Pepe Jeans

Production locations 

• The company has 36 production sites in 7 countries, which are not listed in detail on the website. Only Bangladesh and Pakistan are mentioned as production countries. 

Working Conditions & living wages 

Pakistan and Bangladesh are considered risk areas in the textile sector due to low wages, unsafe working conditions and restricted labour rights. 

Pepe Jeans has been a member of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) since October 2021 to improve global cotton production. The brand also has social standards assessed by independent audits such as BSCI, SMETA and WRAP. 

Collaboration with suppliers is based on a code of conduct that protects the rights of employees. By joining Accord in January 2022, Pepe Jeans is supporting the improvement of health and safety conditions in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Pepe Jeans has an Ethical & Transparent Sourcing Programme with which they pursue guidelines for socially more responsible production processes.

Materials

• Cotton (BCI)
• Recycled cotton
• Cotton
• Lyocell
• Viscose
• Recycled polyester
• Polyester
• Nylon
• Wool
• Alpaca
• Acrylic
• Spandex
• Yarn made from recycled plastic bottles
• Mushroom-based materials
• Cowhide
• Polyurethane

It is possible that Pepe Jeans uses further fibres. 

Although Pepe Jeans uses more sustainable materials such as BCI cotton and recycled fibres, it also uses non-certified animal fibres and synthetic fibres. 

Packaging 

Pepe Jeans does not mention any packaging materials on its website.

Water usage & chemicals

As a member of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Pepe Jeans promotes more sustainable cotton production. 

Pepe Jeans uses the Wiser Wash® process for finishing denim, which does not use toxic chemicals and uses ozone as a more environmentally friendly bleaching alternative. This minimises the chemical load as well as water and energy consumption.

The finishing processes are evaluated by JEANOLOGÍA™‘s Environmental Impact Measuring (EIM) software.

Circular product design 

The company mainly uses mixed fibres, which are difficult to recycle as the different materials are difficult to separate.

Circular business models 

On the official website, the company does not mention any circular business models such as a take-back system, rental options or repair services.

Distance & complexity of the supply chain

• 36 production sites in 7 countries (not mentioned by name) 
• Including Bangladesh and Pakistan 
• The headquarters are located in Spain.

Transportation 

• The company does not communicate any transport methods on the website. 

• Wool
• Alpaca
• It is possible that Pepe Jeans uses other animal fibres. 
• Pepe Jeans does not communicate the origin of the animal fibres.

Pepe Jeans does not communicate any details of the animal fibres.

Product design 

Pepe Jeans offers a wide range of products for men, women and children, including jeans, accessories, knitwear, jackets, coats, skirts, blouses and many other products. 

Slow fashion processes 

Pepe Jeans motivates customers to care for their denim clothing properly to extend its lifespan and actively contribute to slow fashion. By following simple care tips, such as washing less frequently, using cold wash cycles, avoiding bleach, and air-drying garments, customers can wear their favourite denim pieces longer and reduce their ecological footprint.

While no specific statements are made regarding the quantity and frequency of collection launches, the volume of textiles suggests that products are released at regular intervals and in line with seasonal cycles.

The company offers regular sales that may encourage less conscious purchasing decisions.

Transparency on product 

The product pages offer no transparency, preventing customers from accessing information about the origin of materials or the production conditions.

Transparency on processes

The brand provides neither information about its processes and suppliers nor details regarding the traceability of individual products.

However, the certifications mentioned on the website, as well as its membership in the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), contribute to transparency.