Memberships and alliances

We are part of the HR group at the German Academy of Technical Sciences [Deutschen Akademie für Technikwissenschaften] (acatech). Human resources experts from the business and scientific community discuss the opportunities and challenges of the digital transformation there and offer ideas for a wide-ranging societal debate on this topic. Representatives from the Otto Group and other members of the circle discuss topics such as how to design education in the STEM fields so that young people can codesign the digital transformation in a technically skillful manner. Or what contemporary continuing education measures should look like so that they can have an impact in rapidly changing work environments.

We are among the founding members of the “Business Social Compliance Initiative,” now known as amfori BSCI. Since 2004, it has enabled lasting partnerships between textile retailers and producers. Together, they aim to improve working conditions along the supply chain through independent audits. For example, in 2017, the Otto Group, in collaboration with amfori, organized a forum to strengthen the rights of Syrian refugees who had been working illegally in the Turkish textile industry up to that point.

Since 1987, we have been committed to the B.A.U.M. (German Working Group for Environmentally Conscious Management), a network for sustainable business practices, and we are part of the transformation towards a socio-ecological market economy. The Otto Group is represented on the advisory board.

We are part of the Business Council for Democracy (BC4D) network because the Otto Group considers the strengthening of our democracy and defending it against attacks to be an essential task. BC4D offers employees of the participating companies free training. They learn how to handle hate speech online and how to react, how to unearth and question targeted disinformation and conspiracies, and how to contribute to preserving the Internet as a space for diversity and tolerance.

We have been a member of Cascale, an international industry alliance for the apparel, footwear, and textile industry, since 2018. The goal of the initiative is the development of common standards and tools for the industry. Among other things, the Otto Group uses the Higg Index developed by Cascale for standardized assessments along the supply chain, as well as the Material Sustainability Index for evaluating fabrics and fibers. This makes additional information on production conditions and materials available, which can be incorporated into corresponding analyses and decision-making processes.

The Otto Group has been a member of "Dialogue and Impact for Sustainable Textiles" (formerly Textilbündnis) since 2015 and has supported the Federal Government's initiative from the very beginning. The multi-stakeholder network brings together international, European, and local actors to promote exchange on social, environmental, and economic aspects of the textile and apparel industry. The focus is on knowledge transfer, the development of joint initiatives, and the involvement of local actors.

We have signed the Diversity Charter, committing the Otto Group to a corporate culture characterized by mutual respect. We want to provide a work environment where respectful interactions are practiced, allowing employees to find their place and contribute their skills, regardless of age, ethnic origin and nationality, gender and gender identity, physical and mental abilities, religion and worldview, sexual orientation, and social background.

Since 2018, we have been supporting the "Fashion for Good“ initiative. Through its innovation platform, it brings together startups, companies, and investors to drive innovations for the transformation of the fashion industry. The goal is to promote technologies and business models that strengthen the circular economy and support a more efficient use of resources. As part of its membership, the Otto Group has supported the “Closing the Footwear Loop” project since early 2025. The project focuses on the use of alternative footwear materials, the definition of circular design criteria, and the optimisation of take-back logistics for the reuse and recycling of footwear.

When sourcing furniture wood and paper, we rely on certified materials from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC^®), which has established strict standards for environmentally responsible forest management worldwide. As a member of the FSC since 2006, certified wood products are a key component of our goals and standards for more sustainable materials in our own and licensed brands, as well as with strategically relevant suppliers and catalog paper.

Since 2014, we have been a member of the "Fur Free Retailer" program of the animal welfare foundation "Vier Pfoten". Signatories commit not to using real fur. 

The Otto Group participated in shaping the "Accord on Fire and Building Safety for Textile Factories in Bangladesh“ in 2013. The agreement was developed in collaboration with the global trade union federations IndustriALL and UNI, the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC), and national trade unions. Among other things, it provides for independent inspections of participating factories as well as complaint mechanisms for employees. The goal is to strengthen working and safety conditions in the participating facilities. In 2021, international companies, including the Otto Group, and trade unions agreed on the "International Accord", which continues the previous measures and aims to expand them to other countries. In January 2023, the Otto Group also signed the Pakistan Accord, thereby supporting the implementation of measures to improve working and safety standards in Pakistan.

The Otto Group works with the international non-governmental organization Save the Children. Within the framework of the cooperation, projects are implemented that are aimed at parents, families, and young workers in supply chains. In addition, the projects support factories in developing and implementing measures for work-life balance as well as other workplace-related offers. Information on the projects can be found here (in German only).

We are addressing the alignment of our climate goals and climate protection activities with the Paris Climate Agreement and the 1.5-degree target formulated therein. Since 2022, we have been working with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which has supported us in developing a Science-Based Target. The climate goal was validated by the SBTi in early 2024, providing an important foundation for advancing emission reductions based on scientific principles throughout the entire value chain.

Reference SBTi: The official target formulation can be viewed on the SBTi website: https://sciencebasedtargets.org/target-dashboard

The Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft (German CEO Alliance for Climate and Economy) is a non-profit foundation co-founded by Prof. Dr. Michael Otto in 2007, initially as Foundation 2°. The foundation is an initiative of CEOs, managing directors, and family business owners who actively advocate for the adherence to European and German climate targets. The foundation sees itself as a bridge-builder between politics, civil society, and business, aiming to mediate and shape the climate transformation. 

Since 2006, the Otto Group has been a member of the non-profit organization Textile Exchange, which develops material standards for organic, recycled, and animal-derived materials and promotes exchange within the textile and apparel industry. The Otto Group uses corresponding standards as part of its material assessment. In addition, it participates in roundtables and the annual Textile Exchange Conference to share experiences and stay informed about developments in the industry.

In 2020, the Otto Group launched the ZukunftsWerte initiative. Together with other entrepreneurs, managers, politicians, and civil society representatives, we would like to take on the many challenges of the digital transformation. The important part in this is that we succeed with a digital transformation that is based on European values and the rules of the social market economy. In Europe, we need an autonomous digital economy that sets itself apart from the Californian and Chinese model. Ours should demonstrate responsibility to society and be sustainable and conserve resources. The Otto Group would like to use the initiative to contribute to implementing this model.