FOR A BOLD & BETTER FUTURE.

As a globally engaged business, we have a special responsibility. We know that our activities have an impact on the planet. It is our aim to keep this as low as possible to ensure a bold and better future for the current and future generations. Our activities are entirely in the spirit of ´FOR A BOLD & BETTER FUTURE`. To live up to our responsibility, we take a strategic approach and base our decisions on a firm foundation of our sustainability activities.

 

OUR SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY AT A GLANCE

FOR A PLANET FREE OF WASTE AND POLLUTION

Our sustainability strategy is focused on running our business without waste and pollution and therefore to protect our planet. Founded on a strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) core in the areas of PRODUCT, PEOPLE and PLANET, we do our best to initiate disruptive change towards more sustainability within the industry in five strategic key pillars.

OUR 5 STRATEGIC KEY STRATEGIC PILLARS & TARGETS

80%
circular products by 2030 based on production volume
INCREASE CIRCULARITY
>90%
of products will be developed digitally by 2025
DRIVE DIGITIZATION & DATA ANALYTICS
100%
natural materials from regenerative agriculture or closed-loop recycling by 2030
LEVERAGE NATURE POSITIVE MATERIALS
0%
POLYESTER & POLYAMIDE by 2030
FIGHT MICROPLASTICS
-50%
CO2 EMISSIONS BY 2030 (Compared to 2019)
PUSH ZERO EMISSIONS

DEEP-DIVE INTO OUR STRATEGIC KEY PILLARS

  • 1. INCREASE CIRCULARITY

    80% circular products by 2030* based on production volume

    • Our CIRCULAR styles fulfill all three criteria. They are made:
      • with renewable or recycled raw materials (excl. trimmings)
      • to be made again: our products are recyclable (excl. trimmings)
      • to last longer: our products are designed for longevity

    We also offer ‘circular’ services such as our resale platform HUGO BOSS Pre-Loved in France and Repair services in select cities in Germany.

    *apparel

  • 2. DRIVE DIGITIZATION & DATA ANALYTICS

    >90% of products will be developed digitally by 2025

    • Digital product creation entails the transformation of physical product development steps into digital processes: from product design and digital prototyping to interactive product presentations based on 3D simulation and animation.
    • By using 3D simulations to create "digital prototypes", we have already been able to significantly cut down physical samples during product development. Here we still see great potential for further reduction.
    • With data analytics, we aim to generate data-driven insights by leveraging our data end-to-end. By making reliable forecasts and recognizing trends, we will be able to optimize our purchasing and ultimately, avoid waste and reduce our CO2-emissions. Our Digital Campus plays a decisive role here.
  • 3. LEVERAGE NATURE POSITIVE MATERIALS

    100% natural materials from regenerative agriculture or closed-loop recycling by 2030

    • By 2030, all our natural materials (such as cotton and wool) will be sourced through regenerative agriculture or closed-loop recycling.
    • Regenerative agriculture is  a nature-positive approach to cultivating raw materials. The aim is to protect our soil, so the foundation of life, remains healthy.
    • In closed-loop recycling, we only use recycled pre- or post-consumer textile waste.
  • 4. FIGHT MICROPLASTIC

    0% polyester & polyamide by 2030

    • By 2030, we will phase out polyester and polyamide in all fabrics and linings, including blends, in our products.
    • It is one more important step to protect our planet and biodiversity and ensure no microplastics are being washed out of clothes.
    • We are always on the lookout for a true alternative to polyester and nylon fibers. With HeiQ AeoniQ we have found an answer.
    • In 2023, we released the first HeiQ AeoniQ styles in the market, replacing 87% of the polyester in the product.
    • Collaborations like these are critical to achieving our goal.

    *in fabrics, linings and paddings, assumption is availability of more sustainable alternatives

  • 5. PUSH ZERO EMISSIONS

    -50% CO2 emissions by 2030 (compared to 2019)

    The CO2 emissions we want to reduce to Net Zero by 2050 include all emissions along our value chain (scope 1-3): from own energy consumption, transportation and manufacturing to the cultivation of raw materials.

    • Regenerative farming will significantly reduce the CO2 emissions produced during the procurement of our raw materials.
    • In the supply chain, we focus on saving energy at our suppliers’ end and the reduction of airfreight in transportation.
    • Energy efficiency and renewable materials are a must in our own buildings.

     

A solid foundation

As an organization, we are involved in many initiatives for a greener planet and for more social cohesion. Our sustainability strategy ensures that all our activities are in alignment with and jointly contribute to one main goal: to delight our customers with responsibly manufactured products.

Our strategy incorporates the latest scientific findings and the results of our own analyses, as well as information obtained through exchange and collaboration with political institutions, civil society, and investors. In all of this, we attach great importance to a targeted and focused approach in order to create long-term value for our society as a whole.

THE BASIS FOR OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY

Natural capital assessment

To what extent does each of our company activities affect the environment? We have analysed this in our natural capital evaluation. It identifies the hotspots in our value chain that create substantial environmental impact. This enables us to develop targeted measures to substantially reduce this impact in a sustainable way.

Materiality analysis

In the materiality analysis, we assess those sustainability issues along our value chain that are of particular importance to HUGO BOSS and its stakeholders. This includes insights from the natural capital evaluation as well as our stakeholders’ perspectives. The findings form the basis of our sustainability strategy.

Collaboration and dialog

We can only reach our ambitious goals when we work together. Therefore, we collaborate closely with stakeholders such as employees and service providers so they can accompany us on our path to improved sustainability. Insights from this collaboration and dialog flow directly into our strategy.

WE MANAGE SUSTAINABILITY ALONG THE ENTIRE VALUE CHAIN

Raw materials purchased globally; collaborating with partners, suppliers and customers all over the world; materials and products that go back and forth between them all: the HUGO BOSS value chain is complex. We are working on every link in the chain to make it more sustainable. Our materiality analysis, the natural capital assessment and continuous dialog with various stakeholders help us to plan and implement our activities effectively.

  • Raw materials

    The basis of all our products are the raw materials, such as cotton, wool, or leather. The value chain, therefore, begins with the procurement of materials We search for the most sustainable materials possible, ensure their production process is environmentally friendly and that we are in compliance with other important aspects, such as animal welfare. The circular economy (circularity) is taken into consideration right from the start.

     

  • Yarn and fabric production

    During yarn and fabric production, raw materials are processed into textiles, from which the finished products are later created. Measures for more sustainability in this area include strict management of chemicals,  economization on water and waste in production, as well as reduction in energy consumption.

  • Manufacturing

    The designs in the collections take shape in the garment production facility. Textiles are fitted and sewn and prototypes and series products are manufactured. We strive to minimise waste during the cutting and sewing process, so that we deliver high-quality products, reduce the amount of rejects, and provide high standards of workplace health and safety. Our relationships with suppliers and service providers are based on a respect for human rights and the observance of high social standards.

     

  • Administration

    To ensure that all processes run smoothly, the administration controls and monitors all the steps, from raw material procurement to the shipment of products.

     

  • Sales

    Finally, the sale of finished products takes place in the company's own retail stores or through sales partners.

  • Packaging and logistics

    Different types of packaging are used along our entire value chain, and different modes of transport are used as part of the logistics process. We design these processes in a more sustainable manner, by optimising the transport routes and using modern technology and more responsible raw materials, including recycled materials.

     

OUR STRONG SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL & GOVERNANCE CORE

PRODUCT – innovation meets responsibility

Our products are at the heart of what we do – they embody our skills and vision. We, therefore, consider sustainability at every step of the value chain, from the design process and material selection, to production and the longest possible usage. Our commitment is to make our products as sustainable as possible, and to consistently optimise our production processes.

PEOPLE – responsibility for employees and for society, as a whole

Employees and associates, service providers and suppliers, the communities at our production sites and, last but not least, our customers: people all over the world make HUGO BOSS what it is. Therefore, we bear a special responsibility towards them. Find out more about how we meet this commitment.

PLANET – responsibility for the planet

We are well aware that the fashion industry has an impact on our planet. Our commitment is to reduce our ecological footprint in order to make our contribution to the 1.5-degree target of the Paris Climate Agreement. Take a look at the measures we are taking and the projects we are working on to achieve this goal.

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