Monsoon Accessorize Environmental Policy

Aims and objectives

Monsoon Accessorize is committed to being an environmentally responsible retailer. This goes back to its origins in the 1970s as a retailer selling clothes made by small producer groups in India using natural fibres and vegetable dyes.

While our product range has expanded, we remain committed to managing and reducing our environmental impacts across the business. Our goal is to operate in a sustainable manner, with a focus on:

• Climate change: Minimising our carbon footprint by reducing the energy used in our stores, warehouses and Head Office and minimising the "air miles" used in transporting our product;
• Waste and recycling: Taking steps to reduce waste and to recycle wherever possible;
• Working with suppliers: Ensuring that our suppliers manage their environmental impacts in a responsible way.

Key activities

• Reducing energy used per square foot in UK stores, warehouses and Head Office through good energy management.
• Implementing a "Green Action Programme" across Head Office and stores to raise awareness of green housekeeping and recycling responsibilities.
• Ensuring that products are delivered by sea and/or road rather than air wherever possible.
• Increasing the proportion of recycled waste at stores.
• Introducing rainwater harvesting and expanded recycling facilities in our Head Office.
• Integrating environmental criteria into our shop design and refit programmes.
• Reducing the use of packaging in our stores and, in particular, the use of plastic.
• Incorporating environmental objectives and targets into our ethical trading criteria for suppliers. This comes on top of existing requirements for suppliers to limit or remove the use of hazardous chemicals in their manufacturing processes.
• Continuing to grow our Fairtrade cotton range of clothing.
• Communicating what we do to customers, suppliers, staff and the general public.
• Monitoring, measuring and reviewing our environmental performance on a regular basis.

Related activities

• The Monsoon Accessorize Trust has donated over £140,000 to the Prakratik Society - an environmental charity in Rajasthan, India, working to save the tiger by addressing the root causes of poaching. This includes the provision of education and healthcare for local populations.
• Monsoon has also supported specific environmental causes, such as "Save the Dolphin" and "Save the Tiger", through the sale of charity t-shirts.