NKD, a promise
Since the company’s founding in 1962, the name NKD has stood for “Niedrig Kalkuliert Discount” (“Low Calculated Discount”). This is a promise that holds true. With a successful turnaround and its positioning as a value retailer for the whole family, NKD provides quality at affordable prices – and will continue to do so in the future.
The NKD aspiration
People who look out for affordable prices will still be able to expect products of excellent quality – this is the promise that NKD’s customers can rely on. NKD lives up to its quality promise by regularly reviewing the way its suppliers manufacture their products and controlling its own in-house manufacturing quality. Here, NKD works with international certified testing institutes and laboratories as well.
Social responsibility is an essential part of NKD’s business conduct. NKD has its own regional offices in Bangladesh and China that are run by Sun Fortune Ltd. (based in Hong Kong). So NKD can organise procurement locally in the important Asian supplier markets. Other important procurement countries are Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Turkey and suppliers from Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
For NKD, ensuring high product and quality standards is also a crucial part of its corporate responsibility. We meet these demands by means of strict pollutant specifications, defined colourfastness requirements and a comprehensive processing manual. These enable us to guarantee the consistent and responsible quality of our products.
The company’s Code of Conduct illustrates NKD’s goals of treating people and the environment respectfully, fairly and responsibly. As a guideline, this code is binding for all employees of the NKD Group and its suppliers.
NKD Group is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and accountability.
Responsibility
Our aspiration
Feel-good materials
We care a lot about using materials that promote your well-being. That’s why they are gentle on the skin while also being comfortable to wear. To ensure this quality, we have skin compatibility confirmed by test results from independent, accredited testing institutes and we source products that comply with the Ökotex® 100 Standard, the Ökotex® Made in Green Standard or the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
Tested quality
We select our materials with great care according to the requirements of the individual product.
This process is based on German and EU legislation and – depending on the product – certification in accordance with the Ökotex® 100 Standard, the Ökotex® Made in Green Standard or the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
Our engagement
Our commitment to society and the environment means that we work closely with partners, focusing on regular dialogue with various stakeholders. Our membership of organizations such as Amfori, the „Dialogue and Impact for Sustainable Textiles“ and the Fur Free Policy promoted by Four Paws helps us to boost transparency in the supply chain and initiate improvement processes.Fair conditions
At NKD, we are passionate about ongoing improvement of working and social standards along our global supply chains. We understand that compliance with human rights and environmental standards is a process that must be reviewed and adapted on a regular basis through internal and external audits. We are committed to the pursuit of continuous improvement. All nonconformities identified are recorded in corrective action plans, and improvements are monitored based on specific evidence. In implementing the requirements, we support our business partners to the best of our knowledge and belief, and to the extent possible within our sphere of influence, by fostering awareness of sustainability through training and workshops.
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX
An NKD article bearing this label guarantees a high level of product safety. Based on this globally standardized management system for hazardous substances, textile products are constantly tested in the laboratory to ensure they are not harmful to health. All components of an article must meet the stringent OEKO TEX test criteria, from the sewing thread to the coating, the outer fabric, the appliqué and the zipper. These criteria are even more stringent for baby and childrenswear, for example. Many of the thresholds set for Standard 100 exceed national and international legal requirements.
NKD seeks to earn your trust in everything we do. Our increased commitment to the human-ecological STANDARD 100 label developed by OEKO-TEX is another key element in this respect.
OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN
This is a traceable product label for all kinds of textiles that have been manufactured in environmentally friendly facilities under safe and socially responsible working conditions. The MADE IN GREEN label reassures consumers that the textile product is made of materials that have been tested for harmful substances.
Use the unique product ID or QR code to see details of your MADE IN GREEN labeled product. Scan the QR code or enter the product ID in the OEKO-TEX® Label Check. This tells you about the production facilities in which your textile article was made, and the countries where it was manufactured.
ORGANIC COTTON
We use certified organic cotton for selected products. This is produced according to recognized standards that prohibit the use of synthetic pesticides and artificial fertilisers, in compliance with the relevant guidelines. The label of the products concerned shows the corresponding certificate or standard.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is a globally recognised certification scheme for textiles made from organic fibres. It sets environmental and social criteria for all stages of the production chain and ensures quality through independent certification. The aim is to promote sustainable textile manufacturing and ensure product safety for consumers. The items are GOTS-certified by Intertek (GOTS-19624).
GOTS-certified products are labelled separately as such.
Supima – the finest cotton in the world
High quality. Timeless. Exceptionally soft.
Supima cotton is a superior type of cotton. Only around 1% of all the cotton grown in the world meets its demanding quality criteria. The extra-long fibres give the fabric an unrivalled softness and an elegant sheen, and enable it to hold its shape. Supima is grown exclusively in the US on over 500 family-owned farms. Each fibre can be traced back to the individual farm and its authenticity guaranteed – for maximum confidence and quality in all textiles.
LYCRA® – the original spandex and elastane fiber
LYCRA® is a globally recognized brand of The LYCRA Company. The fibers provide exceptional stretch and shape retention, which increases comfort, improves fit and helps garments keep their shape.
Look for the LYCRA® logo on selected NKD products.
As a member of AMFORI, NKD contributes to the continuous development of labor and social standards along the global supply chain as part of the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) and BEPI (Business Environmental Performance Initiative).
NKD Group GmbH has been a member of the ASSOCIATION OF NON-FOOD IMPORTERS – GERMAN IMPORTERS since 2006. ANFI – German Importers supports the SocialFair2022 initiative.
NKD systematically renounces real fur and is a member of the INTERNATIONAL FUR FREE RETAILER PROGRAM, which was founded by the Fur Free Alliance, an association of over 40 animal welfare organizations worldwide. In Germany, the program is represented by the animal welfare organization VIER PFOTEN (engl. FOUR PAWS).
