“Sustainability is a must-have”

An interview with the strong woman at our top – a woman who knows what matters: for the environment, for our partners and of course for you – our customers

Sustainability is the topic of the hour. Many of our planet's resources are limited, and the consequences of climate change can no longer be denied. To at least slow the development of the resulting problems, it's not just consumers who need to rethink their lifestyles.

Michaela Schenk, Managing Director of MAWA, is familiar with the problem. With her help, MAWA has become a pioneer in recent years when it comes to sustainability as a holistic concept.

Ms. Schenk, what tasks do companies expect to face in the coming years with regard to sustainability?

Environmental protection and climate change – these are topics that concern everyone. According to the WWF, around 13 million hectares of forest disappear each year due to deforestation. By 2030, this would mean an area roughly the size of Germany, France, Spain, and Portugal combined. Even without reducing our CO2 emissions, climate change will soon have fatal and irreversible consequences for the planet. Therefore, companies must focus on developing sustainability. This can start in the office by using less paper or using green electricity. In the long term, however, it is primarily about changing the use of raw materials and production processes. This can be an uncomfortable process, as changes are not always easy to implement. But every company must be aware of its responsibility towards the environment, nature, and people. Ultimately, consumers are also becoming increasingly aware of the need to treat the planet responsibly, which they are also basing their consumption behavior on. Accordingly, the pressure on companies, including from customers, is growing. However, it's not about making a good impression on customers with a particularly sustainable look. A genuine commitment to greater sustainability must be the focus – and this is no less true in the fashion sector.

How come?

In Germany, the textile and clothing industry is one of the most important consumer goods sectors. The entire process, from cultivation to production to textile finishing, still places a significant burden on the environment due to the use of chemicals and high water consumption. However, there are already numerous examples of how sustainability is gaining importance here as well. Many major manufacturers have committed to producing their fabrics without chemicals that are harmful to the environment or health. Furthermore, approximately 30 percent of the used clothing collected in Germany is recycled.

How do you implement this topic at MAWA?

We have committed ourselves to the United Nations Agenda 2030, whose 17 goals pursue sustainable development and positive objectives on an economic, social, and ecological level. Accordingly, our goal is to achieve CO2-free production by 2030 at the latest. As things currently stand, however, we will achieve this much sooner. In this context, for example, we have also entered into a cooperation with carbon connect AG and are participating in the Treelionaire project. The goal of the campaign is to plant one million trees. The three locations include communities in Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia. This project corresponds to the goals of the 2030 Agenda in several respects, as it not only pursues the reforestation of threatened forests to combat climate change. It also aims to preserve biodiversity while combating economic inequality. For us, sustainability is a must-have – and not just this season. For example, we have never produced any plastic hangers because we are not convinced that this material is sustainable. We use certified European wood for our wooden hangers, and I've had the recipe for our metal hangers modified so that we only use PVC without phthalates, lead, or cadmium. We also recently created an eco-hanger made from natural and textile fibers, pioneering a new approach within the industry. We use renewable raw materials that create a closed CO2 cycle. In addition, textile waste from clothing and fabric scraps is used in production. This avoids the disposal and incineration of old clothes and reduces the resulting CO2 emissions by 85 percent.

Why is this topic so important to you?

As a company, we understand that there is no Planet B and therefore feel it is our responsibility to contribute to our future and that of future generations. We therefore want to demonstrate that sustainability is no longer confined to the green, organic corner, but rather a topic where no one has to forgo style. This means that contemporary design, high-tech production, and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. For us, it is part of a holistic fashion concept with which we offer variety and individuality in hanger design based on defined lifestyles. Our goal is to lead by example. MAWA also stands for future-oriented work, thinking, and planning – accordingly, sustainability means a holistic concept.