06-10-2021
Our HAKRO sustainability management is a top priority for us. The fact that this does not go unnoticed is also shown by the growing attention from outside. Therefore, HAKRO received the request to write an article for the editor's book "Nachhaltiger Konsum" (sustainable consumption) of the Heilbronn University. Naturally, HAKRO accepted the offer and handed it over to the HAKRO Quality, Values & Sustainability team. Now we are pleased to announce that the book features our contribution "Made in Bangladesh - and proud of it" in Part IV of "Best Practices - Sustainable Corporate Management" on pages 455 to 471.
On around 1000 pages, the volume published by Springer Verlag provides a holistic view of the topic of "sustainable consumption". It shows that economic decisions can no longer be made solely on the basis of price, quality and service. However, not only the consumption of private households but also public procurement practices are recognised as important levers for sustainable change. In addition to the chapter by HAKRO, the volume brings together numerous other practical examples from VAUDE, Würth, Lidl and dm, among others. The aim of the book is to provide a conceptual basis for sustainable consumption decisions. It is aimed at practitioners, scientists and students.
In our contribution, everything revolves around the question of whether textile companies can actually continue to have production in Bangladesh. Even though the textile sector's sustainability challenges were well known - it was only the catastrophic collapse of the Rana Plaza textile factory in April 2013 that was a turning point in perception for consumers and the textile industry. The country is associated with unsafe and inhumane working conditions. We answer why withdrawing from Bangladesh is not a solution for us. Because we believe that we can only change things on the ground by helping to shape and tackle things ourselves. So it's not a question of if, but how.
The example of our production partner in Dhaka shows that sustainable textile production is also possible in Bangladesh. We have been working together with them in a trusting relationship for over 20 years; they are part of the HAKRO family. We are united by common values and the same striving for sustainable solutions. Through recognised certifications with annual audits such as GOTS, Fair Wear Foundation and Bangladesh Accord, we ensure that environmental and social standards are met. The perspective of independent third parties helps us to address improvements in sustainability measures and provides further enriching suggestions. Where we are not yet able to achieve a satisfactory result for us, such as on the issue of living wages, we work with interim solutions: Donations in kind benefit the employees and their families. In addition, we support them with health care through our FriendShare solidarity fund.
The conclusion of our contribution is that we would like to achieve much more in Bangladesh. We also describe the small and painstaking steps that we and other companies can take to make a big difference together.
