
HAKRO is Fair Wear Leader
Since 2021, HAKRO has been a member of Fair Wear, an internationally recognised multi-stakeholder initiative that audits textile companies and their production facilities for compliance with social standards. Our commitment to fair working conditions is scrutinised in an annual Brand Performance Check and our progress in implementing the Fair Wear Code of Conduct is documented. Fair Wear sets high standards for labour rights and social responsibility in the industry. As a member of this global initiative, we are committed to strictly adhering to these standards and working continuously with our production partners to improve them even further. The ‘Leader’ status that we achieved in 2024 confirms that we are on the right path and motivates us to further strengthen our commitment to fair working conditions and sustainable practices.
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Perfect Match: Kool Savas x HAKRO
Kool Savas x HAKRO - Together we celebrate 50 years of the King of Rap!On 21 February 2025, Kool Savas writes music history: He celebrates his 50th birthday with thousands of fans at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin - a milestone for the "King of Rap" and the entire German hip-hop scene. For us at HAKRO, it is a great honour to be part of history on this special evening.More than just a concert - a statement of quality and passion.We are not only equipping the entire team behind the scenes - from stagehands to sound engineers. No, we go one step further: the exclusive merch for 50 years of Kool Savas also comes from us. Whether hoodie or T-shirt - made with the attention to detail that connects Savas' music and our textiles."I really appreciate working with HAKRO. Just like me, they focus on quality and durability. It's a perfect match." - Kool SavasHow this collaboration came aboutThis collaboration is more than just a ‘business’ project for us - it is the result of genuine enthusiasm. Our shop manager Danny is one of Kool Savas' biggest fans. His passion for his music led to initial contacts and ultimately to this great partnership. In a video on our social media channels, he tells the whole story - a story of fan love, respect and genuine connection.https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF2YLuaITw_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==We are already looking forward to celebrating 50 years of Kool Savas together this evening. 🎤🔥Follow us on Instagram - there you can expect many more specials about Kool Savas, including his 2026 tour. stay tuned! https://youtu.be/f4nQokxKT1A
Learn moreHELLO AGAIN: HAKRO closes the textile loop
HAKRO is one of the first German textile companies to implement a genuine circular economy together with customers and partners. The workwear supplier takes back worn-out products and uses their recycled fibres for its new circular label HELLO AGAIN. Around 5.8 million tonnes of used textiles are produced every year in Europe alone. The majority of this is thermally utilised in waste incineration. This means that huge quantities of valuable resources are lost. Recycling is the order of the day, yet today less than 1 per cent of used textile fibres are processed into new clothing. Up to now, there has been a lack of logistical structures and technical possibilities to process the fibres of used clothing in a closed cycle and use them for the production of new textiles.HAKRO is known for its particularly durable workwear. As part of the resource-intensive textile industry, the company is aware of its responsibility towards the environment, climate and society. HAKRO clothing is developed for the heavy demands of everyday working life and is produced under fair conditions. It lasts much longer than average clothing, but at some point even a long-lasting HAKRO garment is worn out. That is why HAKRO is actively looking for solutions that will enable the fibres used in its products to be reused several times in the future. There are already examples in other sectors. The principle of material cycles has proven itself in paper, glass and PET recycling. Together with the fibre recycling start-up TURNS®, HAKRO has now been able to establish its own closed material cycle for cotton fibres. In the long term, the circular recycling of all HAKRO material blends and products is planned. HAKRO Managing Director Carmen Kroll comments: ‘As a manufacturer of high-quality workwear, we are committed to a sustainable value chain. This goes beyond the last working day of the textiles. Until now, we have unfortunately had little influence on the disposal of our products. We are therefore very pleased to now be able to offer our customers a sustainable end-of-life solution.We have found the best partner for this in the start-up TURNS®. The recycling experts offer an innovative all-round carefree solution, they handle the entire logistics and control the quality of the recycling process. I was impressed by the concept of the two founders right from the start. That's why I'm delighted to be able to support them as a business angel.’The TURNS® fibre cycle starts with AI-based material recognition. The used textiles are first sorted according to colour and fibre properties, then the fibres are removed from the material using fine needles and processed with fresh, sustainable cotton to create new yarns and cotton knitwear. Some work steps currently still have to be carried out by hand, which is labour-intensive, but the entire recycling process should be automated by the end of 2024. In contrast to chemical recycling, in which the material is synthetically broken down into its basic building blocks using a great deal of energy and cotton is downcycled into cellulose, the fibre structure is retained in fibre-to-fibre recycling. However, the fibres are shortened slightly during each recycling process and are therefore not yet suitable for the production of the particularly robust and durable HAKRO workwear. However, textiles for everyday use can be produced from the recycled fibres without any problems. So HAKRO came up with the idea of adding a modern casual line to its workwear.The new brand is called HELLO AGAIN. It consists of casually cut T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants and hoodies in a comfortable oversized style in natural and pastel colours. The colours are partly derived from the recycled fibres used. This allows the origin of the textile to be experienced in a subtle way, giving the styles a special authenticity. The proportion of recycled fibres is already 30 percent and is set to increase further as the possibilities of textile technology grow. The first HELLO AGAIN textiles are expected to be available at the beginning of next year. The new, sustainable label is aimed at a broader target group than classic HAKRO workwear. The marketing and sales strategy will therefore also differ significantly from HAKRO's strategy. Jürgen Pruy, Head of Sales & Partnerships, is particularly proud that HAKRO is already setting the course for the goals of the EU Green Deal guidelines to be achieved by 2030 and explains: ‘The circular economy can only really get off the ground together with specialist retail partners, consumers and the entire industry. There is an urgent need for catalysts. In line with the motto test, learn, build bigger, we have simply set off on our journey. The positive feedback from many customers and stakeholders gives us a real boost. We hope that this will perhaps also inspire others to actively implement a circular textile economy.’ www.turns.dewww.helloagain-loop.com
Learn moreINGB - The first Integrated Sustainable Annual Report 2022
We are breaking new ground with our first Integrated Sustainable Annual Report 2022. We are combining what belongs together. In a time that calls for prudence and foresight, we are making sustainable entrepreneurial action our HAKRO corporate core. With the Integrated Sustainable Annual Report, we are continuing our previous sustainability reporting. We have big plans, because we want to be the leading integrated sustainable provider of corporate wear by 2030. If you want to achieve this, you have to lead the way. And those who do so will not be able to avoid ‘firsts’. Because it takes courage to try something new without a manual. The name ‘First’ of the Integrated Sustainable Annual Report therefore says it all: For the first time, we have integrated the most important stakeholder groups into a comprehensive strategy development process. First and foremost our employees, but also many retailers and production partners have given free rein to their creativity. For the first time, we had our programme for enforcing human and labour rights in global supply chains audited according to the demanding criteria of the Fair Wear Foundation (Fair Wear). We have been a Fair Wear member since January 2021 and achieved ‘Good’ status in the first Brand Performance Check in April 2022. For the first time, we are making our entire collection climate-neutral. The previous and planned measures to avoid and reduce production-related greenhouse gas emissions encourage us to offset the remaining emissions via an ambitious climate protection project, starting with the 2022 collection. Why ‘integrated sustainable’? ‘Sustainability doesn't belong big and fancy on the flags, but right at the top of the agenda. For all of us, not as an appendix to routine and certainly not as a green fig leaf, but as a natural part of our collective actions. Because sustainability is not a trend. It is an integral part of the clothing industry. We cannot and must not do anything other than take care of it,’ explain our HAKRO Managing Directors Carmen Kroll, Thomas Müller and Danny Jüngling. Since 2015, we at HAKRO have provided annual transparency on our sustainability performance. The last sustainability report entitled ‘Holds’ was published in 2019 for the 2018 reporting year. The Integrated Sustainable Annual Report 2022 contains information for the 2019 - 2021 financial years, takes stock of the five-year sustainability strategy cycle ‘Active Ingredient 2017 - 2022’ and explains the future path of HAKRO GmbH: How the framework conditions and the context of the wide range of business activities will develop. What the understanding of responsible business is in view of all this. What roadmap the company has set itself with its vision, mission and goals. How the HAKRO Corporate Compass sets out binding rules, values and responsibility. And the important role that partners play in this, as well as appreciative dialogue, cooperation, trust and co-creation. The report has been prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards (2021 version) and fulfils the transparency requirements for a social report in accordance with Fair Wear (FWF) for the first time. It is also a progress report for the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and the WIN Charter of the state of Baden-Württemberg.View the INGB in PDF format now.
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