enEnglisch
Social Responsibility
The area of textile production has received particularly critical attention in recent times. How can you ensure that those production conditions that we consider to be sustainable and fair prevail in distant subcontractor companies?
We already audit suppliers with regard to their environmental and social standards, before they are even accepted as our suppliers. When we agree contracts, we oblige them to adhere to our Code of Conduct. We employ over 20 Social Officers at our in-market Purchasing offices. We have also developed our own Social Programme and the suppliers undergo regular audits. However, one hundred per cent security does not exist.
In your opinion, what should responsible retail and sustainable production look like in the future?
In future we have to establish control over the whole supply chain, not just parts of it like today. Climate-neutral production, transport and distribution, but also education and social-policy topics have to be resolved. Apart from adherence to defined environmental and social standards among the suppliers, more attention should be paid to supporting countries in enforcing their national laws. People in production countries must be enabled to develop through the trade with us. We ensure that as we import merchandising goods, we also implement environmental and social standards with our suppliers at the same time. Climate protection, fair dealings with employees and development policy measures which help people to help themselves − all of these must be placed at the centre.
Where is the greater need at present: stronger support from consumers for more 'green' products on the market, or more courageous companies that are prepared to be pioneers?
Neither of those. Sustainability and a corresponding range of products require joint efforts from many players. We need commitment both from industry as well as politics, and from the media as well as from consumers themselves. Every individual and every company has to ask themselves what they can contribute to support responsible actions and sustainable production. Consumers are increasingly making purchasing decisions on the basis of their own values. ‘Clear-conscience consumption’ is a trend that’s here to stay. More and more, customers are prepared to pay a higher price for environmentally and socially acceptable products. The greater awareness people have of those problems that need to be solved, the more pressure there is on companies and on governments, because consumers are voters as well.