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How sustainable is Continental Clothing ?

Continental Clothing & sustainability


Continental Clothing

10 out of 16

Sustainability summary

Brand owner: Continental Clothing Company Ltd.
Head office: London, United Kingdom
Sector: Casual clothing
Categories : Male, Female
Free Tags: Continental Clothing, Bags, Shirts, Pullover, Jackets

What's your sustainability news about Continental Clothing?

Continental Clothing sustainability score report

Last edited: 26 April 2013 by Mario
Last reviewed: 26 April 2013 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

2 out of 4
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Continental Clothing has taken several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as developing a product carbon footprint methodology and labelling the carbon footprint of its products (see link). Source
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual absolute carbon footprint of its 'own operations' (Scope 1 & 2) and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years? Continental Clothing states that it communicates its carbon footprint for the EarthPositive Apparel collection on the clothes, however CC does not communicate any information on its carbon footprint on its website. Source
3. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? See remark for climate change question 2. Source
4.  Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations (Scope 3)? Please see remark on carbon emissions policy question 1. This process includes also several measures to reduce carbon within the production resp. supply chain. Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 4
1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume? Continental Clothing uses 100% organic cotton in its EarthPositive collection, however it does not communicate any further information on its current usage of environmentally 'preferred' raw materials on its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
2. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 10% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
3. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 25% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
4. Does the brand (company) have an environmental policy related to the ‘wet processes’ within the production cycle, like bleaching and dying of fabrics? The EarthPositive Collection is certified according Global Organic Textile Standardto the, which restricts chemical and water usage. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

7 out of 8
1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? Continental Clothing is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF), which adresses all mentioned standards see link questions 2&3 below ( standards 1,2,3,7). Source
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary and paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage? In FWF Labour Standards: 1. Yes, legally-binding employment relationships; 2. Yes, maximum workweek of 48 hours, overtime is voluntary; 3. Yes, commitment to implement payment of living wages (see link standards 5,6,8). Source
3. Does this Code of Conduct include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining? In FWF Labour Standards this right is mentioned, with reference to parallel means for the situation of law restrictions. Source
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? Continental uses Turkish, Indian & Egyptian cotton, but does not provide a significant published list of direct suppliers on its website. Source
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labor conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labor conditions? Continental Clothing is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation. Source
6. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labor unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes? Continental Clothing is a member of FWF, which means that Labour Unions and/or business-independent NGO’s have a formal and co-decisive voice within the initiative and are co-responsible for the integrity and credibility of the initiative. Source
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Continental Clothing has a publicly available annual audit report on the Fair Wear Foundation website. Source
8. Has the brand’s labor conditions policy resulted in a ‘compliance level’ of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a ‘monitored level' of at least 80%? In 2011, 99% of the factories of Continental Clothing were monitored according to the Fair Wear Foundation's standards (see page 5). Source