Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) has not always had the best reputation amongst the CSR community.  I have been critical of the company in the past, but the company often known for “disposable” fashion has turned a corner.  In the past year, H&M has ended the sandblasting of its jeans, and worked on improving its recycling and reuse initiatives.  This week the company released its 2010 sustainability report.  Some of the highlights include:

  • The rollout of more eco-conscious clothing, and a reduction in the the use of chemicals
  • Educating H&M’s workers in factories abroad on their rights, and improving factory compliance throughout the company’s supply chain
  • Tinkering with solar power, purchased carbon offsets, and reduced emissions from business travel
  • Reduced packaging, improved the reuse of clothing hangars, and introduced a recycled clothing line
  • A push for more sourcing of organic cotton and improved water efficiency
  • Donations of garments to charities, while supporting work related to HIV/AIDS and UNICEF’s initiatives
Obviously more can be done, but H&M is its way.  Triple Pundit’s Gina-Marie Cheeseman also provides a good overview of the company’s efforts.  Personally, I always feel the “S” in corporate social responsibility (CSR) is overlooked, so I welcome the move towards more attention on workers rights, ethical sourcing, and improved factory conditions.

What do you think about H&M’s sustainability report?  Please share your thoughts.

About The Author

Leon Kaye

Leon Kaye is the founder and editor of GreenGoPost.com and its advisory division, GGP Media. Contact him to discuss how he can work with your organization or event. His focus is making the business case for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). He writes for San Francisco-based Triple Pundit, Inhabitat and now The Guardian, for which he writes about corporate responsibility, water, and green building. He has also written for AIA's Architect Magazine. Leon works out of Fresno and Silicon Valley, California, and when he has free time, he enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, weightlifting, and planning his next trip to one of the 60 countries he has visited. He has an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business and is also a proud graduate of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Cal State-Fresno.