More transparency about product origin and environmental impact: bonprix launches swimwear collection with Sustainability Passport

To kick off the swimming season, bonprix is presenting its latest swimwear collection, which is not only made from more sustainable materials, but also features a Sustainability Passport for the first time. This digital product passport shows all stages of the supply chain, provides insights into the ecological performance of selected suppliers and illustrates the environmental impact of each product. Customers can find out key figures using the QR code on the hangtag. The comprehensive Sustainability Passport is the result of a joint pilot project with the start-up Made2flow.

The new swimwear collection from bonprix comprises 16 styles made from recycled polyamide and Ecovero viscose. The centrepiece is a reversible swimming costume that can be worn in four different ways: plain or with trendy colour flow in orange-purple, with knot detail at the front or back. This versatility is designed to extend the product's useful life. The collection also includes other models in orange-purple and single-colour styles - from bikinis and swimming costumes to swim dresses and knotted tops. The products will be available in the online shop from 6 June 2024.

Transparency through comprehensive data analysis

Over 200 data points were collected along the entire supply chain for each swimwear item in order to calculate the life cycle analysis (‘cradle to gate’) for each product. The supply chain partners provided data including energy and water consumption as well as details on the type of energy, chemicals and machinery used. The pilot project was implemented with long-standing, strategic suppliers.

The 16 categories of the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) were calculated by the Berlin-based start-up Made2Flow, which specialises in data collection and validation as well as the balancing of environmental impacts in the fashion industry. Three of these categories - climate change, water consumption and use of fossil raw materials - are communicated directly to customers. The information is clearly presented as a digital Sustainability Passport on a landing page that can be accessed via the QR code on the hangtag of each item.

Focus on product transparency: the Sustainability Passport combines strategic fields of action

The trial introduction of the Sustainability Passport is both a step towards greater transparency for customers and a preparation for future EU regulations such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), including the Digital Product Passport (DPP).

Stefanie Sumfleth, Vice President Corporate Responsibility & Technical Product at bonprix, emphasises the strategic relevance of the project: ‘We have been working for a long time and with great success to bring transparency to the supply chain. The benefits of more sustainable materials and the ecological performance of our suppliers are already key focal points of our CR strategy. The Sustainability Passport brings all these perspectives together at product level for the first time and makes them visible and tangible for our customers on the product. A step that we have only been able to take thanks to many years of close cooperation with our partners in the supply chain.’

For Carolin Klar, Managing Director Product, Sourcing & Corporate Responsibility at bonprix, the Sustainability Passport is an important step towards strengthening customer trust: ‘We know that many consumers are unsure when it comes to statements about sustainability in the fashion industry. That's why we are consciously focussing on a high level of transparency: with the Sustainability Passport, we are making sustainability visible and understandable and want to promote both interest in our products and awareness of more sustainable fashion.’