Sustainability Policy | Jermyn Street Design

SUSTAINABILITY POLICY  

Mission and Purpose of the Policy  

Jermyn Street Design is committed to building high quality relationships with both customers and suppliers to reduce environmental impacts throughout our products and supply chain. We are analysing our emissions, water consumption, the chemical products we use, the waste we generate, our use of natural resources and our impacts on communities and ecosystems. We are working to identify and develop solutions for these impacts, engaging with all our stakeholders to define our roadmap for transforming our business. To do this we are setting goals, which bind us to a roadmap based on continuous improvement. Our Sustainability Policy forms an important part of our journey towards sustainable development. Our objectives focus on using sustainable materials/trims and packaging, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and energy, designing for circularity and end-of-life solutions.  

Purpose of the Policy  

This Policy will help us to focus on working towards achieving JSD’s ESG Goals, as detailed below: 

Goal 1 – To achieve B Corp Certification by 2026 
Goal 2 – To offer traceability & end of life solutions for all products by 2025 
Goal 3 – To produce min 80% of garments using sustainable materials, methods & sources by 2025  
Goal 4 – To reduce Scope 1 & 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions to Net-Zero by 2040, & Scope 3 emissions by 2050

Scope of application  

This Policy shall apply to JSD. It shall be binding for the entire staff, irrespective of their job and position. The enforcement of this Policy, in full or in part, may extend to any natural and/or legal person associated with JSD on any terms other than an employment relationship, where this is practicable on account of the nature of the relationship and may be appropriate to meet its purpose. This Sustainability Policy provides a framework for the development and implementation of our ESG Goals & Programme; applies to all activities undertaken by JSD and is issued under the authority of the Managing Director.

Sustainability Policy Objectives 

Materials and Trims 

Raw material selection and production processes directly impact the environment. Using renewable resources will help to decrease our environmental impact. We pledge to:  

Source materials that are certified and sustainable

Increase the use of recycled content where applicable  
Incorporate end-of-life implications of our products during design phase including designing for recyclability 
To map and calculate the impact reports of each product, setting targets to reduce carbon and water consumption

 Packaging 

All JSD’s packaging currently uses minimum 65% recycled materials & is fully recyclable. 

We pledge to: 

Source packaging that is made from 100% recycled materials & is fully recyclable 
Source packaging using alternative natural materials such as corn starch & is biodegradable 
Eliminate single-use plastics from our internal & external operations where possible  
Reduce the amount of packaging used in our production processes – remove all plastic hangers, internal clips and collar stands

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction 

In recent years, governments around the world have taken unprecedented action to reduce their Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions through National Policy and multilateral agreements like the Paris Accords. We believe that businesses must play their part and look to reduce their GHG emissions.  We pledge to:  

Conduct an annual company-wide Scope 1 & 2 carbon footprint and reduce GHG emissions in line with SBTi guidance 
Join the Science Based Target Initiative & commit to the SME Near-Term science-based target, to reach Net-Zero by 2040 for Scopes 1 & 2, & Scope 3 by 2050 
Where energy use is still necessary, use renewable sources that have a lower carbon footprint  
Analyse our Scope 3 emissions and compile a comprehensive Scope 3 inventory and work with our key suppliers to help reduce their Scope 1 & 2 emissions  
Establish tracking & reporting mechanisms to measure GHG emissions and assess against the Greenhouse Gas Protocol target

Our Commitment to Sustainable Development 

As a business with a global footprint, we believe it is our duty to contribute towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global Compact’s 10 Principles.  

We are committed to accelerate collective action in support of the SDGs in collaboration with the Conscious Fashion Campaign supported by the United Nations Office for Partnerships. Through this

partnership we advocate sustainable solutions and innovations for the clothing sector to address the world’s most pressing social, economic, and environmental issues 

We are aligning our principles with the 10 UNGC principles, ensuring we are operating in ways that at a minimum meet the responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption 
We are mapping our environmental impacts and have identified the key UN goals that are most relevant to our business:

SDG 1 No Poverty 
SDG3 Health & Well-Being 
SDG 5 Gender Equality 
SDG 8 Decent Work & Economic Growth 
SDG 12 Sustainable Consumption & Production

Through driving transformative change in these areas, we will fulfil our duty in advancing the sustainable development of the planet. Our goal is to offer our clients environmentally friendly uniforms and advance towards a circular model in which waste is turned into a new input, and ultimately achieve zero net emissions. Through these commitments, we are not only striving to transform our business and how our garments are made, but also looking to drive decisive change in the textile industry as a whole. The Leadership Team, together with the Departmental Managers, are responsible for this Sustainability Policy, monitoring everyday activities to ensure that all Our People are made aware of their individual obligations in respect of this policy. 

SOCIAL ETHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Purpose and Objective of Social Ethical and Environmental Policy:

JSD will always conduct business with integrity and respect to human rights. We have established appropriate policies and procedures to promote good business ethics. Examples are respect towards the consumer, ethical corporate governance and anti-corruption practices. Our company will follow society’s ethical expectations.

Scope of Ethical and Environmental Policy:

Jermyn Street designs (JSD) take full responsibility for the ethical good standing of our factories worldwide

Statement of Responsibility

Jermyn Street designs (JSD) take full responsibility for the ethical good standing of our factories worldwide.

We make a wide range of clothing for an international clientele delivering worldwide to over 65 countries. Our Collections are bound together by quality, quality of design and scrupulous sourcing.

Our factories are well lit and ventilated using modern production methods to produce the highest quality corporate wear available anywhere in Europe today. The well-being of the manufacturing workforce is paramount: medical care, accident and first aid procedures, working hours, wage scales and collective bargaining, age of the workforce, these are just some of the issues addressed in our regular audits.

We recognise that our manufacturing practices will be subject to close scrutiny at all times. We are entrusted by our clients with the ethical responsibility for producing clothes of the highest quality, both physically and morally. It is our pledge to you that this trust will never be misplaced or abused.

Our company is currently working with a number of leading influencers on the complex subject of Business and Human Rights using John Ruggieís report to the United Nations Human Rights Commission as our template.

We have a concern that whilst there are a number of effective and influential charities doing good work in this space, they are constrained by lack of funding to implement and track changes to meet our best practice criteria.

Our regular audits expose the most obvious systematic flaws as described in this document. It is harder to audit those soft tissue issues best described as harassment or bullying; bullying of ethnic minorities or slower workers, for example.

We hope to have a new audit system in place in due course that we believe will be the most comprehensive available anywhere in the corporate-wear industry today.

We have applied for membership of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), an influential alliance of companies, trade unions and non-governmental organization (NGO). The ETI members include a number of high street fashion retailers, supermarkets and department stores with a combined turnover of £166 billion. The trade unions represent 160 million workers around the world

JSD aims to be a responsible business that meets the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. It will consider all aspects and interested parties before acting.

JSD do not put profit ahead of our responsibility to the people that we employ around the world to create your clothing.

Our factories are not permitted to exploit their labour market to compete for your business.

Compliance

Legality

JSD will adhere to legal guidelines for safety and fair dealing. Every partnership and collaboration will be open and transparent. Business value and financial benefits will result only from legitimate business operations. We’ll always respect the Law including anti-bribery and anti-corruption practices. Our company is also committed to always honor its internal policies.

Business Ethics

Protecting People

Auditing of factories, and places of work. In depth audits are carried out at all of our factories prior to commencement of manufacturing.

JSD also insist on the right to carry out spot checks on the manufacturing process during the production run. Our ethical audit trail is regularly monitored and updated. The files are open to client inspection

upon request. We’ll ensure that we don’t risk the health and safety of our employees and community. We’ll also avoid harming the lives of local and indigenous people. We’ll support diversity and help preserve important cultural elements. To reduce any risk of exploitation, we reserve the right to review wage scales and time sheets for all individuals upon request.

Child Labour

JSD does not engage in or support exploitative child labour. JSD does not expose children or young workers to situations which are hazardous, unsafe or unhealthy.

Definition of a Young Worker – Any worker under the age of 18 is defined as a child

Definition of Light Work

Work which is performed without the use of heavy machinery and which is not conducted for more than a total of 25 hours per week.

Definition of Exploitive Child Labour

Work which is likely to result in physical or emotional damage to the employee, such as bonded labour, physically demanding work or work which requires long-term separation between a child and his or her family.

Definition of Scope of Education

JSD permits workers through mandatory school-leaving age to attend school; if children are employed in light work or if the mandatory school age is higher than 16, conditions of employment must not interfere with continued educational pursuits.

Forced Labour

JSD does not engage in or support the use of forced labour. Employees are not required to lodge deposits or identity papers upon commencement of employment and all are free to leave JSD following an agreed term of notice.
Definition of Forced Labour Workers who are employed as involuntary prison labourers, as involuntary indentured workers or slave workers

Health and Safety

JSD provides a safe and healthy working environment to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the operation of employer facilities. Where appropriate, this also includes housing facilities.
JSD complies with all applicable local health and safety laws and regulation. (See separate policy for full details of health & safety)
JSD ensures that security arrangements protect human rights and are consistent with International Standards.

Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

JSD respects the right to freedom of association for all its workers including the right to bargain collectively.
Discrimination
JSD does not engage in or support discrimination in the hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, disability, religion, age, national origin, gender or sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.
JSD does not interfere with the exercise of workers’ rights to observe tenets or practices relating to race, disability, religion, age, national origin, gender or sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.

Disciplinary Practices

JSD does not engage in or support the use of corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion and verbal abuse.

JSD does not allow behaviour, including gestures, language and physical contact, that is sexually coercive, threatening, abusive or exploitative

Adult Working Hours

JSD complies with local laws and regulations on working hours.

JSD limits the regular work week to a maximum of 48 hours unless local laws and regulations provide for a lower limit.

JSD ensures, unless local laws and regulations prescribe stricter standards, that overtime is:

Limited to a maximum of 12 hours per work week
Voluntary
Remunerated at a premium rate

Compensation

JSD complies with minimum wage and benefit laws and regulations or pays the prevailing local industry wage, whichever is higher.

Wages are payable directly to the employee in a manner which is convenient to both parties.

Benefits

JSD ensures that all workers are included in all appropriate state or private benefits provisions, especially injury, maternity, invalidity and old age benefits.

Security of Employment

Workers employed on temporary contracts are covered by the provisions of this code.

Community Relations

JSD ensures that the rights of the community are respected with regards to the environmental and social impacts of the business

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY STATEMENT

Jermyn Street Design is a professional and environmentally conscious organisation, which acknowledges the impact that our operations may potentially have on the environment. We recognise that our operations result in emissions to air and water, and the generation of waste. It is our aim to comply with legislation and other requirements, continue to reduce the environmental impacts of our business and operate in an environmentally responsible manner. This policy describes how we will achieve our aim.

The clear objective of Jermyn Street Design is to minimise any impact on the environment by:

Preventing pollution, reducing waste and ensuring that wherever practical, measures are implemented to protect and preserve natural habitats, flora and fauna human beings and their interrelation;
Considering the effects that our operations may have on the local community;
Taking action to eliminate or reduce, as far as practicable, any potentially adverse environmental impacts;
Promoting environmental awareness amongst our Employees, suppliers, contractors and partners by implementation of operational procedures;
Seeking to work in partnership with the community by behaving in a considerate and socially responsible manner;
Continuous improvement in our environmental performance through regular appraisal of the policy.
Set targets to monitor our performance in the use of energy and raw materials and production of waste
Ensuring effective and expedient incident control, investigation and reporting
The implementation of proactive initiatives to protect the environment from harm and degradation
A focus on life-cycle thinking, to consider the environment from development to end-of-life

Management and supervisory staff have responsibilities for the implementation of the policy and must ensure that environmental issues are given adequate consideration in the planning and day-to-day supervision of all work.

Jermyn Street Design will fully comply with the duties placed upon it within the requirements of Statutory Legislation, whilst at all times complying with, as a matter of best practice, the requirements and duties set out within Approved Guidance as issued by the Environment Agency and other organisations. As part of the Jermyn Street Design commitment to maintaining the highest levels of environmental management, it is the intention that the Jermyn Street Design will work towards environmental management systems compliant with ISO14001.

All employees and sub-contractors are expected to co-operate and assist in the implementation of this policy, whilst ensuring that their own works, so far as is reasonably practicable, are carried out without risk to themselves, others or the environment. This includes co-operating with management on any environment related matter.

Jermyn Street Design will take all practical steps to ensure that potential hazards and risks to the environment are identified and that suitable and effective prevent and control measures are implemented. All employees will be provided with the necessary resources, equipment, information, instruction and training to fulfill the requirements of this policy.

The Directors have overall responsibility for all environmental matters. This policy applies to all of our operations including management, office services, site operations, and procurement.

The operation of this policy and the associated procedures will be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they remain current and applicable to Jermyn Street Design activities. This policy has been endorsed by the board of directors who give their full support to the implementation of the policy. However, all employees have a responsibility in their area to ensure that the aims of this policy are met.

Protecting the environment

Our company recognizes the need to protect the natural environment. Keeping our environment clean and unpolluted is a benefit to all. We’ll always follow best practices when disposing garbage and using chemical substances. Stewardship will also play an important role.

We will only work with factories that exercise a duty of care to the environment: responsible usage of precious water resources, safe disposal of chemically treated effluent and dyes, and use of recyclable materials, for example.

Our delivery schedules are based on shipping to reduce our carbon footprint. Airfreight is an emergency measure that will attract surcharges.

All our packaging can be recycled and wherever possible, such packaging has itself been recycled. Any fabric left over from a production run is recycled and used in the next, reducing waste and cost

Environmental Policy Review
All activities from the business operations are subject to review
Product Design

The company’s products comprise of men’s and ladies clothing, and related accessories. Consideration of the use of materials is taken into account when designing the product.

Raw Materials

All raw materials used in products are from a variety of both natural and synthetic fibres, together with combinations of natural and synthetic materials. All raw materials comply with current relevant legislation.

Textiles

All textiles must be free of products that are toxic to the body and the environment. They must conform to the Oeko Tex Standard 100

The STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is a worldwide consistent, independent testing and certification system for raw, semi-finished, and finished textile products at all processing levels, as well as accessory materials used. Examples of articles that can be certified: raw and dyed/finished yarns, woven and knitted fabrics, accessories, such as buttons, zip fasteners, sewing threads or labels, ready-made articles of various types

Packaging & Product

Packaging falls into 2 categories

1 Packaging to protect goods in transit

2 to add value to the product.

Our packaging is developed to combine these needs, and where practical we ensure that all components are made from recyclable products.

We insist that our supplier’s do not use cushioning material, in the form of polystyrene chips, when transporting goods, and that any packaging must be minimal, and be able to be reused throughout the supply chain process.

The companies carrier bags are 100% recyclable and are made from 30% recycled materials.

Water Use

The current level of water use by the office / warehouse is fairly low, being only used for ancillary use in staff and kitchen areas.

Energy Sources

This area is always under review. Head Office is heated by oil / gas fired boilers. A service / maintenance contract is in place to ensure that all equipment is functioning efficiently.

Reduce energy consumption by monitoring energy usage and training staff on basic housekeeping

Transport & Distribution

All products are delivered to an external central warehouse, which is then sent for onward delivery to our nationwide / international network of clients. All vehicles are low emission vehicles and run on diesel.

The Sales Team is encouraged to take into account environmental as well as cost considerations. The aim is to reduce the generation of general and hazardous wastes by reducing the amount of stock held in stores and ensuring all jobs are accurately scoped and priced to ensure material usage is minimised

Employees are encouraged to use electronic communication rather than circulating paperwork.

Paper Use & office cleaning materials
JSD primarily source environmentally friendly paper for use by the business.
Staff who use any cleaning materials and any office chemicals must be aware, that they can be harmful to the environment. (EG correction fluid etc in the office & substances such as paint, bleach, cleaning products or dust from natural materials may be harmful.) And that they must be disposed of in line with this policy
Waste Management / Recycling

The business continues to explore all practical recycling opportunities. This includes paper, plastic, recycle as much paper, cardboard, plastic and metal waste generated. This also includes printer ink, and any electrical items

Suppliers

The business encourages all suppliers to comply with the Environmental Policy

Employees

Employees and suppliers are expected to be involved environmental excellence.

Reduce paper usage by increasing the use of e-mail and electronic documentation.

Monitoring and auditing

Annual management review of this environmental policy and any associated environmental procedures

Audits carried out periodically
Regular internal audits of environmental procedures
The monitoring of environmental objectives and associated KPI’s / targets
Monthly management meetings.
Communication This environmental policy is available for inspection at any time

All members of staff will receive training on the environmental responsibilities of their role, and will be informed of any updates or revisions via e-mail or team meeting.