Tokmanni issues important guidelines for the use of more sustainable cotton – 100% sustainable cotton by 2024
Tokmanni Press release 25 March 2021 at 2:15 p.m.
Tokmanni is further strengthening its long-term work to promote sustainability by issuing guidelines for ensuring that the cotton purchased for its private-label products will be produced more sustainably by the end of 2024. The guidelines are impactful, because Tokmanni is one of the most significant sellers of clothing products in Finland.
Tokmanni’s new cotton guidelines mean that, after a transition period, all the cotton used in its private-label products will be organic, recycled, Fairtrade-certified or compliant with the Better Cotton Initiative. In addition, Tokmanni will continue to not use Turkmen or Uzbek cotton in its private-label products.
Tokmanni will also look into Chinese cotton at the regional level. Beginning with orders placed in 2021, the company will not accept cotton from Xinjiang or have products manufactured in Xinjiang. The use of forced labour is prohibited by the Code of Conduct signed by Tokmanni’s suppliers.
At the beginning of 2021, Tokmanni joined the Better Cotton Initiative for more environmentally friendly cotton cultivation.
Reducing the risks arising from cotton
Cotton – especially in clothing and home textiles – is the world’s most widely manufactured natural fibre, and its production involves various environmental and human rights risks. Through its cotton guidelines, Tokmanni seeks to reduce these risks and thereby meet the company’s own needs, as well as consumers’ and other stakeholders’ wishes, concerning the use of cotton.
“Tokmanni increasingly seeks to offer more sustainable options for everyone. The cotton guidelines are one of our many ways of creating a more sustainable selection of products and services. We are also looking into sustainable options for cotton because of the sustainability challenges related to this raw material,” says Emilia Koski, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Tokmanni.
Tokmanni has also invested in sustainability through regular BSCI audits and its own factory inspections. Of its partner factories in risk countries, 94% were BSCI-audited in 2020 – that is, had been inspected by a third party. In addition, Tokmanni’s own experts inspected 60 partner factories in 2020, which represents 8.6% of Tokmanni’s factories in risk countries.
Private labels play a significant role at Tokmanni
Tokmanni’s customers can choose what they need from a very extensive product selection consisting of Tokmanni’s private-label products, non-branded products and leading international brands.
Private labels play a significant role in Tokmanni’s product offering. Tokmanni’s clothing product category mainly consists of products sold under Pola, Peuhu, Force New Attitude and others of Tokmanni’s private labels. All clothes under Tokmanni’s private labels are designed in Finland.
“We want to offer our customers well-fitting clothes that are durable and designed to Finnish tastes. By designing and sizing our private-label clothes in Finland, we enable our professionals to choose materials and cuts in accordance with our customers’ wishes,” says Koski.
More information about Tokmanni’s responsibility work is available at ir.tokmanni.fi/en/sustainability.
TOKMANNI
For further information, please contact:
Emilia Koski
Head of Corporate Responsibility
Tel. +358 20 728 6529
emilia.koski(at)tokmanni.fi
Maarit Mikkonen
Head of IR and Communications
Tel. +358 40 562 2282
maarit.mikkonen(at)tokmanni.fi
Calls to a corporate number beginning with 020 7 from a landline or a mobile phone are EUR 0.0835 per minute + EUR 0.1669 per minute (incl. VAT 24%). Calls from outside Finland are subject to an international call charge.
Tokmanni is Finland’s leading general discount retailer. Some 4,000 Tokmanni employees make customers’ everyday life and special occasions easier by offering a versatile and up-to-date assortment of Finnish and international brand-name products and other high-quality products at prices that are always affordable. With nearly 200 stores around Finland and an online store, Tokmanni is always close to its customers. Tokmanni’s revenue in 2020 amounted to EUR 1,073.2 million. Tokmanni shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.
