#Sustainability

2021-07-08

H&M Group amongst highest scoring brands in Transparency Index 2021

Every year, Fashion Revolution releases its Fashion Transparency Index, which ranks multiple companies according to how much information they disclose about their suppliers, supply chain policies and practices, and social and environmental impact. This year H&M brand has ranked 2nd out of 250 brands reviewed by the Fashion Transparency Index.

We are proud, that our work for greater transparency in the fashion industry is recognized by third parties, such as Fashion Revolution and the Fashion Transparency Index. We believe brands should be accountable for their value chain and more industry wide transparency commitments will help to drive real, positive change and ultimately a more sustainable fashion industry.

Leyla Ertur, Head of Sustainability at H&M Group

H&M Group is committed to increasing transparency across the fashion industry. Not only does transparency empower businesses to make better decisions that will ultimately drive more sustainable operations, it also empowers customers to make more informed decisions about what they are buying. As such we are very proud to be once be again ranked as one of the highest scoring brands in the 2021 Fashion Transparency Index.

Transparency has always been a key part of H&M Groups sustainability strategy and something we have been actively engaged in for many years. In 2013, we published our supplier list online and we were the first global fashion retailer to do so. It shows factory names and addresses of all our manufacturing suppliers. Today, it also covers many factories that are subcontracted by our suppliers for tasks such as washing, embroidery or printing as well as the many fabric and yarn mills. Our ambition is of course to disclose further information about our supply chain and we are continuously working to improve this.

In another step towards greater transparency we also recently joined the Green Consumption Pledge Initiative, initiated by the European Commission. We have thereby committed to further disclose information on our work and results related to our strategy to become circular and climate positive, setting clear goals and being transparent about our achievements.

Another key element of our transparency journey is our work with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition – a global alliance which we became a founding member of in 2010 – who are working to create an industry standard for measuring and communicating the sustainability performance of facilities, brands/retailers and products. This long-term work has resulted in the launch of a first version of the Higg Index Sustainability Profile on selected H&M products on hm.com in Europe and the US at the beginning of this year. The on-product profiles share environmental performance scores for materials and is based on independently verified environmental impact data from the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI).

We believe that supply chain disclosure and visibility of where our products and materials come from and their impact on the environment and society, are key for achieving a more sustainable value chain. The more we know about our suppliers’ performance — and that of their suppliers — the greater our ability to target improvements, collaborate across the industry and create long-term change. While transparency itself should not be seen as the end goal, we recognize that transparency is a vital enabler to reach many of our long-term sustainability goals.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

A new standard to combat plastic waste in forests

With DIN SPEC 35808 “Tree Shelter for Forestry Applications,” the testing and research service provider Hohenstein, in collaboration with Rottenburg University of Forestry, as well as forestry authorities and industry partners, has established a clear framework for bio-based and fully biodegradable tree shelters. The pre-standard defines requirements and practical testing methods designed to reduce plastic waste in forests and strengthen the long-term protection of soil and the environment.

Europe’s textile future at a turning point: New 2030 Circularity Blueprint aims to scale recycling and unlock investment opportunities

The EU textile system is at a critical crossroads. Today, less than 1% of discarded garments are recycled into new garments, despite EU-wide obligations for separate collection. In response, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is launching the 2030 Circularity Blueprint, in partnership with ReHubs. This ambitious initiative is designed to support the transformation of the EU textile ecosystem to advance textile-to-textile recycling and drive the transition to a circular economy.

Walter Reiners Foundation Prize awarded to three ITA graduates

Sabina Dann, Lukas Balon and Annegret Storm from the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University were awarded the Walter Reiners Foundation Prize by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) for their master’s and bachelor’s theses. Peter Dornier, Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation, presented the awards during Techtextil at the VDMA stand in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.