Our company site in Schrozberg has been climate-neutral since 2017 and ClimatePartner-certified since 2023. Since January 2022, we have also included all products in our comprehensive climate protection programme. This makes us the first corporate wear provider to analyse the greenhouse gas emissions of its entire product portfolio, set targets and measures to reduce them and offset them.

At the beginning of 2022, HAKRO made the entire collection climate-neutral. We have been ClimatePartner-certified since 2023. In doing so, we fulfil all five steps in climate protection: measuring the CO2 footprint, setting reduction targets, implementing reduction measures, financing climate protection projects and transparent communication. More than 90% of our CO2e emissions are generated during the production of our clothing. We keep an eye on the entire supply chain: all emissions released by raw materials, transport, production, packaging, recycling and utilisation at the end of a product's life cycle are taken into account in the 5 steps. We are supported by ClimatePartner, the leading provider of climate protection solutions for companies.

The international ‘Cradle to Cradle Certified®’ standard is awarded by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII), a non-profit organisation with the aim of promoting the circular economy and safe products. As part of the certification process, the institute comprehensively tests products in five categories: Material Health, Material Cycle, Renewable Energy, Water Management and Social Responsibility. Since autumn 2022, we have been using the label for all of our models with 100% cotton from Bangladesh, thus adding a further ecological profile.

The Global Recycled Standard is the world's leading standard for the processing of recycled materials. GRS defines high environmental and social requirements for the processing of fibres along the entire textile supply chain. These include the ILO core labour standards, including the ban on child labour. We have been certified according to the GRS criteria since 2020.

The ISO 14001 standard defines globally recognised standards for environmental management systems. Certified to ISO 14001, our HAKRO environmental management system fulfils the criteria for planning and setting environmental targets, their implementation, monitoring and improvement.

Since 2020, we have been offering products that have been awarded the Green Button. Since the end of 2019, the Grüner Knopf has been the first state textile seal to test companies and products against an extensive catalogue of sustainability criteria, setting new standards for transparency and responsibility in the textile industry.

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.

Our HAKRO quality management is certified according to ISO 9001:2015. ISO 9001 is the most important national and international standard in quality management. It forms the basis for our continuous internal improvement process.

90% of all companies in Germany today are family businesses. They are characterised by their special social roots and responsibility. The association ‘Die Familienunternehmer’ represents over 6,000 family-run companies at a political level. We have been a member since 2017 and are guided by the ‘Governance Code for Family Businesses’ developed by the association.

As a member of the OEKO-TEX® Association, we confirm with our OEKO-TEX® certificate that all our textiles are certified according to the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and are therefore harmless to human health. The comprehensive tests for harmful substances cover legally prohibited, regulated and harmful substances, including Annexes XVII and XIV of the REACH Regulation. Every HAKRO garment bears this quality mark and thus stands for tested safety and high quality standards.

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is the world's leading standard for the processing of textiles made from organically produced natural fibres. At a high level, GOTS defines environmental requirements along the entire textile production chain as well as the social criteria to be met, including all ILO core labour standards. Around 72% of our articles are produced by our two long-standing GOTS-certified production partners in Bangladesh and Turkey.

We have been a partner of the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) initiative since 2017. With a clear focus on sustainable development, CmiA is committed to ensuring that cotton farmers in Africa can work under fair conditions and build a better future for themselves. Strict criteria such as the ban on child labour, compliance with occupational safety standards and the responsible use of pesticides are key components of the initiative. But CmiA goes even further: instead of relying on donations, the initiative activates market forces and offers the farmers knowledge and support to help themselves. In this way, they are empowered to improve their living conditions independently. As part of an international network of companies, we source cotton through CmiA and make a direct contribution to promoting agricultural training and social projects on the ground through licence fees. Together, we are shaping a future in which sustainable textile production and social commitment go hand in hand.

The International Accord was founded after the collapse of the Rana Plaza textile factory in 2013. It aims to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. The agreement between trade unions and global textile companies ensures the enforcement of fire safety measures and safety standards in Bangladesh. We support this important measure by signing the first Bangladesh Accord in 2015 and renewing the agreement in 2018.

The corporate initiative ‘Diversity Charter’ aims to promote diversity in companies and create a working environment that is free from prejudice. All employees should be valued, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or ideology, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity. We are a signatory to the Diversity Charter and implement the requirements as part of our sustainability strategy.

The compatibility of work and family has always been particularly important to us. That is why we are part of the ‘Success Factor Family’ network. The programme, initiated by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs and the umbrella organisations of the German economy and the DGB, offers companies expert knowledge, ideas and exchange. The programme aims to promote family friendliness in a variety of ways and make it a hallmark of the German economy.

As a responsible employer, we want to do even more to promote the health of our employees. That is why we have committed ourselves to the principles of the ‘Luxembourg Declaration on Workplace Health Promotion’. It includes improving work organisation and working conditions as well as promoting active employee participation and strengthening personal skills.

Since 2019, we have been supporting the Alliance for Development and Climate, a multi-stakeholder initiative for development and climate protection initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. As a member of the Alliance, we are making our contribution to achieving climate neutrality or even climate positivity.

The agreement of the international Paris Climate Conference came into force on 4 November 2016. For the first time, all 150 participating countries committed to changing the global economy in a climate-friendly way. A breakthrough in climate protection. A short time later, companies also joined the goals of the government organisations. By signing the ‘Paris Pledge for Action’, we commit to doing our part to reduce global warming.

Around our location in Schrozberg, companies have joined forces to form ‘Modell Hohenlohe e.V.’. The aim is to network and further develop sustainable management, environmental awareness and corporate responsibility in the Heilbronn-Franken region. Modell Hohenlohe creates synergies and offers support in the implementation of sustainable solutions in business practice.

The abbreviation B.A.U.M. stands for Bundesdeutscher Arbeitskreis für Umweltbewusstes Management e.V. We are part of this largest corporate network for sustainable management in Europe. The aim of B.A.U.M. is to support companies, local authorities and organisations in the ecologically effective, economically sensible and socially just implementation of sustainable measures.

The Federal Association of German Foundations is the largest and oldest foundation association in Europe. It represents the interests of more than 22,000 foundations in Germany. The Harry Kroll Foundation, founded by HAKRO, is a member of the Federal Association of German Foundations. It supports projects in favour of children and young people in HAKRO's regional environment and in countries where our production partners are based.

We organise the foundation work of the Harry Kroll Foundation within the framework of the legal requirements of charity and foundation law and in accordance with the principles of good foundation practice. These guidelines, laid down in 14 points by the Federal Association of German Foundations, are bindingly recognised and consistently implemented by the Harry Kroll Foundation.