Let's be transparent | H&M
Let’s be transparent
With us, it’s super simple to find out where your clothes were made.
We believe that being transparent is an important part of becoming more sustainable. Sharing knowledge about our business and how we make our clothes gives you more power as a customer: the more you know, the more informed decisions you can make.
When you click on an H&M product, you can find out which materials the product is made from, which countries it was produced in and which suppliers and factories we partnered with to make it. You can find all this, as well as information on how to care for your clothes, on the product's page. The only exception is products made before our tracking system was developed.
Your questions answered
All the stuff you need to know about the background of our products.
Q: Why does the material composition for organic, recycled, and other non-conventional materials on the hangtag differ from what is shown online?
A: The percentages shown on the hangtag are calculated based on material by surface area per layer, and the percentages online are calculated by weight of those materials included in the product with the exclusion of some minor products components. The total weight of the product is calculated by adding the weight of all layers and main components together. Based on that, we calculate how much of that weight is made out by each material. However, whether calculated by surface area or weight, the percentages shown are correct! We are working towards a uniform way of conveying these percentages across all platforms.
Q: Where can I find product details in a physical store?
A: Open the H&M app on your phone and use the scan feature (look for a barcode icon) to scan the price tag. If the item is available online, you’ll see the product page and there you’ll find its background details.
Q: What’s the difference between a factory and a supplier?
A: Once we’ve designed a product, we partner with a supplier who handles the manufacturing process of the product. A factory is where the product is made. The H&M group collaborates with over 700 independent suppliers who usually own their own factories.
We work closely with our suppliers to support them in their efforts to become more sustainable. We only work with suppliers who sign our strict Sustainability Commitment, which includes requirements for fair wages, good working conditions, environmental impact, animal welfare and much more. We employ dedicated sustainability staff in our worldwide production offices to make sure the commitment is followed.
Q: Why can’t I find the full list of suppliers and factories for all products?
A: We’re getting there! The good news is we’ve built a new tracking system which lets us share supplier and factory details for most of our new products. The bad news is we can’t share the same level of information for products that we made before the tracking system was developed. We’re working hard to include more products soon.
Q: Why can’t I see one specific country of production (instead of a list)?
A: It’s not unusual for the same product to be made in several countries. That’s why the list you see could include more than one country, supplier and factory. When you purchase a product, you’ll see the specific country of production printed on the label.
Q: Is the factory and supplier information up-to-date?
A: We’re continually updating the information from our suppliers and factories, such as changed addresses or numbers of workers.