Fashion giant H&M addresses animal welfare in supply chain

Swedish fashion retailer H&M is partnering with Humane Society International (HSI) in a bid to improve the welfare of animals in its supply chain.

HSI is one of the largest global animal welfare organizations globally and works to promote the humane treatment of animals.

“It is always exciting to partner with a company that shares our passion for animal protection. Working with H&M to end cosmetics animal testing, and improve the lives of animals on farms, will set a high standard for others to follow. It will show that it not only makes good ethical sense to treat animals with kindness and compassion, but it makes good business sense too,” said HSI’s ceo Andrew Rowan.

The collaboration aims to improve the welfare of animals on farms connected to animal derived fibres, as well as to achieve a global ban on animal testing in the world of beauty products.

Picture credit: H&M A/W 2015 collection.

• According to Clean Clothes Campaign, Turkish workers and activists globally are launching a series of protests this week against handbag brand Mulberry for failing to protect the rights of workers in its Izmir supplier factory. More than 15 store actions are planned to take place across Europe and the US on Wednesday and Thursday (16 and 17 September 2015).The brand, worn by celebrities including Alexa Chung and Emma Watson, is being criticised for refusing to step in to protect workers from union busting tactics at the factory SF Leather in Turkey, after management fired workers who had joined the union and only offered to rehire them if they gave up union membership. Mulberry has a set of 'global sourcing principles' [1], which includes commitments to international human rights such as freedom of association, but protesters say this is being violated by their failure to act.