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 | PLANÈTE
Nous reconnaissons que nos opérations ont une empreinte environnementale - et nous nous engageons à faire quelque chose à ce sujet.
En 2024, nous avons lancé un partenariat ambitieux avec les consultants en développement durable de Seismic pour mesurer nos émissions de carbone dans l'ensemble de l'entreprise. Cela marque une étape majeure dans la gestion stratégique et la réduction de notre impact.
En conséquence, nous avons défini un objectif scientifique pour nos émissions de Scope 1 et Scope 2 - celles que nous contrôlons directement - aligné sur le Paris Climate Pathway to Net Zero.
Au-delà de notre empreinte immédiate, nous prenons des mesures sur les émissions de Scope 3, qui proviennent en grande partie des matériaux que nous utilisons et de nos partenaires de fabrication. Nous augmentons l'utilisation de matériaux certifiés à faible impact et travaillons en étroite collaboration avec nos fournisseurs pour encourager l'adoption des énergies renouvelables dans leurs installations.
Pour suivre nos progrès, nous utilisons la plateforme de reporting carbone Plan A, qui offre une visibilité complète de nos émissions et nous aide à prendre des mesures ciblées là où cela compte le plus.
Au sein de nos propres opérations, nous avons défini des objectifs de fret interne pour minimiser l'impact environnemental, en donnant la priorité au transport routier et maritime, tout en réduisant les expéditions aériennes dans la mesure du possible. Nous collaborons également avec des fournisseurs de fret externes qui partagent nos ambitions Net Zero.
En 2024, nous étions fiers de contribuer au programme de transition à faible émission de carbone du British Fashion Council, partiellement financé par le gouvernement britannique, en soutenant les efforts collectifs visant à décarboner l'industrie de la mode et à susciter des changements significatifs.
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 | LE LUXE POSITIF
En 2025, nous étions fiers de recevoir la marque papillon de Positive Luxury en tant que symbole des vrais artisans du changement dans le luxe. Il n'est jamais décerné par Positive Luxury qu'aux marques qui répondent à des normes de plus en plus élevées pour les personnes et la nature.
Pour obtenir la marque Butterfly, nous avons dû passer une évaluation indépendante dirigée par des experts qui repose sur des accords internationaux, des cadres et des normes mondiaux, et même une législation potentielle à venir. Il couvre tous les domaines de la durabilité : Environnement, Social et Gouvernance.
Au cours d'une année, nous avons collaboré avec l'équipe Positive Luxury en fournissant des preuves du changement que nous apportons à un large éventail de questions de durabilité, notamment notre impact sur des domaines tels que le climat, la nature et l'eau (environnement), nos engagements envers les travailleurs de nos chaînes d'approvisionnement (social), ainsi que la manière responsable et éthique dont nous gérons nos entreprises (gouvernance). Aucun détail n'est omis. Pour certifier que nous devions atteindre 50 % sur les trois piliers, vous pouvez explorer nos efforts via notre marque de papillon connecté ici.
Passer l'évaluation est un moment historique dans notre parcours de développement durable. Mais notre voyage est loin d'être terminé. Pour conserver la marque papillon, nous devons renouveler la certification tous les deux ans. Cela signifie que, à mesure que les normes augmentent, nous nous engageons à améliorer continuellement nos performances pour les atteindre. Dès le début de l'évaluation, nous avons travaillé en étroite collaboration avec Positive Luxury pour améliorer nos performances et nous continuerons à le faire jusqu'à ce que nous renouvelions la certification.
La marque papillon est un symbole que nous défendons le progrès sur la perfection, le travail difficile sur les victoires faciles, et que nous ne cesserons jamais d'essayer de nous améliorer.
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.
