#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.

Hohenstein publishes 2025 Sustainability Report

The testing and research service provider Hohenstein has published its latest sustainability report, outlining key progress and strategic initiatives. The report focuses on ambitious CO₂ reduction targets, the company’s new mission statement and the systematic expansion of sustainable services for customers worldwide.

Global Standard gGmbH launches second public consultation for GRTS Draft 2 for the textile industry (1–30 April 2026)

Global Standard gGmbH is pleased to announce the release of Draft 2 of the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS) for its second public consultation. The consultation will be open from 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2026, inviting stakeholders across the textile and apparel value chain to provide input and contribute to the further development of this new Standard.

Textile Exchange publishes cotton Life Cycle Assessment study to strengthen impact data

Textile Exchange has published the first in a series of seven Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies designed to improve the quality and robustness of environmental impact data for raw material production across the fashion, textile, and apparel industry. The first LCA study focuses on cotton and addresses critical data gaps and methodology variability through new high-quality data across key producing countries. The study includes organic, regenerative, recycled, and country averages for conventional cotton production systems, providing a clearer picture of the associated environmental impact.

Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

Italian Textile Machinery heads to Geneva for Index 2026

An important delegation of Italian companies will exhibit at the upcoming INDEX 2026, the world’s leading event for the nonwovens sector, taking place from May 19 to 22 in Geneva (Switzerland). Numerous Italian exhibitors will be present within the Italy Pavilion, organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT, an exhibition area of over 140 square meters dedicated to the latest innovations proposed by the Italian industry.