- Management system helps to improve processes.
- Systematic preparation for EU Supply Chain Act.
- Control of all measures in the supply chain via CSR module of Setlog’s software OSCA.
(Bochum / New York, January 19, 2024) Women’s clothing specialist Rabe Moden is the first fashion company to receive the “ZNU Standard for Sustainable Management” certificate. Representatives of the Center for Sustainable Corporate Management (ZNU) at Witten/Herdecke University presented the document to the management on January 11. According to the university, the standard is the world’s first holistic and externally certifiable sustainability standard. It is not a reporting standard, but a management system that requires and encourages companies to prepare for reporting requirements.
“With the successful certification as the first company in the fashion industry, a milestone has been reached in the sustainability strategy of Rabe Moden. It confirms that we are not greenwashing, but on the right track,” emphasizes Nils Buecker, Managing Director of the company founded in 1920.
The specialist for women’s fashion from Hilter at Teutoburger Wald did not only want to know where it stands in terms of sustainability with the certification, but also wanted to prepare itself on time for the planned regulations in the EU’s Supply Chain Act and pave the way for a sustainability report. The family-owned company has been implementing measures in all three dimensions of sustainability (ecological, economic, and social) for years. These include the installation of photovoltaic systems on company buildings, the purchase of e-vehicles and measures to promote the health of employees.
Over the past two years, the Niedersachen-based company has invested even more resources than before in sustainability improvements with the support of an external agency. This involved all departments – from purchasing to production and logistics. During the audit, which lasted several days, auditors from TÜV Rheinland not only interviewed managers and employees, but also carried out site inspections on topics such as health and safety for their final report. The certificate is valid for three years. An audit is carried out every year.
Rabe Moden uses the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) module of Setlog’s OSCA software to manage its numerous sustainability activities. The company supplies around four million items of clothing from the Rabe, Thomas Rabe, Lucia and LeComte brands to more than 25 countries every year.
All certificates, audit results, framework agreements and code of conduct agreements are managed in the cloud-based tool. The most important business partners and suppliers are connected to the software. Rabe Moden also carries out supplier assessments in the system. “The software creates transparency and eliminates time-consuming inquiries. We could no longer manage the complex processes with emails or spreadsheets,” emphasizes Buecker. In a year’s time, progress will be checked again by TÜV Rheinland.
To ensure that there are no black sheep among the business partners, company representatives or officers regularly visit the companies, uncover any shortcomings and, if necessary, set deadlines for rectification – for example, in the case of fire safety violations. This process is also managed in OSCA. Rabe Moden buys raw materials from all over the world, with a focus on Turkey; production takes place entirely outside Germany.
The family-owned company is also planning to handle external complaint management via OSCA in the future and to implement automation of individual processes together with Setlog experts. “Rabe Moden is making a real contribution to the control and genuine management of sustainable production, goods and services and is not just collecting data. We are proud to provide the software support for these in-depth and end-to-end audits,” emphasizes Ralf Duester, member of the board of Setlog.
About Rabe Moden
Rabe Moden GmbH, based in Hilter at Teutoburger Wald, was founded by Albert Rabe in 1920 as a knitwear factory for women’s, men’s, and children’s fashion in St. Egidien/Saxony. In 1955, the company relocated to Bad Rothenfelde. In 1968, Rabe Strickmoden moved to Hilter and changed its name to “Rabe Moden”. The more than 330 employees generated a turnover of around 100 million euros in 2022. www.rabefashion-group.com
About Setlog
Setlog Holding is a provider of Supply Chain Management (SCM) solutions. The central product is the cloud-based software OSCA with the solutions Purchase Order Management, SRM, Global Logistics, CSR and Quality Control. OSCA, which stands for “Online Supply Chain Accelerator”, is used by more than 150 brands in the apparel, electronics, food, consumer goods and hardware sectors. With the help of OSCA, companies connect their supply chain partners, suppliers and service providers to optimally coordinate their supply chain and efficiently manage supply chains. Setlog GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Setlog Holding AG. The company was founded in 2001 and is today one of the leading providers of SCM software with over 40,000 users in 92 countries. The software house employs 60 people at its locations in Bochum (headquarters), Cologne and New York. www.setlog.com
Contact Setlog:
Nora Breuker, Digital Marketing Strategist
Setlog GmbH, Alleestraße 80, 44793 Bochum, Germany
T +49 234 720 285 78, n.breuker@setlog.com, setlog.com
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