Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY AT GERRY WEBER
We take our claim to leadership as a leading fashion brand seriously. We protect nature, the environment and the planet. We behave responsibly and set reliable impulses for global cooperation in the value chain of the fashion industry.
This is the only way to secure the existence for all of us and the value of what we do – for our passion: FASHION.
OUR STRATEGIC GOALS
To make our strategy transparent and our progress measurable, we have defined five fields of action:
Our sustainable styles meet the high GERRY WEBER standards in terms of quality and fashion appeal. The share of sustainable garments is to be consistently increased. For us, sustainability is not a short-lived trend, but an important investment in the future of our brand and our company. We are committed to developing fashion that is safe in social, health and environmental terms.
GERRY WEBER has strictly banned real fur and angora since 2015. The goal of continuously expanding the use of sustainable raw materials is also reflected in the strategic goals defined for the “Product” field of action.
The steadily growing use of certified and recycled materials increases the transparency of the supply chain and supports the principle of the circular economy.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY PLEDGES:
We select materials according to criteria of resource conservation, compliance with animal welfare and environmental compatibility. The durability of the products is another sustainable aspect. The use of resource-saving washing and dyeing processes greatly reduces the use of water and chemicals and prevents the discharge of chemicals into wastewater. We rely on strong partners such as GOTS, OCS, Amfori and our business partners.
The GERRY WEBER GROUP sources prefabricated goods from suppliers worldwide. In this context, we rely on long-term partnerships and trusting cooperation with our partners. Everything we do is based on the respect for human rights and compliance with accepted environmental and social standards.
To ensure maximum security in this regard, we continuously analyse human rights risks at GERRY WEBER. Our suppliers undergo a strict selection and screening process; they must sign the Code of Conduct and the Social Compliance Agreement.
JOIN & STAY
WE WANT TO REACH YOU! WE WANT TO INSPIRE YOU! WE WANT YOU TO STAY!
Under the motto “WE ARE GERRY”, we jointly develop a value-based corporate culture. The working atmosphere is characterised by informality and flat hierarchies. The focus is placed on a …

GERRY WEBER has introduced a comprehensive and innovative mobile working concept for maximum flexibility, individual compatibility and work-life balance. An average of 40% of the employees are on site, with many working mobile a few days per week from wherever it is convenient for them. This way, we express trust and personal responsibility to our employees and want to give them maximum flexibility in terms of time and place.
Incidentally, we introduced a comprehensive working time concept for flexible working hours already back in 2011. A COVID-19 taskforce installed at GERRY WEBER back in February 2020 has ensured maximum safety for our employees during the pandemic. The installation of a testing and vaccination centre, which continues to offer free testing to all staff and an equally easily accessible vaccination service, has contributed to a very low infection rate and a feeling of safety in the workplace.
It is our stated goal to reduce the environmental impact of our activities to a minimum, and we are continuously working to reach this goal. We have therefore taken measures to ensure resource-efficient production and to reduce our carbon footprint. Also, we are working to implement the principle of the circular economy in various places and operate a comprehensive energy and environmental management system. Recent examples include the introduction of carbon-neutral shipping within Germany or the possibility for our customers to return their old clothes to our stores for recycling. Our strategic goals also include our will to continue improving in this area.
A commitment to society is an integral element of corporate responsibility and also an important aspect of our strategy.
In addition to the issue of inclusion, aspects such as diversity, equality and the protection of women’s rights are of particular concern to us. In this context, we have also started cooperations, e.g. with Terre de Femmes.
In addition, GERRY WEBER is intensifying the cooperation with organisations promoting inclusion as well as equal opportunities and diversity.
THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)
In 2015, the United Nations published the SDGs as part of the 2030 Agenda. They comprise a total of 17 goals with 169 associated social, environmental and economic targets which are integrated and indivisible. These 17 goals can be assigned to five areas of critical importance, the “5 Ps”: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership – to focus on the dignity and equality of humanity, to protect the climate and resources, to promote prosperity and peace for all and to build global partnerships.
All countries (developing countries, emerging countries, industrialised nations), civil societies and private sectors are called upon to address these issues, goals and targets. GERRY WEBER International lives up to this responsibility and has identified four goals to which we can and want to make an active contribution. We have defined targets and measures whose degree of achievement will be reviewed annually and adjusted if necessary.

DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
- Establish a Code of Conduct for our more than 2,300 employees worldwide
- Improve the working conditions for employees of all our suppliers based on a comprehensive Social Compliance Code of Conduct
- Mobility concept for our employees
- Establish a health management system for the protection and well-being of our employees
- Work-life balance through flexible working hours, a mobile working concept and the in-house “KIDS WORLD” day nursery

SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
- Expand the use of organically grown cotton and other sustainable materials that support the traceability of all production steps
- Active protection of animals and species through a ban on real fur and angora across all brands
- Use of certified down from responsible origins
- Use of wool from responsible sources, respecting animal welfare and organic farming practices
- Compliance with the provisions of the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and the European Chemicals Regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)
- Ban on sandblasting and the use of chlorine in denim production in Europe

CLIMATE ACTION
- Annual increase in electricity savings
- Increase the use of green electricity; strive for carbon neutrality at the Halle site
- Continuous increase in annual carbon savings
- Introduce electric cars into the fleet
- Annual participation of our apprentices in the “Energy Scouts OWL” projects of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce

PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
- Comply with and improve social and labour standards along the supply chain through membership of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles
- Integrate people with disabilities into the labour market through cooperation with wertkreis Gütersloh GmbH
- Audit management of all our suppliers through membership of the amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative (amfori BSCI)