GREEN BUTTON FOR COLLECTION LINE ORGANIC

Whether Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Alliance for Sustainable Textiles, Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), Bangladesh Accord or UN Global Compact - at HAKRO we can already point to a whole range of certificates and seals. These are all testimony to our consistent and comprehensive sustainability strategy. Since March, this has also included the Green Button seal, for which certain state-defined criteria and high environmental and social standards must be met. It is the first government sustainability seal for textiles and has been awarded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) since 2019.Our T-shirts and polo shirts from the Organic collection line had to fulfil 26 criteria on the product side in order to receive the seal. What is important in this context is that the Green Button is verified using existing, generally recognised and credible certifications such as the GOTS seal. In addition, 20 criteria were tested with regard to our company-specific management practice, risk analysis and sustainability strategy. Because, unlike the GOTS label, the label does not cover the entire supply chain in its introductory phase until the end of June 2021, but only the last two processing steps (dyeing/bleaching and cutting/sewing), we discussed the added value of the Green Button internally for a long time. After all, the majority of our products are dyed, bleached, cut and sewn in the same GOTS-certified production facilities under the same GOTS-certified working conditions as our GOTS-certified Organic collection line. Paradoxically, however, these textiles are not allowed to carry the Green Button due to their lack of GOTS certification.Nevertheless, we at HAKRO see great potential in the Green Button as an overarching government seal and an important signal for more transparency in the supply chains. As a certified company, we feel encouraged in our commitment to sustainability and would like to play a constructive role in the future development process of the new Green Button label and play a decisive role in shaping it.

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2019: SUSTAINABLY WELL INFORMED

Our Sustainability Report 2019 is here. Entitled HÄLT, it was prepared in accordance with the latest Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and provides information on our progress and plans in terms of sustainability. The report highlights the five areas of action of our holistic sustainability strategy: products, corporate governance, environment, employees and commitment. A brief overview:ACTION AREA PRODUCTS (extract)More transparencyAll our production partners have recognised the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct as binding. It defines standards with regard to management practices, working hours and remuneration, freedom of association, the prohibition of child labour, the prevention of discrimination, health and safety at work and ethical business practices and is therefore based on the ILO core labour standards, among others. Compliance with this code is audited once a year by independent experts. Our Sustainability Report 2019 presents the production sites and their audit results in detail and sets out our plans to further intensify social audits by 2020 Less packaging - more sustainable materialSince 2019, we have deliberately dispensed with cardboard inserts and clips for shirts and blouses. This allows us to save around 4 tonnes of paper and cardboard and 1.5 tonnes of plastic every year. We want to reduce the need for non-recycled packaging material by 50% by 2022.We also want to review and reduce the microplastic footprint of our products by 2022. To this end, we are planning a market analysis of alternative fibres and PFC-free alternatives for textile finishing.We were also able to increase the proportion of sustainably produced cotton to 24% in the reporting period. By 2022, we want to cover up to 50% of our processed cotton from sustainable sources and use only sustainable merino wool. FIELD OF ACTION CORPORATE MANAGEMENT (extract)Brand, values, growthWe have also already implemented a number of goals from our sustainability strategy 2017 - 2022 in the area of corporate governance. We relaunched our brand in 2017 and developed our values compass in 2017/2018. We achieved our ongoing goal of healthy growth by successfully closing the 2018 financial year with an 11% increase in sales compared to the previous year.More digitalisationWe have set ourselves the new strategic goal of expanding digitalisation. We will examine the various possibilities offered by new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence in all areas of the company in order to, among other things, reduce the physical strain on our colleagues and increase the traceability of our supply chains. It is important to us to bring digitalisation and HAKRO together - in other words, without sacrificing employees. ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD OF ACTION (extract)Sustainable energy and emissions strategyAt HAKRO, we pursue the vision of a world worth living in, in which people use natural resources in a sustainable and balanced way and limit climate change. With this in mind, we want to minimise the ecological footprint of our entire value chain and avoid emissions. To this end, we have opted for renewable energies and made our logistics centre self-sufficient in electricity. We fully offset unavoidable emissions - and retroactively until 2016 - to make our site climate-neutral. This also applies to our business trips and even our employees' daily commutes.Greenhouse gas reduction in the supply chainAs one of the first signatories of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, at the end of 2018 we committed to reducing energy requirements in our value chain, utilising renewable energies and using raw materials produced in an ecologically sustainable manner. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions along the entire supply chain by 30% by 2030 compared to 2015. To achieve these targets, we will examine alternative transport routes by 2022 in order to reduce upstream transport emissions. FIELD OF ACTION EMPLOYEES (extract)Living diversityMutual respect is very important to us - regardless of gender, age, ethnic origin, religion or ideology, sexual orientation and physical condition. With 167 employees from 15 nations, we support the Baden-Württemberg Entrepreneurs' Initiative and are in favour of a right to stay through work for men and women who have fled. Free German courses during working hours and the expansion of participation in Diversity Day are two of many other measures and projects in this field of action.Open to new ideasWe are working on setting up a company suggestion scheme, are already giving our employees the opportunity to share their suggestions and concerns via the Better Box and would like to involve our production partners even more closely in the sustainability dialogue in future.Sustainability concerns everyoneBecause sustainability is a joint endeavour, our new report also gives long-standing business partners a chance to have their say for the first time. Under the heading ‘Companions’, they describe their view of things. It's worth taking a look!Our Sustainability Report 2019 is available in the download area at www.hakro.com/service/downloads. We will be happy to send you a printed copy on request. Please simply contact our customer service.

TOUGH - IN TOP SHAPE: MIKRALINAR® PRO

BIG ANNIVERSARY, BIG JOY - WE CELEBRATE 50 YEARS AND SAY THANK YOU!

Wow, 50 years of HAKRO! That's 50 years of quality. 50 years of customer focus. And 50 years of team spirit. So it's no wonder that everything at HAKRO is centred around the big anniversary in 2019. After all, you only turn 50 once, so it's time to celebrate!The starting signal for the big HAKRO anniversary year was given on 29 May. On this special date, exactly 50 years ago, the Harry Kroll company was officially entered in the commercial register - and the success story began.Exactly 50 years later to the day, we celebrated our anniversary with 175 employees in Schrozberg - with cool drinks, a delicious barbecue, good music and the very best party atmosphere. And that was just the beginning ...Look forward with us to a moving and eventful anniversary year full of surprises!50 years of HAKRO - a brief look back:HAKRO's success story begins with outerwear items for men, women and children on a sales area of just 25 square metres. But because word of good quality quickly spread even then, the ‘Harry Kroll clothing store’ grew continuously. Branches were soon opened in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.In the 1980s, the focus shifted to workwear and sportswear. Printed and finished textiles become increasingly popular. The first collection under the HAKRO label is launched in 1987. The shops are sold and the HAKRO brand is now only sold through selected retail partners.HAKRO continues to grow. In 2000, the first logistics centre is opened and a high-bay warehouse is built. 2003 Carmen Kroll and Thomas Müller lead HAKRO into the future as dual leadership - and carry on the values of the founding couple. In 2010, not only is a second high-bay warehouse built, but also the Harry Kroll Foundation. In 2018, the third high-bay warehouse is built - with a consistent focus on ecological aspects.Today, HAKRO has a logistics area of over 9,000 square metres. 175 employees work at the headquarters in Schrozberg. A further 2,500 people are employed by our worldwide production partners. The values shaped by Harry Kroll still apply today. And we will continue to work on the sustainable success of our traditional brand with hand, heart and attitude in the future.With this in mind, we would like to thank all our customers, retail partners and employees for their loyalty and trusting co-operation - and we look forward to the next 50 years!

HAKRO PRESENTS PANTS IN TOP FORM

As one of the largest suppliers of corporate fashion in Germany, HAKRO stands for durable clothing in premium quality. With the 7/8 Stretch trousers for women in a chino look and the Stretch chino trousers for men, HAKRO has created the perfect addition to its wide range of outerwear consisting of 155 styles in 60 brilliant colours. The trousers in the classic colours black, ink and khaki are ideal for combining with the brand's T-shirts, polo shirts, shirts or jackets. The two new models fulfil the requirements of a business-casual look and cut a fine figure in any size."With our new trouser models, we are meeting the wishes of our customers and can now offer a complete outfit. We are also closing the gap between functional workwear and a classic business look. The trousers can be worn just as sportily with T-shirts and trainers as they can elegantly with a blazer or jacket," explains Jürgen Pruy, Head of Sales and Partnerships at HAKRO. ‘Just like a polo shirt, you can enjoy the advantage of being comfortable to wear and well-dressed at the same time.’In the trades, at the doctor's surgery, in hotels and restaurants or in the office - the chinos can be used in a variety of work areas thanks to their flexibility and offer maximum flexibility, durability and comfort. Whether you are sitting for long periods or walking, the trousers remain comfortable and keep their shape at all times. A slightly advanced side seam ensures a good fit and a slim silhouette. The fabric is made from soft, pre-washed and hard-wearing cotton twill with LYCRA® and is therefore particularly stretchy.The trousers are made in a close-fitting body fit for women and a regular fit for men in sizes XS to 3XL. Choosing the right size is very straightforward, as the trouser sizes correspond to the sizes required for the outerwear. So if you wear a polo shirt in size M, the trousers will also fit you in M. "We wanted to keep it as simple as possible and are very proud that we have succeeded in developing a model that fits all figures. That's a real art," says Jürgen Pruy happily.

NHB 2018: HAKRO HAS A SUSTAINABLE IMPACT - ALSO ON THE REGION

Sustainability is particularly important to HAKRO and is a fundamental part of the company's philosophy. As early as 2015, HAKRO signed the charter of the Economic Initiative for Sustainability (WIN) of the state of Baden-Württemberg. With this voluntary commitment, HAKRO acknowledges its economic, ecological and social responsibility as well as its home region, the business location of Baden-Württemberg. The sustainability report now follows the structure laid down by WIN and describes the processes and goals that have been pursued and achieved since the signing of the charter. The WIN Charter comprises 12 guiding principles and thus covers all areas of employees and company management. HAKRO's sustainability report focuses on three guiding principles in particular: employee well-being (Guiding Principle 2), corporate success and jobs (Guiding Principle 7) and regional added value (Guiding Principle 11).Employee well-beingHAKRO's vision is a world in which all workers have a decent job and can lead a decent life on their wages. The company is convinced that its own economic success is only possible with satisfied employees. In accordance with its employee guidelines, HAKRO offers its employees secure jobs in an attractive working environment characterised by fairness, openness and equal opportunities.Measures implemented in the reporting period to promote employee well-being include the employee magazine ‘Lesestoff’, participation in the German Diversity Day and, as part of this, the appointment of a representative for severely disabled employees and staff diversity. In addition, the training programmes at the HAKRO Academy have been bundled and the range of courses has been significantly expanded. For HAKRO, employee well-being is reflected in particular in the annual staff turnover rate (2017: 1%) and the health rate (2017: 93.6%). However, employee surveys are also conducted every two years to determine employee satisfaction (2017: 1.5 in school grades).Plans for the future include expanding further training courses and increasing the number of training hours per employee. The commissioning of a company canteen at the HAKRO Logistik site in 2019 and the continuation of the annual health day for employees are further goals that have been set. By 2020 at the latest, the criteria for the ‘Sicher mit System’ (Systematic Safety) seal of approval from the Berufsgenossenschaft Handel und Warenlogistik (BGHW) are also to be met.Corporate success and jobsThe HAKRO brand stands for quality and reliability in corporate fashion and clothing for work, leisure and sport. This is also expressed in the new brand image created in 2017, "HAKRO HÄLT. SINCE 1969", and at the same time conveys the company's credibility and sincerity towards employees, customers and partners. This identity will continue to be cultivated and preserved. HAKRO is aiming for organic, sustainable growth for its planned expansion in the coming years.With an increase of 10 per cent to net sales of 80 million euros, the 2017 financial year was the most successful in HAKRO's history to date. 8.9 million items of clothing were sent to HAKRO retailers in 271,000 parcels with a complaint rate of less than 0.1 per cent. 164 employees contributed to the company's success.HAKRO has set itself the goal of becoming one of the most sustainable suppliers in its sector by 2022. Steps and measures to achieve this goal can be found in the ‘Active ingredient’ sustainability strategy published in 2017.Regional added valueHAKRO promotes the common good not only by creating jobs and as a taxpayer, but also through a wide range of charitable activities under the motto ‘HAKRO Cares’. In its activities, the company focuses on the Schwäbisch Hall district as its home region.HAKRO supports numerous sports clubs in the region, but also creates several jobs for people with special support needs in cooperation with the Sozialtherapeutische Gemeinschaften Weckelweiler e.V. In addition, the Harry Kroll Foundation helped the Tübingen Children's Hospital financially with the purchase of important medical equipment. The volunteer service ‘HAKRO TeamShare’ also takes centre stage. Established as a corporate volunteering project in 2017, HARKO supports its employees' voluntary commitment to their fellow human beings or the environment with a day of special leave. HAKRO's commitment to the citizens of the region is to be maintained and will be practised even more purposefully in future in order to increase the positive impact for the common good. The company's commitment guidelines, which were drawn up for the first time and have been in force since August 2017, provide the framework for this. ‘For us, sustainability is more than just an image-promoting buzzword,’ emphasises Carmen Kroll, Managing Director and shareholder of HAKRO GmbH. "The shared core values and responsible treatment of people and the environment, to which we have once again committed ourselves with the WIN Charter, are more than a matter close to our hearts, as is our strong regional commitment. We see sustainability as an integral part of our success."You can download the report here

HAKRO NOMINATED FOR THE GERMAN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD 2019

At the beginning of August, we received some good news in the form of a small email: we have been nominated for the 11th German Sustainability Award 2019. The German Sustainability Award is the national award for outstanding achievements in sustainability in business, local authorities and research. With five competitions, over 800 applicants and 2,000 guests at the events, the award is the largest of its kind in Europe. The award is presented by the German Sustainability Award Foundation in cooperation with the federal government, leading municipal associations, business associations, civil society organisations and research institutions.HAKRO has been nominated in the category ‘Germany's most sustainable medium-sized companies 2019’. The nomination recognises our exceptional commitment.To take part in the first round of the competition, we had to present a concept on strategies, measures, successes and goals relating to sustainability. An independent panel of experts from the fields of business, research, civil society and politics made the selection. HAKRO impressed the jury with its ambitious sustainability strategy and was nominated for the second round along with 13 other medium-sized companies. The jury gave clear reasons for nominating the corporate fashion provider: "The company focuses on the problems facing the industry and on improving working conditions at production partners abroad. HAKRO understands responsible procurement to mean close cooperation with long-term partnerships. Since 2012, these must at least comply with the Code of Conduct of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI). The brand has also been a member of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles since 2015 and is committed to safe textile production in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Accord was signed again at the beginning of 2018. HAKRO was also able to score points for minimising its ecological footprint, which is achieved through climate-neutral shipping, the constant reduction of the reject rate by means of close controls and the reuse of textile remnants, among other things." In the second and final round at the beginning of September, the nominees will once again present themselves in detail to the jury. The final award ceremony will take place on 7 December 2018 in Düsseldorf."We are delighted with the nomination, as it confirms that we are on the right track. The jury's feedback is a valuable mirror for us as we move forward. Sustainability is a very central issue for HAKRO. The German Sustainability Award is one of the most prestigious competitions in this field," explains Jochen Schmidt, Quality Management and Sustainability Officer at HAKRO. "We receive consistently positive feedback on our measures from customers and other companies. With our ambitious goals, we want to become one of the most sustainable suppliers in our sector."

THE CRAILSHEIM MERLINS BECOME THE HAKRO MERLINS CRAILSHEIM

It is a big step for HAKRO and the Merlins, but also a logical one. And a logical one. HAKRO has been a sponsor of the Crailsheim Merlins since 1997. In 2007, the internationally active Schrozberg-based textile company decided to intensify its involvement with the Merlins as the exclusive team outfitter. This support has been continuously expanded since then. Since 2010, the company has been the name sponsor of the HAKRO Arena Crailsheim, the former venue and still the ‘living room’ of the Crailsheim Merlins. Last but not least, in 2014 HAKRO secured a place directly under the hearts of the players as shirt sponsor. Just in time for the start of the upcoming easyCredit BBL season, HAKRO is now moving even further forward. Right in the centre of the club logo.The fact that they share the same vision and pursue the same goals is demonstrated by the subtle move by those responsible at HAKRO, who in turn will free up the most prominent space on the Merlins jersey. ‘This gives a new partner the chance to share their enthusiasm for our teams at this point,’ says Merlins Managing Director Martin Romig. The jersey sponsorship has not yet been awarded, but the HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim want to have successfully put out feelers by the start of the 2018/19 season.The naming sponsorship agreement with HAKRO is initially for five years. In sport, this is a comfortable period of time that allows HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim to think and act long-term and offers optimal prospects. "We have received a signal from HAKRO that we couldn't wish for better with regard to a potential name sponsor. Someone wants to support our path, not use us emotionlessly as a short-term investment or impose a new face on us. The agreement with HAKRO offers us medium to long-term development opportunities. For the active teams, but also for our already very successful youth team," explains Martin Romig with satisfaction.

HAKRO IS A NEW PARTNER OF COTTON MADE IN AFRICA

‘Cotton made in Africa convinced us,’ comments Carmen Kroll, Managing Partner of HAKRO GmbH. "The standard takes both social and ecological aspects into account. And by participating, we can make a contribution to stabilising the cotton sector in Africa and improving living and working conditions in the countries where the cotton is grown."Following the recent launch of the Organic collection made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, Cotton made in Africa is a further measure by the medium-sized company to significantly increase the proportion of sustainably produced natural fibres in the coming years. The company has the CmiA cotton processed by an independent production partner in Turkey, which manufactures polo shirts, sweatshirts and sweat jackets for HAKRO. The company is subject to the requirements of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI).Tina Stridde, Managing Director of the Aid by Trade Foundation, the sponsor of CmiA, recognises the new partnership: "HAKRO shows that companies in the textile sector of corporate fashion, work, leisure and sport can also increase their sustainability performance with Cotton made in Africa and make it visible to their customers. More and more sustainably orientated companies are placing higher social and ecological demands on their workwear. We are therefore delighted to have gained a renowned partner in HAKRO, who is working with us to support small farmers in Africa and forward-looking corporate fashion."As the largest initiative for sustainably produced cotton in Africa, Cotton made in Africa represents a sustainable basis for the textile chain worldwide. It gives a face to small farmers who are at the beginning of the fashion industry. Hundreds of thousands of smallholders benefit from agricultural and business management training that helps them to improve their yields and cultivation methods. Women are strengthened in their social and professional independence and factory workers benefit from improved working conditions. In return, companies gain a sustainable raw material that respects human rights and protects nature.HAKRO and the AbTF are members of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (Textiles Partnership), which campaigns for more socially and ecologically sustainable production conditions in the textile chain.