ESG at Tekla

Tekla was built around uniting form and function. Today, that purpose has grown to transform the way people think about what they bring into their homes. We embed this into our business strategy by tracking our impact across 3 key areas: environment, social and governance. 

Governance

Good governance at Tekla means building the structures and practices that support our values – and hold us accountable to our commitments as we grow.

We aim to ensure decisions that matter – on human rights, how we conduct ourselves as a business, and our environmental and climate impact – are made at the right level. Our key policies are approved by our highest governing body, with day-to-day implementation led mainly by our Sustainability team.

We integrate this in our business strategy through policy, from third-party verifications through our B Corp certification to external-facing whistleblower and grievance mechanisms for formal, confidential and non-retaliatory feedback. These policies are reviewed every three years – climate targets are reviewed annually – keeping us accountable and focused. All our policies can be viewed in the policies and guidelines section below. 

Environment

We make a case for quality, design and longevity across our entire value chain, influencing producers and customers to make better choices.

We use high-quality, majority natural and renewable fibres to ensure the longevity of our products, while taking into consideration their environmental and social impact. We believe that the best materials for comfort, quality and function, with the right standards in place, are the best choice.

This is why our preferred materials framework starts from an understanding that materials account for much of a product's environmental impact, affecting water use, soil health, greenhouse gas emissions and textile waste. Our categorisation of Preferred Materials and Standards is guided by industry data and frameworks, from organisations such as Textile Exchange.

We set the bar high on certification standards, prioritising certifications like GOTS and GRS precisely because they combine environmental, social and chemical requirements across suppliers in the supply chain (in the case of GOTS, from ginning to finished product) – suppliers we don't own or operate ourselves. Read our Preferred Materials and Standards sourcing guide for more details.

Tekla has been on a climate action journey for several years. Our biggest greenhouse gas emissions are concentrated in our supply chain, caused primarily by the materials we use and the energy consumed in production.

To date, we have:

• – Consistently achieved 97-100% preferred materials across our core and seasonal product range by volume.* 

• – Engaged our product suppliers on climate action, including suppliers who have invested in on-site renewable energy such as solar panels.

• – Established the practice of measuring our Company Carbon Footprint (CCF) annually, covering Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

As Tekla grows, our approach must grow with us. The focus of this next phase is to deepen our understanding of where meaningful climate action is possible and take action – whether in our own operations, our product supply chain or in collaboration with our industry. Read our Climate Action Plan in policies for more details. 

* From 2022-2025, where the preferred material accounts for more than 50% of the fabric composition.

Social 

At Tekla, we believe that how we do business matters as much as what we make. Respecting human rights is not a compliance exercise; it is an integral part of our purpose.

Our commitment extends across our entire value chain, from the conditions in the textile mills where our fabrics are made to the well-being of our own team. We ground our approach in internationally recognised human rights frameworks. 

In practice, this means sourcing the majority of our materials from suppliers certified to standards that combine both environmental management and social criteria at their facilities, such as GOTS, and maintaining long-term partnerships with our key suppliers, including regular engagement and on-site visits. 

And we are committed to continuous improvement. Where we identify risks, we will act: working with suppliers to improve practices or ending relationships where improvement is not possible.

Our Human Rights Policy is reviewed regularly, overseen by our Board of Directors, and owned day-to-day by our Head of Sustainability, ensuring accountability at every level of our business.

We are honest about where our processes are still developing, and we see that transparency as part of our responsibility.

Read our full Human Rights Policy to learn more about the standards we hold ourselves and our value chain to, plus the steps we are taking to do better.

Policies and guidelines

• – Preferred Materials and Standards

• – Climate Action Plan

• – Human Rights Policy

• – Responsible Lobbying Policy

• – Grievance and Whistleblower Policy

• Former ESG reports are available upon request.