The international standard Cradle to Cradle Certified® is awarded by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII), a non-profit organisation with the aim of advancing the circular economy and promoting safe products. It assesses products according to various criteria, including material health, circularity, water and energy management, and social aspects. The certification of our products at Bronze level confirms compliance with defined requirements in the assessed areas and is verified by independent assessors. Since autumn 2022, we have applied the label to all our models made from 100% cotton from Bangladesh.

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an internationally recognised standard and defines requirements for the processing of recycled materials throughout the supply chain. These include requirements for the traceability of the materials used, as well as criteria in the areas of environmental management and social responsibility within the certified production processes. Products with GRS certification contain a proportion of recycled materials of at least 50%, verified in accordance with the requirements of the standard. Since 2020, selected products in our collection have been certified according to the criteria of the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

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.

As Germany’s first government-run textile certification label, the Green Button was introduced in 2019 by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. It assesses companies and products against social and environmental criteria throughout the supply chain, independently certified by accredited certification bodies on behalf of the BMZ. These include, among other things, measures to protect human rights, ensuring occupational health and safety, establishing grievance mechanisms, and environmental management. Since 2020, our GOTS- and GRS-certified products have also carried the Green Button certification label.

Since 2021, HAKRO has been a member of Fair Wear, an international multi-stakeholder initiative that supports companies in implementing human rights due diligence within global supply chains. Fair Wear focuses particularly on direct manufacturing partners, known as Tier 1 CMT facilities, where the final assembly of our products takes place. Accordingly, a significant part of our own human rights due diligence efforts is centred on working closely with these direct production partners. The progress of member companies is assessed and published annually through Fair Wear’s Brand Performance Check.

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.

Als Mitglied der OEKO-TEX® Gemeinschaft bestätigen wir mit unserem OEKO-TEX® Zertifikat, dass alle unsere Textilien nach dem OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 zertifiziert und damit unbedenklich für die menschliche Gesundheit sind. Die umfassenden Schadstoffprüfungen decken gesetzlich verbotene, reglementierte sowie gesundheitlich bedenkliche Substanzen ab, einschließlich der Anhänge XVII und XIV der REACH-Verordnung. Jedes HAKRO Kleidungsstück trägt dieses Gütezeichen und erfüllt damit die Anforderungen des OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100.

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is the internationally recognised standard for the processing of textiles made from at least 80% organically produced natural fibres. The standard includes criteria for processing, the use of certain chemicals, the traceability of materials, and social requirements throughout the entire supply chain. All models in our children’s collection, as well as selected models in our Corporate Essentials collection line, are GOTS-certified and contain at least 85% certified organic cotton.

Since 2017, we have been a partner of Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA), an initiative of the Aid by Trade Foundation. The initiative aims to support smallholder farming families in Africa and to define criteria for cotton cultivation. These include, among other things, criteria in the areas of child labour, occupational safety, and the use of natural resources and agricultural inputs. As a partner of Cotton made in Africa®, we use cotton within the CmiA system for selected products and contribute to the funding of the initiative’s programmes and measures through licence fees. Further information is available at cottonmadeinafrica.org.

We support the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, an agreement between trade unions and companies aimed at promoting occupational health and safety across the textile and garment industry. The initiative includes measures to assess safety risks, improve workplace and building safety, and support implementing corrective actions and continuous improvements at participating production facilities.

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.

Since 2019, we have been a member of the Alliance for Development and Climate, a multi-stakeholder initiative launched by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Alliance brings together businesses, organisations and public sector stakeholders and promotes dialogue on sustainable development and climate action. Through our membership, we support the initiative’s objectives and contribute to the exchange of knowledge, challenges and potential solutions in these fields.

The agreement of the international Paris Climate Conference came into force on 4 November 2016. For the first time, participating countries committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy through renewable energy, sustainable innovation and responsible investment. A breakthrough in global climate action. Shortly afterwards, businesses around the world also began aligning their activities with these objectives. Since 2015, HAKRO has been a signatory to the Paris Pledge for Action and supports the initiative's objectives of promoting climate action and a low-carbon economic transition.

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.