Responsible Sourcing Standards
We have enormous potential to drive good practices in the supply chain through our design and buying processes. By requesting more sustainable products from our suppliers, we encourage farmers, growers and makers to adopt more sustainable approaches. Our Responsible Sourcing Standards aim to take a holistic approach to the sourcing and design of products, accounting for each step in the supply chain from farm or field to final product. The Harrods Responsible Sourcing Standards include minimum requirements that a supplier must fulfill in order to be compliant, as well as approved certifications we accept and practices that we encourage and will support suppliers to work towards over the coming years. Our commitment is that by 2030 all products bearing Harrods in-house brand will meet our Responsible Sourcing Standards.
There are two main areas of focus for our Standards, through which we are able to manage the materials we source, the conduct of our vendors, and the ways in which we design and source our products:
1. Material specifications, including excluded materials and requirements for ingredients and components.
2. Production requirements and supply chain transparency.
Material specifications
Throughout 2023, we established plans to ensure that those materials most widely used in our Harrods in-house ranges come from certified sustainable sources. We developed a set of material specifications and approved certifications that cover cotton, leather, cashmere, bast and synthetic fibres*, with wool and down in the finalisation process. We are also working on non-fibre specifications for glass, ceramics, metal, resin and paper. These specifications provide practical guidance for our buying teams to make responsible sourcing choices, while also setting minimum requirements for Harrods brand products within the scope of the Standards. These specifications will be rolled out in 2024 with specialised training for buying teams and a process of engagement for suppliers to ensure that relevant materials are evidenced with the appropriate certification. Our aim is to achieve our material commitments by embedding responsible practices into our buying and design decisions.
Harrods Responsible Sourcing Standards