Cleaner production
Kappahl’s focus lies on reducing climate emissions in line with the Paris Agreement and the 1.5 C warming pathway. We work to minimize our whole environmental footprint, where water, biodiversity and chemicals are other important topics for us.
Responsible chemicals use
In textiles manufacturing, chemicals are often used, for example, to dye textiles or to make functional garments water repellent. Protecting human health and the environment requires a responsible and well-informed approach to the use of chemicals.
At Kappahl, we have employees on-site in our manufacturing countries. Their job is to ensure that all suppliers comply with our strict requirements, and that those who sew our clothes work in a safe environment. We also check that there are no hazardous substances in the clothes you buy – we conduct random sampling at authorised, independent test laboratories to obtain assurance that our requirements are complied with.
Our chemicals requirements conform to:
- The EU REACH chemicals regulation.
- The most stringent legislation in the countries we operate in.
- The Chemicals Guide (published by Textile Importers of Sweden).
- The AFIRM and Zero Discharge (ZDHC) lists.
- Recommendations from authorities, voluntary organisations and scientific reports.
We do NOT use the following chemicals:
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PFAS - the perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) that were once used as standard to give garments a water-repellent finish.
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Biocides - we have a total ban on products treated with biocides (for example anti-bacterial or anti-odor treatments).
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Phthalates, azo dyes and bisphenols- we globally prohibit the use of hazardousphthalates, azo dyes and bisphenols(we set additional requirements to thoserestricted in the EU).
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Flame retardants - we have phased out the use flame retardants in all our products.
Our Restricted Chemicals List specifies all the substances prohibited by Kappahl. The requirements are updated on an ongoing basis.
Climate roadmap
Kappahl has developed a climate strategy that is commercially viable and anchored within the fashion chain’s growth plan. It is also environmentally realistic, as it is in line with The Paris agreement.
We commit to reduce absolute climate emissions with 50% by 2030, from a 2017 baseline, whereof:
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80% reduction of scope 1 and 2 climate emissions
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49% reduction of scope 3 climate emissions
An intermediate goalin Kappahl’s climate roadmap is to halveemissions per product by 2026.
We commit to reach our net-zero target validated by Science Based Targets by 2040.
Water and biodiversity initiatives
Conventional cotton cultivation is one of the textile sector’s main risk areas both for water and biodiversity impacts. Kappahl has phased out conventional cotton and uses 100%organic cotton and/or cotton sourced via the Better Cotton Initiative.
We are working to increase the usage of the Higg Index Facility Environmental Module to follow-up on water use and other environmental aspectsthroughout our entire supply chain.
”We have strict chemicals requirements and always apply precautionary principles.”
