Sustainability Requirements

SS25 Copenhagen Fashion Week Skall Studio Backstage Tonya Matyu 16

The Sustainability Requirements introduce a minimum set of standards that all CPHFW show & presentation schedule brands had to conform to since January 2023

Copenhagen Fashion Week: Sustainability Requirements

As of 2020 Copenhagen Fashion Week introduced their first Sustainability Action Plan that set out to incur longterm change within the fashion industry.

That Action Plan introduced a minimum set of standards that all show & presentation schedule brands must conform to. Since the January 2023 only show & presentation schedule applicants whose sustainability efforts meet the minimum standards will be considered for the official Copenhagen Fashion Week show & presentation schedule.

In March 2024 Copenhagen Fashion Week launched revisions of the Sustainability Requirements based on industry developments and learnings from the past years as well as close observations and mapping of the EU policy landscape! These updates will replace the current framework and be the new mandatory admission criteria for brands on the official show & presentation schedule as of summer 2025.

Read in detail about the revised Sustainability Requirements framework, as well as the current Sustainability Requirements and Minimum Standards.

The framework spans six focus areas covering the entire value chain. In addition to those, brands are asked to answer an additional set of questions to get insight into their current standing on their sustainability efforts. Currently, the Minimum Standards include 19 action points.

Find out about the changes made to Minimum Standards and the Additional Actions.

We ask to note that the Sustainability Requirements are a framework used in the application process of Copenhagen Fashion Week (their application may differ for external partners) and are not a certification scheme or audit. Hence, they are not an additional or new reporting system but have been developed as an essential part of the application process for brands wishing to showcase their collections at Copenhagen Fashion Week.

With the Sustainability Requirement being part of the CPHFW application process, brands are being screened against their answers and documentation for the Minimum Standards by an external Screening Committee to validate, not audit responses.

By implementing this framework, CPHFW is not claiming ourselves nor the brands on our show and presentation schedule to be inherently sustainable or to execute sustainability efforts perfectly. Rather the framework creates a basis and common language for CPHFW and our brand network and sets the expectations to be met when wishing to be part of our fashion week.

The wording for the framework derives from sustainability as a concept within business operations today and refers to the actions and agendas of businesses working to reduce their environmental impact while promoting social justice.

The Sustainability Requirements were established in recognition of already existing guidelines, tools, codes of conduct, standards, certifications and/or agendas, many of which have been taken into account in their development stage for a shared focus. Brands who follow and support existing agendas should therefore be able to comply with our requirements.

Current Minimum Standards – Effective as of summer 2025

Strategic Directions

  • We have a formally approved sustainability strategy in place, covering both environmental and social considerations.
  • We have guidelines and structures in place to provide equal opportunities and hiring processes for greater diversity and inclusion in our office(s), especially for management positions.
  • We do not destroy unsold clothes and samples from previous collections and have a process in place for leftovers.

Design

  • We have criteria in place to ensure the quality and longevity of our products and inform our customers about the value of longevity.
  • We implement circular design principles to our products considering their repairability, recyclability, upgradability and reusability as well as the inclusion of recycled content.

Smart material choices

  • At least 60% of our collection is either certified, made of preferred materials or deadstock fabric.
  • We have a preferred materials list in place.
  • We have a list of restricted substances in place, following the EU REACH Directive, and have a test programme in place to ensure compliance from our suppliers.
  • Our collection is free from virgin fur, wild animal skins and feathers, also referred to as exotics.

Working conditions

  • We have a Code of Conduct in place according to international guidelines and standards and work with our suppliers via e.g. self-assessments, third party audits or training to build their capacity to meet the CoC.
  • We implemented control measures to prevent contributing to harm through our purchasing practices.
  • We have concrete guidelines and processes in place to operate a safe, healthy and respectful working environment for employees in our office(s), free from harassment and discrimination and where everyone enjoys equal opportunities regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, political/ religious/ sexual orientation, physical appearance and ability.

Consumer engagement

  • Our in-store and online customer service staff is well informed about our sustainability strategy
  • We educate and inform our customers about our sustainability practices on multiple platforms
  • We do not utilise single-use plastic packaging in store or for online orders but offer recyclable, recycled or repurposable alternatives

Showcase

  • Our showcase and backstage production does not produce/use single-use props for the showcase, prefers rental options and finds a long-term second life for all props that are not rented.
  • No single-use plastic packaging will be used to produce our showcase and waste will be sorted according to Danish waste sorting requirements.
  • We engage in emission reduction activities for our showcase based on CPHFW’s climate partner recommendations. Unavoidable emissions will be offset.
  • We are a signatory of the Danish Fashion Ethical Charter and comply with their rules.