Socially responsible action is a core element of Peek & Cloppenburg’s corporate philosophy. The company places great value on offering its customers only products that have been manufactured under humane conditions, in accordance with the employment protection regulations of the relevant countries and in a way that protects the environment.
In its German stores, Peek & Cloppenburg charges a fee of 20 cents for each plastic carrier bag as a commitment towards protecting the environment. In this way, the company aims to raise awareness about packaging materials and encourage the reuse of carrier bags. The production of the carrier bags is climate-neutral, which means that the CO2 emissions from their manufacture are offset by purchasing CO2 emission rights from high-quality climate protection projects. Peek & Cloppenburg has selected a project in Brazil. Its support of this project helps protect areas in the Brazilian Amazon against deforestation and promotes sustainable management in accordance with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) regulations.
As an internationally operating fashion company, Peek & Cloppenburg is aware of the issues surrounding working conditions in specific producing countries. Therefore we take our responsibility seriously, and work in partnerships to secure good working conditions. With this in mind, Peek & Cloppenburg actually set up a monitoring scheme back in 1977 whereby specialists inspect working conditions and recommend improvements when required. Since 2003, Peek & Cloppenburg has been part of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) organised by a large number of European retailers for the implementation and monitoring of social standards.
Furthermore, the company rejects wage dumping and pays its suppliers fair prices so as to enable sufficient pay for local workers. Suppliers are required to guarantee, at the very least, the statutory minimum wage as well as all legally stipulated benefits such as overtime pay, holiday allowances and the payment of all social security contributions.
Peek & Cloppenburg is against any and all forms of child labour. Suppliers are required to sign the BSCI’s Code of Conduct to confirm that they adhere to the prescribed rules for preventing child labour.
Peek & Cloppenburg’s procurement policy is subject to careful control and exceptionally high standards that significantly exceed statutory requirements. Prior to working with Peek & Cloppenburg, suppliers must contractually guarantee that the products they deliver present to risk to health. Own-brand products also undergo testing in special laboratories for specific pollutants prior to delivery. Furthermore, product samples are regularly tested in accordance with the strict criteria of the Oeko-tex Standard 100.
