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Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability
We are always assessing and improving our practices in order to protect people, the planet and animals. Find out about our corporate social responsibility policies, sustainability initiatives, code of conduct and more.
Sustainability
Our approach to having a more sustainable and ethical brand is to be both humble and courageous; we know that we are not perfect, but that shouldn’t stop us from taking step-by-step approach to implementing better practices into everything we do. At By Malene Birger, sustainability and corporate responsibility are infused throughout every aspect of our brand, from production to our office.

Our work is anchored in the UN Global Compact framework and we follow the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, working with due diligence in our own business and in the supply chain. We use our Code of Conduct as a tool to adjust expectations with our business partners on responsible business behaviour and we aim to be strong collaborators for our business partners.

As we strive to become more sustainable and knowledgeable of our impact as both a brand and industry, we will engage in new initiatives and policies that bolster these changes. This consciousness is part of our growth strategy and is essential to the way we operate. We call this initiative “Malene Cares.”.

For easy reference, we have created in-depth briefs on People and Environment-related policies.

If you have any questions about our sustainability and CSR policies, please reach out to csr@bymalenebirger.com
Environment

By Malene Birger supports the UN Global Compact’s principles for the environment. We rigorously test for harmful chemicals in both production and in our products themselves. Processes and due diligence for chemical management are implemented in our daily work. Since 2013, we have worked with our own Restricted Substances List (RSL). The requirements reflect an awareness of how chemicals affect human health and the environment and we approach these effects preventatively. Our products all meet or surpasses REACH regulation.

We strive not only to manage adverse impacts to the environment and animals, but to create positive and lasting impacts. We are focused on reducing waste in all forms and we have implemented a no burn policy and instead donate all unused items to the NGO Human Bridge.

By Malene Birger is committed to creating a positive and healthy work place for every part of our supply chain. This runs from our HQ in Copenhagen to our factory partners around the world.
See our Environmental Care Policies
People

By Malene Birger is always striving to improve both internally with our employees and externally with partners and stakeholders.

We recognise that People and the Environment are not separate entities but are inextricably linked, and a benefit to one is a benefit to both. That said, our policies and initiatives have been divided for ease of reference; there is occasional overlap between the documents.

We want to positively impact people we work with and communities in which we operate.

By Malene Birger supports and respects the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is outlined in the UN Global Compact principles 1-6. Our Code of Conduct protects workers’ health and ensures safety when producing our products.

By Malene Birger has been a member of Amfori/BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) since 2007 and our code of conduct is equal to those standards. We are focused on increasing the number of our suppliers joining the programme and we will work together with our suppliers to strengthen our relationships.

We are a member of Amfori, the leading business association on open and sustainable trade. We take part in Amfori/BSCI to help us monitor suppliers with shared audits as well as improving our supply chain through learning opportunities. Through this framework, we can engage locally and globally to ensure mutually beneficial partnerships, ultimately shaping an environment of open and sustainable trade.

By Malene Birger is committed to creating a positive and healthy work place for every part of our supply chain. This runs from our HQ in Copenhagen to our factory partners around the world.
See our People Care Policies
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Code of Conduct

Our company is committed to avoiding and addressing adverse impacts on the basic principles for social, environmental, and economic development that we cause, contribute or are linked to through our businesses. Therefore, we strive to ensure that our own company, as well as our suppliers, operate in accordance with our Code of Conduct and thereby work towards alignment with the BSCI principles for sustainable development and good work practices.

Our Code of Conduct should be understood as a tool for cooperation and dialogue for improving systems to manage all impact on human rights, including labour rights, the environment, and anti-corruption.
See our Code of Conduct
Anti-corruption policy
By Malene Birger’s policy is to conduct all our business in an honest and ethical manner. We have a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption. We strive to make sure that national legislation is followed wherever we do business. We have established adequate processes to encounter corrupt practices in our organization.

We recognize our legal and moral obligations to implement adequate procedures sufficient to preventing bribery and corruption by managers, employees and business partners working for or on behalf of By Malene Birger. To this end, we have an e-learning program on corruption that all our full-time employees have access to on a bi-annual basis. This program results in a certificate and improved knowledge of how to deal with any situations involving corruption or bribery.

With the overall aim of ensuring a non-corrupt business environment throughout the value chain of our company, we work actively to comply with all applicable anti-bribery laws in all countries where we do business. This is in alignment with our membership in the UN Global Compact and the 10th principle on working against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery. Our anti-corruption policy sets out minimum standards; therefore, local law in the country where By Malene Birger operates shall always be followed, if it sets stricter requirements.
See our anti-corruption policy
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Chemical restrictions

To protect our customers, production, employees and the environment, By Malene Birger set clear guidelines on the permissibility of certain substances. We are committed to minimizing the use of harmful chemicals in the production of our products to protect the environment, employees and the consumer. To ensure that our policies are enforced throughout the value chain, we regularly check and test our products according to REACH and our own RSL (Restricted Substance List), which for certain chemicals exceed REACH requirements. The RSL is always up-to-date according to the latest legislation.

To ensure that our products live up to our chemical restrictions, we conduct risk assessments on all collections, based on high-risk articles, high volumes and supplier history. To keep up-to-date with the regulations, we collaborate with partners such as the Swedish Chemical Group, which is part of the Swedish research institute Rise. Via this membership, we have access to chemical expertise and hands-on tools for continuous chemical compliance. The collaboration also gives us access to a network of companies with extensive knowledge in chemical management. For chemical testing, we collaborate with MTS Global Testing Lab. MTS supplies us with technical expertise and industry best practices regarding chemical compliance management.
See our Restricted Substance List
Animal Welfare Policy

By Malene Birger believes that all living creatures should be treated with respect and dignity.

Animal welfare is important to us, and no animals should be harmed in the making of our products. We support the Five Freedoms recommendations on animal welfare set out by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

By Malene Birger promotes animal welfare through the following policies. These should be a minimum standard and practice.
See our Animal Welfare Policy
Our memberships and partners

We are partnering with a range of important industrial players to make a positive impact across manufacturing and production.

BSCI - Business Social Compliance Initiative

DIEH – Dansk Initiativ for Etisk Handel

LWG- Leather Working group

BLC- Leather Technology Centre

DM&T- Dansk Mode & Textil

SWEREA IVF- Kemikaliegruppen

MTS Global – Modern Testing Services

Danish Fashion Ethical Charter