Eightyards: How HUGO BOSS Aims to Boost the Circular Economy
Founded in 1924, HUGO BOSS is a leader in luxury fashion, from clothing to leather goods.
The fashion industry is responsible for nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 80% of textiles worldwide end up in landfills or incinerated.
The company has launched a new business called Eightyards dedicated to the recycling and reuse of its surplus materials.
Eightyards officially begins its operations in January 2025 with a mission to establish itself as a key facilitator for the recycling and reuse of surplus materials into industries beyond fashion.
The company is fully owned by HUGO BOSS.
HUGO BOSS said in a statement: “The concept behind Eightyards is strategically aligned with HUGO BOSS's comprehensive commitment to environmentally and resource-friendly production processes.”
“We feel responsible for protecting our planet and securing a future worth living for future generations,” says Dorothee Niebergall, SVP Group Strategy and Corporate Development at HUGO BOSS.
“We are continually moving forward on this path, because we love fashion, and we change fashion.”
Meet HUGO BOSS’s new circularity leaders
Marketa Miltenberger was previously Vice President Product Excellence for Outerwear, Coats and Leather Garments at HUGO BOSS and is taking the lead as Director of Eightyards.
She joined the company in 2014 as a Senior Project Manager and has taken on roles including Vice President Produce Development for BOSS Women, Senior Head of Global Procurement for Sportswear and Vice President Global Operations for Buying and Planning.
Before joining HUGO BOSS, Marketa worked as a Business Development Manager at Continental.
Placido Klitzke was previously Team Leader Global Brand Product Management for HUGO Menswear and is Co-Director of Eightyards.
He joined the company in 2014 after an internship at Adidas and has held roles including Responsible Brand Manager for HUGO Menswear.
Is Eightyards the right choice?
Whilst HUGO BOSS’s concept for Eightyards sounds great, some leaders are not sure it should be the next step.
“Honestly, I feel like they're trolling us,” says Brittany Sierra, Founder and CEO of the Sustainable Fashion Forum in a LinkedIn post.
“If Hugo Boss is generating enough surplus to warrant a whole ass company, shouldn’t their first priority be redesigning their production system to minimise waste?
“Recycling is important, but it feels like they’re skipping a step.”
HUGO BOSS’s sustainability efforts
HUGO BOSS’s CLAIM 5 strategy focuses on five strategic pillars to reduce its negative impact on the world.
- Increase circularity
- Drive digitisation and data analytics
- Leverage nature positive materials
- Fight microplastics
- Push zero emissions
Each of these pillars comes with a dedicated goal.
By 2030 it aims to achieve 80% circular products, 0% polyester and polyamide, use 100% natural materials according to regenerative principles or closed-loop recycling and reduce its emissions 50% compared to 2019.
By 2025, it aims to develop more than 90% of its products digitally.
These strategic pillars are also backed by its “ESG core”, focussing on human rights and social compliance, employee development, animal welfare, environmental compliance and packaging standards.
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