Responsibility
Responsibility
Vivienne Westwood
Transparency
Vivienne Westwood is currently able to trace and audit Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, and therefore is able to respond to the most important risks and opportunities in its supply chain. Vivienne Westwood ensures fair and safe working conditions for all its suppliers via its code of conduct and overall alignment with ILO standards. In addition, the brand works with third-party auditors to ensure environmental compliance, fair and safe working conditions for all its suppliers. In terms of disclosure of the material composition of products, Vivienne Westwood provides a list of materials in use across all product pages.
Emissions
Vivienne Westwood is working to reduce its carbon footprint and to create environmental efficiencies along its supply chain by implementing a waste hierarchical approach to unused resources; reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering waste products, diverting as much as possible from landfill. The brand also gives priority to fabrics and fibers with the lowest environmental impact possible and pursues energy efficiency measures and renewable energy along its supply chain, including its manufacturing facilities and other operated facilities. Vivienne Westwood is establishing a closer dialogue with shoppers to increase awareness about the GHG emissions caused in the use and end-of-life phases of products, building towards changed consumer behaviors that reduce environmental impacts and extend the useful life of products.
Water Management
Vivienne Westwood is currently working to reduce water waste and prevent water pollution via its use of responsibly sourced organic materials and implementation of innovative production methods, increasing the use of fabrics such as hemp, which naturally reduce pests, controls erosion of topsoil, produces oxygen and uses less water in cultivation.
Materials
Vivienne Westwood is committed to proactively embracing opportunities to use sustainable fibers and fabrics, low impact dyeing and processing, and working with its suppliers to improve its overall responsibility performance. The brand is working to reduce its use of blended fibers (as they are difficult to recycle to a high value), actively reducing the use of polyester and acrylic fabrics, opting for natural or recycled alternatives, and is sourcing 96% of jersey cotton from certified organic yarns (and working to increase this to 100%). The brand is also actively researching and sourcing the latest sustainable fabric/fiber innovations, such as Coir (coconut fibre), Nettle, Lenzing Modal and Tencel, and increasing the use of leather that is processed using environmentally efficient dyeing and tanning techniques; chrome-free and vegetable tanned. Vivienne Westwood works with the following certifications and standards for fiber and textile sourcing: Soil Association, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Oeko-Tex 100 and FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council).
Workers’ Rights
Vivienne Westwood is proactively working to guarantee and uphold the rights of workers along its supply chain, as well as strengthening the voices of workers with an emphasis on vulnerable groups. Some of the brand’s initiatives in this area include the implementation of internal labour policy, conducting independent and third-party audits to its operated facilities, delivering advocacy campaigns and promoting wellbeing programs. Specifically, Vivienne Westwood and its suppliers operate under a Code of Labour Practice, in accordance with the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Vivienne Westwood is a member of Sedex, a collaborative platform for sharing responsible sourcing data on supply chains. The brand is proactively committed to supporting diversity in all its forms, and is particularly focused on promoting gender equality in the workplace. To that end, Vivienne Weswood subjects itself to the UK’s gender pay gap methodology and issues reports on its progress on a regular basis.
Waste and Chemicals
Vivienne Westwood is committed to the reduction of waste and chemicals along its supply chain. To this end, the brand is proactively working to optimize its packaging, eliminate its usage of single-use plastic, and implement methods to regulate its handling of chemicals in the manufacturing process. Vivienne Westwood applies a waste hierarchical approach to unused resources; reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering waste products, diverting as much as possible from landfill. The brand takes a preventative approach to waste at design stage where possible, using low waste experimental pattern cutting. Furthermore, the brand seeks out opportunities to reuse and upcycle leftover fabric, deadstock and discarded materials. All dyeing and processing is done in compliance with REACH, a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by hazardous chemicals. In addition, the brand takes guidance from REACH for a Restricted Substances List (as a minimum). All retail packaging is plastic-free, made from FSC certified card and paper. Packaging for retail bags is made from 40% recycled pulp, 25% leather by-product and is produced with 100% green energy. The brand operates the Green Logistics Hub, which has full waste recycling and reclamation facilities.
Animal Welfare
Vivienne Westwood is committed to upholding the highest animal welfare standards in its raw material supply chain, and works under company-specific principles that are based on the internationally recognized ‘Five Freedoms’ for animal welfare. Responsible sourcing is at the heart of this commitment. The Vivienne Westwood Group Animal Sourcing Principles apply to all animal-derived materials in use. These Principles are mandatory for all suppliers, and apply to the capture, maintenance, breeding, raising, transportation, handling and slaughter of animals. In addition, Vivienne Westwood works collaboratively with its suppliers to ensure these principles are understood and implemented correctly.
Biodiversity and Forestry
Vivienne Westwood is committed to sustaining biodiverse ecosystems, this includes maintaining species populations of wild animals at sustainable levels and only sourcing material of animal origin from legal sources. Vivienne Westwood abides by the standards set by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and IUCN (International Union for Conservation Red). Furthermore, as a dignitary of the Canopy Commitment, Vivienne Westwood is committed to protecting forests through fabric choices that do not use ancient and endangered forests to make man-made cellulosic fabrics and textiles. Vivienne Westwood gives preference to suppliers that show commitment toward the conservation of endangered forests and species habitat, and that use effective strategies to reduce their greenhouse gas footprint.
Ethos
Vivienne Westwood is proactive at promoting responsible consumption amongst shoppers via its marketing channels and campaigns dedicated to various aspects of the brand’s social and environmental responsibility agenda. The brand has a strong focus on educating shoppers on the environmental impacts of the fashion industry, climate change and human rights issues along fashion supply chains. In addition, through its SWITCH to Green campaign, Vivienne Westwood has supported various other industry players in switching to a green energy supplier.
Symbols to spot
Vegan
Contains no animal-derived fabrics such as animal leather, wool, silk and fur.
100% Natural Materials
100% of the materials used come from responsibly sourced plant or animal fibers.
Minority Owned
At least 51% owned and operated by one or more people from underrepresented groups including ethnic/gender minorities and those
with disabilities.
Low Waste
Little or no textile waste created in the production process and post-purchase waste reduction advice given.
Socially Responsible Practices
Commitment to fair terms of trade and advancing the human rights of workers, in line with core ILO and UN Conventions and the Fairtrade Textile Standard.
Responsible Animal Products
Upholds standards for basic animal welfare recommended by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). For more Information please visit the animal welfare section of our responsibility page.
