
Hennes & Mauritz
Company Score
-0.16Hennes & Mauritz AB engages in the sale of clothing, accessories, footwear, cosmetics, and home textiles. The company products include accessories, underwear, cosmetics, sportswear, and other apparel for men, women, and kids. Well known brands include H&M, COS, Monki, Weekday, and & Other Stories. The company was founded by Erling Persson in 1947 and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.
Read about H&M and its impact below.
Impact notes
H&M sources viscose from suppliers who are responsible for water pollution in India and Indonesia


Viscose is a semi-synthetic material used in the production of garments1. Around 6 million tonnes of viscose is produced globally2, and 83% of it is produced in China, India, and South Asia, where the forms of viscose production are obsolete and almost 100 years old1. Chemicals like carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and sodium hydroxide released during the fiber’s production lead to water pollution1.
Since 2013, Hennes and Mauritz funded over $25 million promoting equal opportunities in 23 countries


Sustainable development cannot be achieved when inequalities prevail in society. Inequalities threaten individuals’ personal growth and opportunities, leading to disease, crime, and environmental degradation4;p1. Inequality, as recognized for poverty comprises of an economic, social, and ecological dimension1. Despite some optimistic signs, inequality persists in over 70% of the global population, worsening the risks of divisions and hindering social and economic development4p;1.
Hennes & Mauritz helped about 270,000 women entrepreneurs in low-income countries since 2014


There are over 252 million women entrepreneurs, and 153 million women engaged in their established businesses globally1. However, there are various obstacles faced by women to set up their business with ease2. According to a survey, around 25% of the women business holders think they do not have robust plans for sale, and 40% feel that they lack the marketing skills2. On average, women-owned businesses get 31% smaller loans than male-owned business2.
H&M is responsible for 0.35% of the fashion industry’s GHG emissions of 5.2bn tonnes


Human-made emissions are posing a severe threat to the environment by rising Earth’s surface temperature1. In 2019, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rose to 52.3 billion tonnes CO2e2. Fashion industry accounts for a massive 10% of global GHG emissions3. A pair of jeans from cotton production to delivery of the final product has a carbon footprint of 33.4 kilograms of CO2e3.
UN Agencies use H&M online channels to promote the COVID-19 response fund and impact Philippines


During the COVID-19 crisis, various struggles have been experienced and exacerbated in diverse sectors and communities. Thus, different stakeholders are joining forces to fight this battle. The most effective channel companies broadcast information on is the internet, especially social media. A study of 25,000 consumers across 30 markets showed increasing engagement by 61% over normal usage rates1.