Product

Reducing our impact on the environment 

We are taking many steps to reduce our impact on the environment. When designing a product, we select the best materials as possible for our products, based on social and environmental sustainability criteria along every step in a product’s lifecycle. So, from raw materials to production, to transport, to use by customers, to the waste phase. We aim to focus on innovation, responsible and better materials and define the materials in these categories as preferred or Together Tomorrow materials. By focusing on social and environmentally beneficial choices, we can boost renewable- and minimise our use of exhaustible natural resources.   

All products comply with Hunkemöller’s quality and safety standards, which are set out in our specifications. We have a strong focus on chemical management to verify that our finished products are meeting our stringent requirements. We have strict specifications listing all the chemical substances that are prohibited during the manufacturing of our products and are proud to say that 100% of our textile products are OEKO-TEX certified. We regularly test our products and materials at certified independent laboratories to ensure full compliance and we reject products that do not meet these requirements. We do not use animal derived materials in our products. 

How We Use Our More Sustainable Materials

Our More Sustainable Materials

Materials

At every stage of a product’s lifecycle - from planning and manufacturing to sales, usage, and disposal – this product will have an impact on the environment; even if it is made from a lower impact material. To reduce our impact on people and the environment, we try to increase the use of preferred and certified materials in our collections. Learn more about our materials below in our Hunkemöller Material Manual.

Recycled Polyester

By recycling discarded polyester materials, we can reduce our dependence on petroleum as a source of raw material, as well as our reliance on virgin polyester production, which requires significant energy and resources. There is no difference in quality between recycled and conventional polyester. 

Recycled Polyamide

Recycled polyamide, commonly known as nylon, is made from post-consumer waste such as discarded fishing nets, carpet fibres, and industrial plastic. We embrace recycled polyamide for its ability to reduce waste and minimize environmental impacts in comparison to the virgin polyamide. There is no difference in quality between recycled and conventional polyamide.  

Recycled Cotton

Recycled cotton helps us reduce textile waste, water consumption, energy usage, CO2 emissions and the use of chemicals. There are two main types of recycled cotton: post-consumer and pre-consumer waste. Post-consumer cotton waste refers to discarded cotton garments or textiles that have been used by consumers. Pre-consumer cotton waste includes spinning waste and fabric scraps during the manufacturing process.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton agriculture uses processes that can help build soil health and improve biodiversity and does not use pesticides, insecticides, fertilisers, or genetically modified seeds. Organic cotton production takes a holistic approach, looking at how production impacts people, the planet and the product, and works to minimise risk to all involved. In our collections, we use the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). GOTS certification ensures full traceability from field to finished product, starting with the certified organic raw material and continuing through the next stages of processing: spinning, weaving, knitting, wet-processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading, and finally the distribution of organic textile products

Better Cotton

Hunkemöller is a proud member of Better Cotton. Better Cotton’s mission is to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. Better Cotton is sourced via a system of mass balance and is not physically traceable to end products. Sourcing from Better Cotton is not about a content claim on a product, but rather about creating demand and encouraging more farmers to adopt sustainable practices. We use BCI cotton when organic cotton is not feasible or available and are committed to sourcing 100% of our cotton as Better Cotton, recycled cotton, or organic cotton.