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Quiksilver

Creation :

1969

Founder :

Alan Green et John Law

Activities :

Production et distribution de vêtements et accessoires outdoor

Group membership :

groupe Quicksilver Inc.

Production volumes :

17 millions de pièces textiles

Turnover :

546 M€ en Europe

Number of employees :

500 en Europe

Web site :

www.quiksilver-europe.com

Workplace wellbeing: Quiksilver provides numerous benefits for employees: a subsidised (4,50€) canteen with organic food available, a subsidised of 50% for public transport, focus on workplace ergonomics, an on-site gym and sports field, surf lessons. Partnership with a farm which provides organic basket for employees.
Focus on workplace ergonomics, an on-site gym and sports field, surf lessons.

Handi network : Quiksilver receives disabled people for reformation (around 5 people per year)

2 students in training from Pau’s Business School.
Education & information: An information booklet on sustainability has been given to all employees, sales reps and distributors. The booklet covers the QUEST programme (respect for human rights, health & safety standards in factories, etc.) and also Fair trade and eco products. A film on the issues of sustainability within the textile industry was shown to all sales staff and certain members or the retail staff.
Supply chain: 100% of the brand’s suppliers have been audited on the QUEST standards (Quiksilver Ethical Standards of Trade). The QUEST programme covers health & safety standards in factories, environmental issues and respect for human rights. 35% of suppliers are GOTS certified and 10 % are SA 8000 certified.
On the spot audits tare undertaken at least once a year/factory. Within this framework an audit report on the working conditions in Quiksilvers suppliers factories is published once a year.
Corporate Social Responsibility: FACE membership. Participation to training days for disadvantaged people in schools (CVs, cover letters…) Work with Saint Jean de Luz through Agenda 21.
The Quiksilver foundation supports 25 environmental, humanitarian, education and health associations in Europe : Surf and Hope, Surfer against sewage, keep a breast, Du Flocon à La Vague, Mountain riders, Skeleton Sea,etc…

Different charities such as the Sumba Foundation, Surf'Aid, Handicap sans Frontière , Vag’ d’espoir, Keep a breast.
Support for local communities:Quiksilver planted over 600 tress around the new HQ with local species and more than 150 fruit trees. Bee hives where also installed in early 2010 as well as a compost that will be fed by the company canteen. Quiksilver supports a local partner, “le domaine de Garro” which provides 30 organic baskets for employees and wants to become an agricultural training center.

Environmental policies: Sorting of office waste, reduction of energy consumption, Awareness raising & recycled plastic mugs for all employees. The board has also been through a sustainability training course. The new headquarters and warehouse are equipped with 90m2 of photovoltaic solar panels, and meet the HQE criteria (green building standard). These new buildings use 85kWh/m2/year. Quiksilver has employs a full time sustainability team, 3 people strong.
Work on H2O footprint for water consumption.

AMO Prize for the extension of the headquarter according to HQE principle.

Awareness campaign for energy efficiency and paper consumption : 35% less consumption

Dematerialization project since 2011 with the objective to save 23eq tons of cO2

Communication and training internally : organization of breakfasts in partnership with Surfrider Foundation about wastes on the coast.

Workshops on sustainable development during sales conferences.
Education & information: Green campaign, one month per year to promote responsible product made of organic cotton or recycled materials or ecodesign.
European awareness raising campaign with the message “Keep the water water”, “Keep the ocean ocean”, “Keep the forest forest” .

The videos are available on the company website, showrooms and stores with sales material and people promoting everyday eco acts

Sensibilization of all salesmanager (around 100 people) to sustainable development through Interner, videos, ppt,etc…)

Each new or renovated shops favours wood for furnitures and floors, paint without solvents, low consumption lights.
Supply chain: 100% of subcontractors are audited along the lines of the QUEST programme. Specific attention is payed to the implementation of the EU REACH directive by all suppliers and subcontractors, all factories wastewaters are processed.
Encouragement to Bluesign certifications for suppliers
Certifications: An ISO 14001 EMS (Environmental Management System) was used between 2003 & 2006. It is still in use today but is no longer certified.
GHG emissions: A carbon footprint study for the year 2010 has been completed. This study takes into account all group brands and activities (design, storage, conditionning and distribution, e-commerce of textile products), HQ activities at Saint jean de Luz, the 4 european warehouses, incoming and outgoing freight and some representative stores.
Projects to reduce CO2 emissions: packaging of helmets, green project for transport, charter with travel agencies.
Environmental commitments: Creation of Quiksilver Foundation in 2004
For the buying of an “eco” product, 1€ is given to an association linked with water protection which is the key message. Financial support for these projects with Cœur de forêt, Reef Check Foundation, Surfrider Foundation.

Support of “l’odyssée du flocon à la vague ” to increase public awareness of the necessity to protect water.

Durability: An after sales service is available for technical products. Quiksilver alos produces a crach helmet that can be used for two different activities: Ski/Snowboard & Skateboard
Global Eco design process: Design and purchasing teams have been trained in the principles of eco design. A company wide training programme has also been implemented. A whole product line ( technical outerwear jacket and trousers, underwear, fleece tops and boardshorts) was eco designed. A LCA and carbon footprint study of this same product line has been conducted.
- The sustainability coordinator has been trained for the The Natural Step & Cradle to cradle methodologies.

- First LCA realized in 2007 for a snow jacket, update of “eco profile” in 2008&2009 by students from University of Technology in Troyes. Product Bilan (ADEME) for the new packaging for helmets in 2012-10-2.

- Environmental declaration meets with ISO 14025.

- Prize “Pack&Green” for a helmet’s packaging (reduction of 20% of the carbon footprint)
Eco design actions : - Eco designed products are 100% organic cotton EKO or GOTS, recycled polyester, recycled and recyclable polyester. This range represents 9,5%of the Quiksilver & Roxy production.
920 000 products in recycled polyester and 480 000 in organic cotton.
End of life and Recycling: All PVC tarps are recyled and used to create bags in the EMMAUS workshops in Spain. All Eco-circle recylable products (HYPERLINK "http://www.ecocircle.jp/en/index.html"www.ecocircle.jp/en/index.html) are clearly identified with a specific label and hang-tag.
- For eco design products: take-back, disassembly, and recycling of materials at the end of their life.
Non toxicity: 9,5% of production is made of organic cotton certified by EKO (www.skal.nl) or GOTS (www.global-standard.org). Follow of a list of hazardous and forbidden substances.
Packaging & logistics: Optimisation of logistics - particular attention is paid to the filling of cardboards, containers and lorries. The volume of packaging has been reduced by 30%, recycled and/or recyclable raw materials are used whenever it is possible. The maritime shipping companies used are members of the clean cargo group. A new packaging was created using recycled cardboard & recycled cotton. This is printed with water based inks.
Quiksilver also took part in the EuroSIMA polybag LCA projectand 80% of polybags now used are biofragmentable.

80 000 boxes in molded cellulose made of 100% of old recycled cardboards.

90% of products are transported by ship. Shipping companies signed a charter “Blue Armateurs de France” and members of “Clean Cargo Group” which allows to assess and improve performance for FRET.