will develop a corrective action plan, which contains measures to correct the deficiencies. For more information, see our supplier factsheet.
HUGO BOSS also places value in ongoing dialog, for example, through events such as the Supplier Days, which HUGO BOSS holds in a variety of locations each year. The aim of the Supplier Days is to notify partners about important targets and measures at HUGO BOSS, promote common developments in the supply chain, and strengthen the partnership through interaction. In addition, external speakers share their expertise on relevant current topics, such as digitalization, to inspire the participants to evolve. Insights from this dialog are incorporated directly into the sustainability strategy.
The Supplier Council also provides a platform for exchange. It is a selected group of suppliers who exchange ideas on specific topics. They meet under the leadership of the COO of HUGO BOSS and discuss opportunities and challenges together. The aim is to understand the needs of suppliers even better and to drive future developments forward together.
