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How sustainable is Esprit ?

Esprit & sustainability


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7 out of 20

Sustainability summary

Brand owner: Esprit International
Head office: New York, NY, USA
Sector: Retailers
Categories : Male, Female, Kids, Baby
Free Tags: Esprit, Bags, Pullover, Shirts, Suits, Jackets, Jeans, Dress, Shoes, Boots

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Esprit sustainability score report

Last edited: 29 April 2013 by Mario
Last reviewed: 29 April 2013 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 5
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? In October 2011, Esprit established the Sustainable Working Group (SWG). Some of SGW's projects include energy saving schemes and the establishment of a carbon footprint of the headquarters (see link, page 66). 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? Esprit does not publish the annual carbon footprint of last years on its website. So it is not clear if the policy measures actually helped reduce the total annual carbon emissions. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
3. Is the efficiency of greenhouse gas emissions below 200 kg CO2-eq per square meter shopping floor per year, or does the brand use at least 25% green electricity for the shops? Esprit does not report any concrete information about an energy efficiency lower than 400 kg CO2e per square meter or the use of renewable energy to at least 25% at its stores is reported. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
4. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its absolute ‘own operations’ carbon emissions by at least 20% within the next 5 years? Esprit mentions that there is a target to reduce their carbon footprint, as a project of its new established SWG (see link, page 66). Esprit does however not specify the target percentage or the target year. Source
5. 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)? Esprit does not communicate a policy to reduce the carbon emissions in the supply chain, that is beyond own operations. Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

2 out of 6
1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume? Esprit reports to have a “Recycled collection”, which won the Ecochic Design Competition. It is not clear what kind of materials were used and what percentage of the total volume this represents (see link, page 66). 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. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures to make the clothes and footwear? In November 2012, Esprit joined the Roadmap to Zero, the apparel and footwear industry initiative that is committed to Zero Discharges of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) by 2020; and published a List of Restricted Substances (see link). Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective policy to minimize environmental pollution of chromium and other harmful substances from leather tanning processes, e.g. by waste water treatment or by vegetable tanning? According to its RSL, Esprit reports that the use of Chromium is limited to 1,0 mg/kg; for leather less than 20 mg/kg; and that the use of Chromium VI is not detected. These guidelines are not eligible and can not be counted as 'Yes' (see link, page 4). Source
6. Does the brand (company) have a clear target to phase out PVC in their products, and has the brand already achieved a PVC phase out level of more than 90%? According to its RSL, Esprit reports that the use of PVC is not allowed in its products (see link, page 1). Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

4 out of 9
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? Esprit is a member of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI). For BSCI Code of Conduct, see link questions 2&3 below. In this CoC, all these standards are mentioned. 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 BSCI CoC: 1. Not mentioned; 2. Yes, maximum workweek of 48 hours. Overtime (max. 12 hours) is voluntary; 3. No, suppliers are encouraged but have no obligation to pay adequate compensation when minimum wages are not sufficient (see page 1 & 2). 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 BSCI CoC: This right is mentioned, with reference to parallel means for the situation of law restrictions (see page 1). Source
4. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective health and safety policy for the workers in the finishing process of jeans, at least covering the ban on sandblasting? Esprit states sandblasting is prohibited for the production of ESPRIT fabrics. Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? Esprit does not provide a significant list of direct suppliers on its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
6. 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? Esprit is a member of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI). Source
7. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labor unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes? Independent civil society organizations do not have a decisive voice in BSCI. Source
8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Esprit mentions that 99% of the active suppliers were audited in FY 11/12. Esprit also reports the most common non-compliances found in these audits (see link, p. 64-65). However, it is not clear on what scale the non-compliances occurred, or what percentage of the production is compliant to the Code of Conduct. Source
9. 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%? See remark for labour conditions question 8. Source