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Sustainability Supply Chain
We Grow Together
For us, taking responsibility for the future means keeping an eye on the entire supply chain. We are committed to safer and fairer working conditions wherever OLYMP products are manufactured and set global benchmarks that go beyond industry standards. Like most fashion brands, we do not own the factories where our products are made. Nevertheless, our aim is to ensure that local employees work under the best possible conditions. To achieve this, we focus on two core aspects: Partnership and transparency.
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‘The Well-Being of the People Who Manufacture Our Products Is at the Centre of My Work. We Face up to the Challenges With Determination and Together With Our Partners.’
Helen Zitzelsberger // Expert Corporate Sustainability at OLYMP Bezner KG
Supply chain facts
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99.2%
of the fabric used for shirts comes from OEKO-TEX® STeP certified facilities -
Five Strategic Suppliers
manufacture several million shirts for us every year -
Since 2023
all garment manufacturing companies in high-risk countries have been audited by an iMPACT Programme or Fair Wear Audit -
100%
of our shirt manufacturers are STeP certified -
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25 Production Facilities
in 10 countries worldwide -
34 Years
cooperation with shirting companies -
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Seven Employees
from our sustainability team in continuous and direct dialogue with the production facilities abroad to ensure compliance with environmental and social standards
Production in Partnership
We maintain very reliable and long-term relationships with our international production companies. This applies in particular to our core product. Overall, we work with a small number of selected shirt manufacturers - some of whom we have been working with for decades. This ensures that we maintain our high quality standards and lays the foundation for continuous improvements in social standards.
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Development towards more sustainable production
Our 7-person sustainability team is in continuous and direct dialogue with the production companies. We see ourselves as an equal partner who supports producers in their development towards more sustainable production. For us, this includes external audits as well as our own risk analyses and regular on-site visits. In addition to our declaration of principles for human rights and our statement on modern slavery, we have developed a code of conduct for working with our suppliers that regulates the most important international guidelines and agreements. We are also involved in initiatives and organisations in the industry. In this way, we fulfil our duty of care and work together to achieve improvements in working and social conditions.
FAIR WEAR
Fair Wear is a non-profit multi-stakeholder initiative for improved working conditions in the clothing industry with ‘Brand Performance Check’
INTERNATIONAL ACCORD
Legally binding agreement between brand companies and international trade union organisations for improved safety in the garment industry in Bangladesh and other countries. In Bangladesh, the RSC is responsible for the operational implementation of the agreement.
iMPACT PROGRAM
The iMPACT Program is our own social audit. It is the result of a cross-company cooperation with HAKRO GmbH, in collaboration with the service provider LRQA (formerly ELEVATE Ltd.) and in close coordination with Fair Wear
Transparency as the key to success
At OLYMP, we attach great importance to a traceable supply chain. We have nothing to hide and our supplier list shows you how and where our products are manufactured. At almost 85%, men's shirts are the most important product group in our portfolio. This is followed by knitwear and knitted items, underwear and accessories such as ties, bow ties, pocket squares and braces. As at 31 December 2023, our producer pool comprised a total of 25 production facilities in ten different countries. In terms of shirt factories, there are only five strategic suppliers that produce several million shirts for us every year. We have been working with some companies for over 30 years. The factories are located in various countries in Asia, for example in Bangladesh, China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The map shows the production locations and the four most important countries of origin of cotton in 2024.
