SUSTAINABILITY
ME+EM was founded on four key pillars: flattering, functional, forever and fair. As much as these pillars guide every aspect of our collections, they also inspire our approach to responsibility and sustainability.We have high aspirations for what we want to achieve as a brand, and our sustainability purpose informs exactly how we achieve those - from the materials we source to how we transport our collections.
Led by our dedicated in-house sustainability team, we collaborate with leading industry expert organisations to inform our environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework, as well as our sustainability pillars: Product, People, Planet + Community.
In recognition of our sustainability commitments and actions, in 2025 ME+EM were proud to be certified by Positive Luxury, an ever-evolving mark of our standards.
1 | PRODUCT
Quality and longevity are at the heart of everything we do. We’re proud to use only the highest quality materials, thoughtfully selected to create timeless pieces made to last.
As part of our ongoing commitment to responsible design, we’re working to increase the use of certified materials across our collections. These certifications not only ensure traceability, but also support elevated social and environmental standards:
We tirelessly collaborate with our suppliers to ensure our values are upheld throughout our supply chain. This is communicated through a comprehensive code of conduct, preferred material guidelines and sourcing policies. Notably these include:
+ Animal welfare (our wool is mulesing-free and our leather is only ever obtained as a by-product to the food industry)
+ Restricted substances (Supplier must be compliant with REACH and AFIRM)
+ Responsible cotton sourcing (we do not permit cotton sourced from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Xinjiang)
2 | PEOPLE
Our suppliers are an extension of our team, a crucial element in everything we do.
We don’t just search far and wide for the best capabilities and resources for our collections; we seek partners who resonate with our values. Once we find them, we’re committed to fostering direct, long-lasting and collaborative relationships that bring our collections to life.
A core part of our ethos is the fair and respectful treatment of people across every part of our supply chain. To uphold this commitment, we proudly stand as members of both the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and SEDEX.
The ETI is a powerful force driving long-term change and worker empowerment across the globe. Since becoming a member in 2022, we've adopted their internationally recognised base code of labour standards as the foundation of our own code of conduct, particularly focusing on protecting workers’ rights. Our internal teams undergo responsible purchasing practice training by the ETI, ensuring our sourcing methods remain ethical, fair, and transparent.
Our SEDEX membership further reinforces our commitment to responsible supply chain management, enabling us to engage in global auditing programs that provide both insight and accountability. All ME+EM suppliers are required to undergo regular social audits by independent organisations, and we actively encourage SEDEX membership for all our direct suppliers.
We’re also proud to be an accredited Living Wage Employer for our ME+EM employees, ensuring fair pay across the board.
With a truly global footprint, we are investing in cutting-edge technology to map and enhance transparency across our supply chains. Our goal is to empower both our partners and our customers with the clarity and traceability they deserve.
3 | PLANET
Wir erkennen an, dass unser Betrieb einen ökologischen Fußabdruck hat - und wir sind entschlossen, etwas dagegen zu unternehmen.
Im Jahr 2024 starteten wir eine ehrgeizige Partnerschaft mit dem Nachhaltigkeitsberater Seismic, um unsere CO2-Emissionen im gesamten Unternehmen zu messen. Dies ist ein wichtiger Schritt, um unsere Auswirkungen strategisch zu steuern und zu reduzieren.
Infolgedessen haben wir ein wissenschaftlich fundiertes Ziel für unsere Scope-1- und Scope-2-Emissionen - die wir direkt kontrollieren - festgelegt, das auf den Pariser Klimapfad zur Netto-Null ausgerichtet ist.
Über unseren unmittelbaren Fußabdruck hinaus ergreifen wir Maßnahmen in Bezug auf Scope-3-Emissionen, die größtenteils auf die von uns verwendeten Materialien und unsere Fertigungspartner zurückzuführen sind. Wir erhöhen den Einsatz von weniger umweltschädlichen, zertifizierten Materialien und arbeiten eng mit unseren Lieferanten zusammen, um die Einführung erneuerbarer Energien in ihren Einrichtungen zu fördern.
Um unseren Fortschritt zu verfolgen, verwenden wir die CO2-Berichtsplattform Plan A, die einen vollständigen Überblick über unsere Emissionen bietet und uns hilft, gezielte Maßnahmen dort zu ergreifen, wo es am wichtigsten ist.
Innerhalb unserer eigenen Betriebe haben wir interne Frachtziele festgelegt, um die Umweltbelastung zu minimieren - vorrangig den Straßen- und Seetransport - und gleichzeitig die Lufttransporte zu reduzieren, wo immer dies möglich ist. Wir arbeiten auch mit externen Frachtanbietern zusammen, die unsere Net Zero Ambitionen teilen.
Im Jahr 2024 waren wir stolz darauf, einen Beitrag zum Low-Carbon-Transition-Programm des British Fashion Council zu leisten, das teilweise von der britischen Regierung finanziert wird und gemeinsame Anstrengungen zur Dekarbonisierung der Modebranche und zur Förderung bedeutender Veränderungen unterstützt.
4 | FOREVER ICONS
Natural fibres: Crafted from natural fibres such as cashmere and cotton
Recycled material: The composition of this style contains a minimum of 50% recycled materials
Audited supplier: The supplier has been audited by an independent third party
By-product: The material used is a by-product of the food industry and held to high animal welfare standards
Transported by road: Pieces have been transported to our warehouse by road, our preferred lower impact freight method
Transported by sea: Pieces have been transported to our warehouse by sea, our preferred lower impact freight method
Mulesing-free: Wool has been sourced from sheep that have not been subjected to the practise of mulesing
Recycled Packaging: Delivery packaging is made from recycled material, and can be recycled after use
Organic: The composition of this style contains a minimum of 50% organic materials.
5 | POSITIVER LUXUS
Im Jahr 2025 waren wir stolz darauf, von Positive Luxury mit der Butterfly Mark als Symbol für die echten Veränderer im Luxus ausgezeichnet worden zu sein. Es wird immer nur von Positive Luxury an Marken vergeben, die immer höhere Standards für Mensch und Natur erfüllen.
Um das Schmetterlingszeichen zu erhalten, mussten wir eine von Experten geleitete, unabhängige Bewertung bestehen, die auf der Grundlage internationaler Vereinbarungen, globaler Rahmenbedingungen und Standards und sogar potenzieller bevorstehender Gesetze basiert. Es deckt alle Bereiche der Nachhaltigkeit ab: Umwelt, Soziales und Governance.
Im Laufe eines Jahres haben wir mit dem Positive Luxury-Team zusammengearbeitet, um die Veränderungen zu belegen, die wir in einer Vielzahl von Nachhaltigkeitsthemen vornehmen, darunter unsere Auswirkungen auf Bereiche wie Klima, Natur und Wasser (Umwelt), unser Engagement für die Arbeitnehmer in unseren Lieferketten (Soziales) sowie die verantwortungsvolle und ethische Führung unserer Unternehmen (Governance). Kein Detail wird ausgelassen. Um zu zertifizieren, mussten wir 50 % über die drei Säulen hinweg erreichen, und Sie können unsere Bemühungen durch unsere Connected Butterfly Mark hier erkunden.
Das Bestehen der Bewertung ist ein Meilenstein auf unserem Weg zur Nachhaltigkeit. Doch unsere Reise ist noch lange nicht zu Ende. Um das Butterfly-Zeichen zu behalten, müssen wir alle zwei Jahre neu zertifizieren. Das heißt, wenn die Standards steigen, sind wir bestrebt, unsere Leistung kontinuierlich zu verbessern, um sie zu erfüllen. Von Anfang an haben wir eng mit Positive Luxury zusammengearbeitet, um unsere Leistung zu verbessern, und wir werden dies auch weiterhin tun, bis wir uns erneut zertifizieren.
Die Schmetterlingsmarke ist ein Symbol dafür, dass wir für Fortschritt über Perfektion, schwierige Arbeit über leichte Gewinne stehen und dass wir nie aufhören werden, uns zu verbessern.
6 | COMMUNITY + GIVING
As a female-founded brand centred on women’s empowerment we believe in business as a force for good. We are members of The British Fashion Council, and are privileged to provide funds and raise awareness for the following charities that are dedicated to improving the lives of women in the UK and around the world:
+ The King’s Trust
In 2020, ME+EM founder + CEO Clare Hornby was made an ambassador for the King’s Trust Women Supporting Women initiative, which works to equip young women across the UK to build their own future through education, training and employment. We have been pleased to regularly dedicate donations to the Kings Trust from our annual sample sale.
Registered Charity No. in England and Wales (1079675) Scotland (SC041198) USA (EIN 82-5457122)
+ Smartworks
Smart Works was launched in 2013 to help empower unemployed women with the clothes, coaching and confidence they need to succeed at their job interview and transform their lives.
Registered Charity No. 1080609
+ Women for Women International
Since 1993 Women for women has helped more than 500,000 marginalised women in countries affected by war and conflict. They directly work with women in 8 countries, offering support, tools and access to life changing skills to move from crisis and poverty to stability and economic self-sufficiency. ME+EM have supported Women for Women International since 2023 participating in International Women's Day campaigns and by taking part in the annual #SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale in partnership with Selfridges and Alex Eagle.
Registered Charity No. 1115109
+ Future Dreams
Future Dreams is the only dedicated breast cancer support centre in the UK, providing in-person and virtual support through all stages of breast cancer.
Registered Charity No. 1123526
+ Lady Garden Foundation
Lady Garden Foundation is a charity working to remove the taboo around discussing gynaecological health, while raising awareness and funding for gynaecological-cancer research.
Registered Charity No. 1154755
7 | CIRCULARITY
In our commitment to preventing materials or garments entering landfill, we recycle or donate our fabrics and trims from our head office to charities and partner with certified recycling agencies such as Recorra.
We donate all unsold sample sale pieces to New Life, a charity supporting disabled and terminally ill children and their families. Our donations are sold by Newlife through their retail outlets, generating vital funds for the charity's operations. Registered Charity No.1170125
Our packaging is made from recycled, recyclable or reusable materials, including our ME+EM tote bag, crafted entirely from recycled plastic bottles.
Our lookbooks are printed on PEFC certified paper from responsibly managed forests and controlled sources and 100% recyclable.
