Superdry prioritises customer and product safety and our comprehensive chemical compliance programme ensures these standards are met.
This work is also at the heart of our Sustainability strategy, with the environmentally conscious production of our products an essential part of our ambition to become the #1 Sustainable Style Destination.
Our chemical compliance initiative considers all stages of the product lifecycle: from the chemicals used in material creation to the washes, dyes and treatments which achieve our signature Superdry aesthetics. This includes the chemical testing of finished products and consideration of how chemicals used on these products can affect the environment after purchase and at the end of their life.
Superdry Products
Superdry operates a thorough chemical testing programme to ensure the products we sell meet the expectations of our customers in relation to environmental and legislative requirements. Information about Superdry’s Chemical Compliance Policy, the Superdry Restricted Substances List (RSL) and the Superdry Chemical Compliance Testing Programme can be found HERE.
Superdry and ZDHC
The ZDHC (ZERO DISCHARGE OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS) FOUNDATION is a multi-stakeholder organisation which oversees the Roadmap to Zero Programme, a unified chemical compliance system that allows fashion brands and their supply chain partners to drive positive change in the management of chemicals.
This is achieved through the classification and elimination of restricted chemicals from the end-to-end supply chain.
ZDHC programmes cover chemical usage within each factory and the testing of any wastewater produced.
All criteria are assessed against the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL), a comprehensive list of hazardous chemicals which member brands are required to eliminate. The latest version of the ZDHC MRSL can be found HERE.
In 2021, Superdry became a Friend of ZDHC and committed to ZDHC conformance by 2030. This included producing our first ZDHC Supplier Roadmap detailing the steps required to reach this goal, and we’re proud to say that the rate of progress is allowing us to accelerate our plans.
Superdry and Suppliers
ZDHC requires a detailed understanding of best practises and how to implement them, in addition to regular reporting on all chemicals used and stored. For this reason, the Superdry ZDHC Programme takes a holistic approach, with the focus placed on training Suppliers and developing their knowledge. Training sessions are led by our UK Compliance Team and supported by Chemical Compliance Champions in our Regional Offices.
Initially working with our Top 30 Suppliers – our largest Tier 1 supply partners and some of our specialist product producers – we created personalised development and training programmes to build their understanding and engagement. The monthly training sessions have featured expert speakers from the ZDHC foundation as well as implementation specialists from Bureau Veritas (our independent testing partner). Through ZDHC’s Supplier to Zero initiative, Suppliers have access to guidance documents, success stories from others on the compliance journey and a certification system to recognise their progress and achievement.
The speed of progress has allowed us to expand the programme to include all Tier 1 Suppliers: 100% of Superdry Tier 1 Supplier factories now have a registered profile on the ZDHC Gateway and are actively engaged on their individual Supplier to Zero journey. We have also started working with our Tier 2 suppliers – wash houses, dye houses and printers – who are being trained in the same key ZDHC principles through training sessions delivered in their local languages.
To date (February 2023) over 40% of Superdry’s Tier 1 and 2 Suppliers having achieved ZDHC Foundational level or higher.
Microplastics
Synthetic materials like polyester release microplastics when washed. These are pieces of plastic so tiny that they can't be sorted properly at water processing plants, so they end up being released into rivers and oceans.
As a cotton-led brand, we have a lower than average polyester footprint COMPARED TO WIDER FASHION BRANDS - it accounts for 34% of the raw materials we buy. However, we are still seeking solutions to this pressing issue.
The foundations of Superdry are built on designing and creating high quality products - we are now working on ways that we can improve durability even further, which will involve seeking solutions to microplastic shedding at manufacturing stages.