Our shops, distribution centres and offices use energy for lighting, heating, cooling and logistics. To reduce these emissions, we are committed to the transition to renewable energy sources:

• We install solar panels on the roofs of buildings where this is technically and economically feasible. This allows us to generate sustainable energy locally and reduce our reliance on the electricity grid.
• At as many sites as possible, we are switching to 100% renewable electricity, so that our energy supply comes from renewable sources.
• We use biofuel (HVO30) for transport from our distribution centres to our shops. Our aim is to switch to electric lorries. We are currently looking into the options available.

2025: In the Netherlands, all our own shops have switched to 100% wind energy. In addition, over the past year we have completely switched to a fleet consisting entirely of 100%* electric passenger cars. Last year, this figure stood at 97.4%.

As well as switching to renewable energy, we are focusing on reducing our energy consumption. By working smarter and more efficiently, we are further reducing our CO₂ emissions:

• We are replacing existing lighting with energy-efficient LED lighting, improving the insulation of buildings and optimising heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.
• In our shops, we use automatic sliding doors to minimise heat loss and energy-efficient refrigeration systems for our products.
• We are introducing smart meters and energy monitoring systems so that we can gain immediate insight into our energy consumption. This enables us to identify and address inefficiencies more quickly.
• We are implementing cost-saving measures from the RVO’s list of approved measures.
• In our shops, offices and distribution centres, we are implementing energy efficiency programmes aimed at optimising energy-intensive systems and processes.

The largest source of our scope 3 emissions is the products we purchase and sell. It is the materials and ingredients in particular that determine the environmental impact. That is why we are implementing (where possible) more sustainable product design and use of materials:

• We are increasing the proportion of recycled materials in our textiles and hardware, and are increasingly using materials with a lower carbon footprint.
• We are reducing our use of packaging materials by designing more intelligently and opting for packaging that is recyclable or reusable.

2025: For a large proportion of our denim, we are taking a significant step forward: from now on, we will use at least 20% pre-consumer recycled yarn. This way, we give valuable materials a new lease of life, without compromising on quality. This is how we reduce the environmental impact of our denim, whilst ensuring it lasts just as long as you’ve come to expect from us. These items will be available in shops from 2026 and 2027.

To reduce our overall environmental impact, we are working with suppliers to make their production processes more sustainable:

• We have a responsible procurement policy, through which we encourage suppliers to improve their environ­mental performance.
• We use the amfori platform to collect data from our production sites on, among other things, energy consumption, energy sources, water consumption, waste streams and recycling. Using this information, we identify where the majority of emissions occur within our supply chain and work with suppliers to achieve CO₂ reductions.
• We work with suppliers to achieve CO₂ reductions. We do this by engaging in dialogue, agreeing on objectives together, and learning how we can support suppliers.

2025: By 2025, we will have actively collected data from our production sites on energy consumption, energy sources, water consumption, waste streams and recycling through BEPI audits. This data gave us a quick insight into where the highest CO₂ emissions in our production chain are and which suppliers have the greatest impact, enabling us to set specific priorities in collaboration with them. In 2026, we will be holding discus­sions with these suppliers to jointly explore specific measures for improvement, such as more efficient energy use, more sustainable energy sources and smarter waste and water management. We want to work with our suppliers to share more knowledge and set up initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions in our supply chain, step by step.

“We don’t claim to have all the answers.” It really is a partnership between us and the supplier. They have such a wealth of knowledge about their production processes. “We can then look together at what is feasible,”
Fuusje Schlette

In addition to category 3.1, scope 3 emissions include indirect emissions from property, transport and employee mobility. These emissions call for targeted measures to reduce energy consumption and make processes more sustainable, both upstream and downstream.

• We optimise routes, load lorries more efficiently and are increasingly using more sustainable fuels.
• We are reducing (residual) waste, partly by minimising wastage in shops as much as possible and by improving waste separation so that a higher percentage can be recycled.
• We are looking into ways of encouraging more sustainable commuting.

2025: In 2025, we began preparations for the separate collection of organic waste (swill) and past-their-best products from shops, with the roll-out scheduled for 2026. By collecting these waste streams separately, we can make better use of them and process them sustainably, rather than letting them end up in the general waste. In this way, we reduce the amount of residual waste that is incinerated and help to reduce scope 3 emissions.

Quality marks are an important tool for ensuring that products meet minimum sustainability and animal welfare criteria. When it comes to the environment, for example, FSC-certified timber, which reduces the risk of deforestation, and regenerative cotton, which helps farmers improve soil health, have a significant impact.

We are aware that quality marks do not in themselves offer a complete guarantee: risks remain even within certified supply chains. That is why we combine quality marks with additional measures, such as improving traceability, conducting supplier assessments and analysing risks. In this way, we are working to reduce our negative impact throughout the supply chain. We continuously review the policy and update it where necessary, in consultation with stakeholders. Further information on this can be found in the due diligence policy.

2025:Wehave increased the proportion of organic cotton in our fashion collections by 2.7% compared with 2024, to 65% of items.

This means that, for the organic cotton used in our fashion collections, no artificial fertilisers, chemical pesticides or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are used in the cotton production process.

Water pollution is a key concern within our textile supply chain. Production sites use chemical processes that increase the risk of pollution of local water sources. That is why we base our policy on the international ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines, which set requirements for the quality of wastewater and its effective filtration. Compliance with these guidelines is monitored via the amfori platform and represents an important step towards cleaner production and the protection of local ecosystems.

2025: By 2025, we will have set specific targets for the implementation of the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines within our textile supply chain. These objectives include improving the quality of wastewater, effectively filtering out harmful substances, and monitoring compliance at production sites via the amfori platform.

This marks an important step towards cleaner production processes and the protection of local aquatic ecosystems. The aim is to ensure that all our textile production sites (with wet processes) comply with the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines by 2030.

We are working to ensure that raw materials with a high risk of deforestation can be traced. With the implementation of the EUDR (Deforestation Regulation), we are increasing the certainty that timber and other raw materials have been produced legally since 2020 and do not contribute to recent deforestation.

Improved traceability enables us to take further action and continue to combat deforestation in the supply chain, in close collaboration with our suppliers. We are looking into the best way to do this.

Water is an essential resource in the production of many HEMA products: from cotton and crops for food products to chemical processes for cosmetics and household goods. The raw material stage of these products often involves the use of large amounts of water, which can lead to the depletion of local water sources and put pressure on ecosystems. The impact and risk analysis we carry out using Spirefly helps us to identify water-intensive supply chains and hotspots and take targeted action. BEPI audits also provide insight into water usage at production sites.

At the same time, we are aiming to increase the proportion of cotton that carries quality marks promoting water efficiency, such as organic, regenerative and recycled cotton.

2025: Over the past year, we have conducted extensive research into opportunities to source regenerative and recycled cotton, with a focus on reducing water consumption and improving soil health. By 2026, we will be able to specifically increase the proportion of these cotton varieties used in our products, thereby contributing to more efficient water use and a reduced impact on local ecosystems.

By using recycled and renewable materials, we reduce our reliance on new raw materials, which may become scarce.

• We give preference to renewable materials in textiles, so that fewer microplastics end up in the environ­ment during the product’s life cycle.
• We are using more (pre-consumer) recycled materials in textiles and are exploring ways to reprocess post-consumer textiles into new products.
• When it comes to hardware, we are also aiming to increase the propor­tion of recycled materials used, including post-consumer materials where possible.
• We do not use certain materials, such as loose glitter (microplastics), leather that is not a by-product of the meat industry, angora wool, and plastic for disposable products in the hospitality sector.

2025: Last year, we developed a sustainability checklist for designers. This helps designers to make informed choices right from the start of the design process, for example regarding the use of materials, energy consumption, and the repairability and recyclability of products.

In addition, an online materials library has been developed where designers can compare different materials based on their properties and CO₂ emission factors. This gives designers a better understanding of the environmental impact of their material choices. Work is also underway to create a physical materials library to further support this. These tools help designers make more sustainable choices and are in line with our design approach: smarter, longer, more often.

As well as using more sustainable materials, we are focusing on circular product design. This means that a product can be reused, be multifunctional, or be adaptable as the user grows.

• We design smarter so that products can be used frequently. Our designers come up with clever solutions such as multifunctional, adaptable, energy-efficient or timeless products.
• We also give preference to renewable materials.
• We design products that last longer. To ensure quality and durability, we test our products in our own laboratory. Products can be given a new lease of life when a customer reuses, passes on or has them repaired.
• We use materials more often. We are using more and more recycled materials and moving towards products that are easier to recycle.

2025: By 2025, we will also have improved the quality and sustainability of various products based on customer feedback and product testing. For example, we have adapted the production process for knitted viscose shirts by using less fabric softener and packing the products less tightly, thereby preventing marks and white stains. For muslin products, such as muslin squares, we have modified the fabric construction to make the seams stronger and more durable. We have also improved the finish of the fabric used in our viscose nappy rompers, meaning they are now more resistant to wear and tear and meet our strength testing standards. These improvements help ensure that products remain attractive and functional for longer.

At HEMA, we take a responsible approach to waste, both in our own operations and for our customers. By sorting and recycling waste properly, it can be reused as a secondary raw material.

• We reduce operational waste, optimise waste sorting (including residual waste streams) and, together with our supply chain partners, increase the recycling rate.
• The biggest source of household waste is packaging. We are reducing packaging material wherever possible and replacing it with materials that contain less plastic and are more reusable, refillable or recyclable.
• For textile collection, we work in partnership with Wolkat to reuse the textiles or recycle them in a more sustainable way.
• We are reducing food waste by partnering with Too Good To Go and the Food Bank and by improving stock planning.

2025: Last year, we switched to a new specification system that allows us to record our packaging data in much greater detail. This gives us a better understanding of our impact and enables us to prepare thoroughly for the upcoming European packaging legislation.

This is also a significant moment for HEMA: the conclusion of its previous packaging targets and an opportunity to look back on the results achieved, with new ambitions for 2030. In 2025, the focus was on three key areas: reducing plastic, using recycled and renewable materials, and improving recyclability and reusability. This applied to consumer packaging as well as transport and outer packaging.

We have completely revamped our beauty range: lipstick, blush and powders are now all refillable, and whereas previously only eyeshadow was refillable, the entire range has been updated.

We’ve learnt a great deal from the packaging for our refillable eyeshadows; we’ve applied those insights to all our other make-up products. We learn from past innovations and apply this knowledge across the board.

It was clear, however, that refillable packaging requires a change in consumer behaviour. It takes time and explanation for refillable products to be accepted and adopted. HEMA has supported this with a targeted communication campaign to guide consumers through the process step by step: how refilling works and why it is sustainable. We also learnt that make-up packaging simply has to look good; it’s about more than just its function. The colour needs to be right, the packaging must be attractive, and the whole thing must fit in with the rest of the collection.

Over the past year, we have once again replaced plastic packaging with cardboard. Beauty accessories are now displayed on cotton cards, and underwear and T-shirts are wrapped in cardboard sleeves rather than plastic bags. Feedback from shop employee was taken into account to ensure that the packaging remained functional and sturdy.

Nienke van der Veen, Packaging Specialist at HEMA:

“By 2023, we had already exceeded our plastic reduction target.” At the same time, we came up against a problem: reducing our total packaging weight turned out to be more complex than we had anticipated.

In preparation for the new European PPWR legislation, HEMA collected detailed information on packaging in 2025: type of plastic, colour, recyclability, recycled content and reusability. Suppliers, particularly those outside Europe, were informed and trained, and the manuals were updated.

HEMA is constantly exploring ways to make its products circular. This can be done, for example, by repairing, reusing, renting out or selling products second-hand. We are mapping out various models and working with potential supply chain partners to explore how we can put these concepts into practice.