Press Releases

FASHION FOOTPRINT - RESPONSIBILITY REPORT - 2009

Download the full Arcadia Responsibility Report

Welcome

Three years on from the launch of our Fashion Footprint initiative - the focus for our commitment to responsible retailing - we are pleased to report that we have made further significant year-on-year progress.

As a large business we are keenly aware of the role we play and the impact we have on our suppliers and their people as well as wider communities, the environment and our own employees.

We take those responsibilities seriously, just as seriously as we do driving our seven brands: Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topman, Topshop and Wallis - and our shopping concept Outfit.

Once again this report provides updates on all the workstreams within Fashion Footprint, with reviews of all their activities.

The report highlights our engagement and the positive action we’ve taken to improve factory conditions worldwide, reduce our environmental impact and raise awareness among our own staff of the need to trade ethically.

We have introduced some changes to this year’s report. We have increased our focus on garment suppliers and our brands’ buying activities - the areas of greatest comment for many of those involved in responsible retailing.

We have also forged valuable new links with some leading global brands, retailers and other stakeholders to share best practice, enhance understanding of the impacts and benefits of ethical trading and to build consistency in the way we act. As our brands work more closely with Bhs, we are rolling out our approaches to social responsibility across that business.

In addition, we have aimed to provide greater transparency with the introduction of a ‘Challenges’ commentary in each section. We acknowledge that significant improvements in the area of responsibility will seldom be a quick fix - it will continue to take years of hard work and commitment.

I hope you find this latest report enlightening and interesting and we look forward to receiving your views.

IAN GRABINER, GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Download the full Arcadia Responsibility Report