A transparent view
Vision
ALL ABOUT NEXT
With our motto all about next, we want to give our sustainability activities a name. In doing so, we want to focus on what lies ahead. To make our actions visible in order to drive changes. The next steps are crucial to sustainably reducing our CO₂ footprint and helping to curb global warming.
Création Gross is always committed to sustainability in its business activities to conserve resources, raw materials and the environment.
We are aware of our obligation to our employees, customers and partners and are committed to sustainable, considerate business practices in the interest of an intact environment. We see our responsibility and the urgency in times of climate change and face these challenges with great transparency.
In developing our sustainability strategy, we are guided by the dialogue with our stakeholders and the Sustainable Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
In this context, Création Gross makes a special contribution in the points.
Product
We do not use real fur of any kind and exotic leathers and skins.
The production of materials has the greatest negative impact on the eco-balance of a garment. That’s why we are increasingly turning to more sustainable alternatives. We pay attention to water & energy consumption, land use, chemicals and the working conditions of the people who make them.
For example, we pay attention to organically sourced fibers, responsibly sourced or recycled wool, certified or recycled down, sustainable regenerated fibers, responsibly tanned leather and the reduced or recycled use of polymers. We do not use real fur of any kind and exotic leathers and hides.
At the corporate level, there is a fiber and material policy that defines the future use of materials over the next few years.
Additional priorities are set within the brands.
Production & Suppliers
The fair and respectful treatment of our production partners is important to us. That is why we always strive for a long-term cooperation, because we are aware that only under the best working conditions, the best quality can be created. It is important to us that our values are respected in every country by every supplier we produce with. Our requirements for working conditions, health and safety standards have to be met. The basis for this are our purchasing regulations and the Code of Conduct.
Chemicals
We aim to develop products that are socially and ecologically harmless and non-hazardous in terms of health. This includes responsible use of chemicals during production and the final product. We have defined strict guidelines for the use of chemicals and do not use any that are harmful to the enviroment. This information is summarised in the Restricted Substances List (RSL) and in the REACH and POP regulations.
Environment
Emissions
The first step is made
In 2022, Creation Gross created the first Corporate Carbon Footprint Balance based on figures from 2019. We created the Balance with Climate Partner and it is based on the requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The Corporate Carbon Footprint for 2019 was 1,751.5 t CO₂.
Realistically, the production of clothing generates resource consumption and emissions. To reduce the negative impact of our actions, we have established various reduction measures.
E-COM Tours
Over the last two years, a number of efforts have been made to reduce the returns rate in the online store. These include adjusting the size advisor or the additional advice to check the sizes in the shopping cart using the size advisor if necessary. The product images have been optimised in terms of color deviations, fit and texture. We are constantly working on improving the informative value of the item descriptions. The return rate (as of Nov. 2022) of both online stores (CARL GROSS and CG – CLUB of GENTS across all countries) was 60.5%.
Circular economy and unsold products
Introduction of a Repair & Care system
Création Gross owns seven outlet stores. This is where pervious season articles, sample items, production surplus and seconds are sold. Via the outlet stores we create an internal re-purposing system. Single sizes, single parts, trade returns or production surpluses are resold to external best price marketers. Single part inventories, small batches, discountined items or fabric surpluses are marketed via buyers whose business model is old stock. Clothing that can no longer be sold is donated to the Hersbruck-based charity OASE – Hilfe für Menschen in Not (OASIS – Aid for People in Need).
A project group was founded in 2022 to create a genuine circular economy for our products. The group is looking at topics such as the introduction of a Repair & Care system. Returns and products with small defects are already being reconditioned by our production and pressing departments and returned the sale cycle.
For the creation of a real circular economy of our products we have a project group since 2022. This group deals with topics such as the introduction of a Repair & Care system. Already now, returns and products with small defects are reprocessed in our production/ironing department and returned to the sales cycle.
Julia Metz
Head of Human Resources
“It is important for our employees to be able to identify fully with our company. Through our almost 100-year history, sustainability has always played a major role. It’s about consistency, security and at the same time future orientation in order to be able to exist as a modern employer. In some cases, several generations of the same family work for us. Consequently, the orientation of our company goes far beyond the ecological aspect of sustainability.”
Carl Gross
Sustainable action/trade
Sustainability Report
For more transparency and in-depth information, here is the entire Sustainability Report.
Sustainability Report
Certificates & Partner
Since 2021 Création Gross is GOTS certified. Products that comply with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) must contain a high percentage of organically cultivated natural fibres. Furthermore, GOTS has strict requirements regarding production processes and used ingredients. It is also insist that social and enviromental criteria are adhered to during further processing. Création Gross products that are GOTS certificates bear the logo od their hang tag.
Since 2023 Création Gross is GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified. The Global Recycled Standard is a Textile Exchange standard. It aims to promote a higher proportion of recycled content in products.
By verifying the recycled content, brands and consumers are given the opportunity to make informed purchasing decisions. Création Gross products that are GRS certificates bear the logo od their hang tag.
Social
Sustainable action
Création Gross complies its values, principles, standards and code of conduct in its onw guidelines, which are intended for staff and/or suppliers. These include the Company Regulations (Betriebsverordnung), the Guidelines for Sustainable Action or the Code of Conduct.
In order to comply with the Whistleblower Directive, Création Gross has established the Improvement Programme (LINK to Improvement Program). Through it, the company provides a platform via which tips on optimisation opportunities can be given and non-compliance with legal or Company Regulations or any other Création Gross guidelines can be reported.