#Sustainability

2021-04-01

H&M Group Sustainability Performance Report 2020

H&M Group’s latest Sustainability Performance Report highlights the progress that has been made on our way towards a more sustainable fashion future.

"Although we have made good progress advancing our sustainability agenda, the last twelve months have served to further reinforce the importance of sustainability and the need to accelerate this work. We all need to play our part in transforming our industry into one that is genuinely built around circularity" says Helena Helmersson, CEO H&M Group.

Some highlights from 2020 include:

• 64.5% of the materials are from recycled or more sustainable sources.

• H&M reached the goal that 100% of our cotton is organic, recycled or sourced in a more sustainable way.

• H&M sets a new ambitious material goal, aiming to use 30% recycled material by 2025. This is supported by breakthroughs in the recycling of post-consumer fabric without quality loss. Innovations are moving out of the lab to their brands – Monki’s collection in collaboration with HKRITA’s Green Machine being one of many examples.

• To continue the journey of becoming a fully circular organisation, H&M Group has developed a multi-brand packaging system with bags made of certified paper. They have been introduced to customers at COS, ARKET, Monki and Weekday and selected H&M brand markets and will be further rolled out in the upcoming months.

• To become even more transparent, H&M brand trialed an on-product-transparency pilot with the Higg Index, a tool to create comparability of sustainability performance across the fashion industry. 7 million customers participated in this test.

• H&M helps customers to access and enjoy fashion in a more sustainable way with new business models such as COS Resell and Arket Rental.

• H&M further promoted sustainable change within the industry by launching Treadler – enabling other companies to access our supply chain.

• The group piloted blockchain technology to track three sustainable fibres through six levels of its supply chain.

• 32% of the tier 1 supplier factories they work with have trade union representation and 18% have collective bargaining agreements in place – building long-term structures that give workers a strong voice.

• H&M supported the Black community by partnering with key organisations and donating 500,000 USD to further support their work. This is one of several major initiatives intensifying our work for inclusion and diversity in 2020.

• In the beginning of 2021, H&M Group has issued a EUR 500 million sustainability-linked bond with a maturity of 8.5 years. Sustainability-linked bonds are coupled to the company meeting a number of defined sustainability targets and therefor create a clear and transparent commitment.

For more information read the full Sustainability Performance Report 2020:

https://hmgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/HM-Group-Sustainability-Performance-Report-2020.pdf

and explore the Report Stories at Sustainability Reporting – H&M Group:

https://hmgroup.com/sustainability/sustainability-reporting/

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Closing the Footwear Loop reveals challenges and opportunities for circular footwear

The footwear industry faces one of the most complex circularity challenges in the fashion sector. A new Phase 1 report from the Fashion for Good initiative Closing the Footwear Loop, developed together with Circle Economy, provides new insights into the composition, condition and recycling potential of post-consumer footwear waste.

The updated poster on biodegradable Polymers in various environments has been released

As part of the PerPlacsBio project, nova-Institute has updated its popular poster on the biodegradability of polymers in different environments. The updated version reflects current standards, certifications and the latest scientific findings. The poster can be used to assess biodegradable alternatives for use in agriculture and forestry, and it is now available in German for the first time.

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.

Denim moves towards sustainability

EIM (Environmental Impact Measurement), the global reference platform for measuring the environmental impact of garment finishing, presents the second edition of its annual report Denim Industry Progress & Insights 2025. The study analyses over 100,000 real denim finishing processes, providing an accurate and up-to-date view of the industry’s evolution towards more sustainable models.

ATCO Hygienics, Uzbekistan, orders baby diaper production line from ANDRITZ

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from ATCO Hygienics to supply a new baby diaper production line for its plant in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The order is included in ANDRITZ’s order intake for the first quarter of 2026. Commissioning of the production line is scheduled for the end of 2026.

Nico Pedretti appointed as Managing Director Graf Group

As of June 1, 2026, Nico Pedretti has assumed the role of Managing Director Graf Group. With more than 20 years of international industrial experience and extensive expertise in Operations, Supply Chain Management, Finance and Controlling, he brings a broad range of leadership and business experience to support Graf’s continued success.