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, treating natural resources and the local environment carefully and gently while ensuring HIGH PRODUCT AND QUALITY STANDARDS is also part of its corporate responsibility.
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.
Social Responsibility
Our Engagement
Our aspiration
Tested quality
We apply clear standards and check each product thoroughly, with great care taken throughout the process – both within the company and beyond. We check materials for harmful substances and durability to maintain high quality standards.
These inspections are conducted not only at our headquarters in Germany, but also in the manufacturing countries.
Yes to the environment
Our commitment to the environment is demonstrated by our focus on a standardized environmental management system and by our responsible use of resources. To take just one example, most of our stores are fitted with LED lighting. Environmental protection is also a major concern for us beyond our branches. We monitor the entire supply chain to ensure that chemicals are used responsibly by our contracted producers. Accordingly, additional inspections are carried out especially at production sites that use integrated wet processes, to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
Our engagement
Our commitment to society and the environment means that we work closely with partners, focusing on regular dialogue with various stakeholders. We affirm our commitment to sustainability through our membership of organizations such as Amfori, the Textile Partnership and the Fur Free Policy promoted by Four Paws.Fair conditions
At NKD, we are passionate about continuous improvement of working and social standards along our global supply chain. We understand that compliance with human rights and environmental standards is an ongoing process that must be reviewed and adapted on a regular basis.
We are committed to the pursuit of continuous improvement and to supporting our business partners in implementing the requirements to the best of our knowledge and belief, and to the extent possible within our sphere of influence.
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
Organic cotton makes a sustainable contribution to the environment and is particularly kind to the skin. Synthetic pesticides and artificial fertilizers are not used in growing the cotton. We are increasingly focusing on organic cotton because organic farming techniques use fewer resources.
NKD seeks to earn your trust in everything we do.
RECYCLED POLYESTER
We support eco-friendly production of our textiles, combined with a long-term aim to use recycled materials. The reason is simple: by recycling materials, we can help to conserve resources and reduce waste. We already use recycled polyester to manufacture textile products wherever possible.
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.
Responsible Wool Standard
The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) describes and certifies animal welfare and land management practices in wool production and tracks the certified material from farm to final product.
Our RWS wool is certified by Control Union (1436413).
Closed loop: carrier bag made from NKD recycled film
“See you again” is the slogan for NKD’s new carrier bag. It is made using 80% plastic film recycled by NKD. We are therefore playing our part in a recycling-oriented circular economy and reaffirming our claim of “Yes to the environment – for a good feeling”.
To create our reusable carrier bags, we recycle used film that we collect and process at our logistics facility in Bindlach. The film is shredded, cleaned and then made into our new bags. And so the circle is complete!
NKD has been a member of the PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES since 2014. The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles is committed to a social, ecological, and corruption-free textile and clothing industry – an industry that respects the rights of all employees, protects the climate and the environment, and acts with integrity and within planetary boundaries. The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles is based on the fundamental international agreements of the UN on compliance with Human- and Labor rights, on environmental protection and on the prevention of corruption, as well as on the corresponding guidelines and initiatives of the EU. To achieve its goals, the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles places particular emphasis on the implementation of corporate due diligence in Germany, Europe and worldwide.
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).
