Eskimo
Who is… Eskimo?
We have Bonneterie De Groote to thank for the Eskimo brand. This Ghent-based family company prides itself on its 100-year long expertise in designing and producing underwear and nightwear for the entire family to relax, unwind and sleep in. Eskimo consciously strives for a combination of soft, natural materials and a comfy fit that allows you to move freely, believing that wearing the right nightwear has a positive impact on your sleep (hence, on your health and happiness). Until five years ago, there were no monitoring procedures or communication processes in place to speak of, but Eskimo has been hard at work to redress the balance and to put Corporate Social Responsibility at the heart of the organisation.
Resources
Working towards 50% OEKO-TEX® certified suppliers
Eskimo encourages its suppliers to become OEKO-TEX® certified, which means that they ban all harmful chemicals. At the moment, 50% of the materials wear this label, a third of which are even 100% OEKO-TEX®. Eskimo realises this is a work in process, hoping that more of its suppliers will follow suit. Yet the brand also keeps in mind that full OEKO-TEX® certification is just not feasible for all of their suppliers. After all, Eskimo has small volumes and works mainly with small factories.
Production
Close relationship with producers and BSCI-membership
All suppliers are 100% traceable. Eskimo attaches a lot of importance to purity, honesty and authenticity, transferring these values to the production sites in the Far East with which they maintain a close relationship. The ateliers in which the Eskimo items come to life are regularly visited by quality officers, to make sure they comply with the Code of Conduct. This document contains strict requirements in terms of working conditions, work ethic, quality and the environment. In addition, Eskimo makes sure independent audits are frequently conducted as well. In 2014, Eskimo became a member of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), a project of the Foreign Trade Association (FTA) that helps companies work towards sustainable supply chains and improve the working conditions throughout, in accordance with human rights and national labour law.
Retail
Reducing packaging and switching to sustainable paper
Eskimo managed to reduce its packaging in the W19 collection and is aiming for recyclable packaging for its W20 collection. Also from this collection on, the goal is to use only FSC® and PEFCTM certified paper (with FSC referring to the Forest Stewardship Council, while PEFC is short for Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). By the beginning of 2021, the brand wants to get rid of all the plastic and PVC in its packaging.
Which lesson(s) do you want to share?
De Groote: “The reality is that sustainability is a long-term challenge. You can’t fix everything overnight, and you don’t have to either.”
Réjane De Groote (General Manager Eskimo)
What does sustainability mean for you?
Réjane De Groote: “Sustainability means being as responsible as possible, constantly making concrete improvements today for a more respectful tomorrow.”
What challenges are you currently facing?
De Groote: “Though we’re working hard to reach our targets, progression is sometimes slow due to pressure from above, busy schedules and lots of other priorities that demand our attention. I think many players in the industry will recognise this problem of balancing the importance of sustainability with the demands of everyday business life.”
This page was created in August 2019. Curious to find out where Eskimo stands now? Feel free to get in touch with them via Rejane.DeGroote@eskimo.eu!