We are gradually transitioning to a sustainable product range.

When we are designing our products, functionality and quality are key. We want the product to be used for as long as possible. With many products, the key to success lies in choosing the right material.
Our internal sustainability guidelines for product design provide clear guidance on which materials are allowed and which are not, which sources we use and which we do not, which sustainability requirements we need to comply with and which new standards and materials we want to develop. These guidelines are based on an ever-growing body of knowledge about farming methods, supply chains, wages and working conditions. They are not a rigid set of rules but reflect ongoing developments, gradually moving towards greater sustainability. In this context, sustainability also means taking into account a company’s profitability within its competitive landscape.

 

The transition to a more sustainable product range

  1. As we transition to a more sustainable product range, our initial focus is on the main elements of our products. These have the greatest impact.

  2. In the second step, we look at the other materials used in the product.

  3. Finally, in a third step, we look at the additional components, such as buttons and the like.

As we are developing our materials, we also work on making them more environmentally friendly to process. We do this, for example, by choosing more environmentally friendly waterproofing products such as ECOREPEL for our waterproof clothing. In doing so, we are gradually improving the environmental and social sustainability of our products. Alongside the choice and processing of materials, we are also currently looking at how we can make the design of our products as sustainable as possible.

Consistently developing our textile range – 70% of all our textile materials are already more sustainable.

Our goals

By 2025, 100% of Tchibo textiles will be made with sustainable materials.

100% of cotton will be from sustainable sources (2022)

100% of cashmere will be from responsible husbandry (2022)

100% of merino wool and down feathers will be from responsible husbandry (2022)

100% of synthetic fibres will be from recycled sources (2025)

100% of cellulose-based fibres will be from sustainable wood (2025)

100% of wool will be from responsible husbandry (2025)

50% of Tchibo hard goods will be made from sustainable materials or have a durable design (2025)

Our sustainable materials

Cotton

Cotton

Cotton is very resource-intensive in conventional cultivation and usually takes place using synthetic pesticides and fertilisers. That is why we decided more than 14 years ago to switch to more sustainable cotton. We focus on cotton from controlled organic cultivation, as no chemical fertilisers or pesticides may be used here. For this purpose, we work with the Organic Content Standard (OCS) and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification standards. In addition, we have been working with the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) initiative of the Aid by Trade foundation since 2007.

In addition, we promote the environmentally friendly cultivation of cotton directly at farm level in various projects. The cotton from these projects will flow into our supply chains and products in the future. In this way, we as Tchibo support the conversion from conventional to more sustainable cultivation, give farmers more predictability and security through the purchase of cotton in the organic certification process ("Cotton in Conversion"), increase transparency from the origin to our products and, in addition, through direct contact with farmers and cooperatives, can address environmental and social issues together in a much more targeted manner, such as the reduction of water consumption or women's empowerment.

Synthetic fibres

Synthetic fibres

We have been using recycled fibres – from old fishing nets, plastic bottles and textile waste, for example – since 2018, in a bid to conserve finite resources and curb the ever-growing problem of plastic pollution.

Because our yarns are made from recycled material and are certified with the Global Recycling Standard (GRS) or Recycled Claim Standard (RCS), we are able to prove exactly how much recycled material is in each of our products.

Man-made cellulosic fibres

Man-made cellulosic fibres

Viscose, Modal and Lyocell are still some of the most important textile materials in our range. Yet the same is true here, that the fact they are renewable does not automatically make them sustainable. We therefore use man-made cellulosic fibres from more sustainable sources. The minimum requirement for these fibres is that they are sourced from certified forestry schemes and for the most part they are also processed in a more sustainable way.

Animal fibres and materials

Animal fibres and materials

Animal welfare is an essential component of our commitment to sustainability. Our aim is to use animal-based materials for our Tchibo products only if the animals are kept in a manner that is appropriate for the species while they are being raised, sheared, transported or slaughtered. At the same time, we are also working to use and promote the use of alternative materials that do not come from animals.

In order to protect animal welfare and the environment for our animal-derived materials, we work to recognised standards that are verified by independent third parties: DOWNPASS Standard, Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). Since 2021, we now apply The Good Cashmere Standard from the Aid by Trade Foundation across our range.

Read our Animal Policy to find out more!

Innovative materials

Innovative materials

With an eye to the future, we are constantly on the lookout for new ideas and innovative materials that will make our range even more sustainable.

Some innovative materials we have already made it onto our shelves: ECONYL® (a recycled fibre made from nylon waste such as fishing nets, fabric remnants and carpet scraps), non-food items made from I’m Green™ PE (a bio-polyethylene made from sugar cane), textiles made with a mixture of recycled plastic bottles and recycled coffee grounds, and also textiles made from recycled cashmere.

Wood and paper

Wood and paper

Supporting responsible forest management and a zero-tolerance approach to illegal logging are absolutely fundamental to our commitment to sustainability. We use a balanced selection of woods from Europe and certified sustainable woods from tropical and boreal climates.

Forests are irreplaceable. In order to help protect them, there are various measures we take during product creation: from tracing the origin to verifying the suppliers and the high FSC® sustainability standard.

Plastic

Plastic

We believe that plastic can be an environmentally responsible material if it is used, disposed of and recycled in the right way. We therefore follow the principle of ‘zero waste’ rather than ‘zero plastic’. This means we want to minimise the amount of single-use plastic, disposable products and waste that we produce. Resource conservation and closed material cycles – in other words, ensuring that our products are recyclable – are central to this. We therefore focus on using recycled, bio-based and recyclable materials for our plastic products.