H&M achieves Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold!
As part of our circularity journey, H&M’s latest newborn collection has been Cradle to Cradle Certified® at the Gold level.
What is the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard? It’s one of the world’s most trusted science-based frameworks for designing and manufacturing safer and more circular products. The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute behind the standard is dedicated to powering the circular economy through products that have a positive impact on people and planet. In other words, it’s a standard that speaks to the sustainability credentials of what your newborn is wearing this season with our latest Cradle to Cradle Certified® collection.
Positively Spring-like in look and feel, there are 12 pieces in the collection, made from 100% organic cotton and featuring “room to grow” details such as adjustable waists plus foldable waistbands and cuffs. Prints include cute illustrated fruits and vegetables. What’s more, each piece can easily be passed along after being cherished and outgrown. And once they have been loved beyond wear, the pieces are eventually compostable in any home compost container.
In a colour palette of warm oat melange, light sage green and soft yellow with pops of tangerine and dusty rose, there are tie-wrap long-sleeve tops, bottoms, a tie-wrap jacket, caps, a blanket and snuggle blankets. The jersey, waffle and terry towelling fabrics and herringbone tape are all soft 100% organic cotton. Natural fibres for a genuine feel and clever designs for cosy comfort make this collection for little babies one that grows with every heartbeat.
“Achieving Cradle to Cradle Certified® at the Gold level for this newborn collection helps assure new parents that the items aren’t just comfy and timeless; they are also as sustainable as they are adorable! We’re so proud to have achieved one of the highest levels of certification and share our sustainability progress with our customers,” says Sofia Löfstedt, Head of Kidswear Design at H&M.
There’s a rigorous process to achieve Cradle to Cradle certification. Products are assessed across five categories of sustainability performance in accordance with the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard. These include: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air and Climate Protection, Water and Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness.
To earn our gold certification, H&M worked closely with supply chain partners to ensure each product in the collection was created using materials free from chemicals harmful to humans and the environment, and designed without plastic or metal trims. The items were also manufactured using 100% recycled water and renewable energy. Finally, each piece is 100% biodegradable, including the printing pigments.
“These measures show how more sustainable practises and considered designs can work hand-in-hand to create the safest, cosiest and yes, cutest pieces for babies. Along with encouraging customers to pass on pieces when babies outgrow them – prolonging the overall life of the garment – we’re so happy that H&M can be a part of newborns’ lives in a way that can contribute to sustaining the future of our planet,” says Sofia Löfstedt.
The H&M Cradle to Cradle Certified® collection will be an online exclusive launching in April.
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute awards certifications on the basis of ascending achievement levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) based upon a product’s performance in each of the five certification categories. Visit c2ccertified.org for more information.