CR FAQs

The Next Code of Practice Principle Standards is aligned to the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code and reflects the most relevant international standards with respect to labour practices (International Labour Organisation Conventions).

Next recognises its responsibility to respect human rights throughout its operations and we are committed to ensuring people are treated with dignity and respect by upholding all internationally recognised human rights principles encompassed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labor Organisation’s (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Our approach is to implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (Guiding Principles) and to recognise and manage the risk of harm associated with unsatisfactory working conditions, discrimination, modern slavery, human trafficking and forced or bonded labour.

Where Next employees are based in countries with recognised concerns over human and labour rights as determined by the FTSE4Good Index, all employees are specifically required to comply with the Declaration of Human Rights and the ILO Conventions.

You can find out more here.

Our aim is to meet or exceed our customers’ expectations of Next as a company and the products we sell by ensuring our products are:

• Excellent quality
• Safe, functional and fit for their intended purpose
• Sourced and produced responsibly
• Free from harmful substances
• Fully compliant with all legislation and our own standards and technical requirements, where these go beyond legislation

Our team of specialist technologists work closely with our buyers, designers and global supply chain and are responsible for ensuring all products sold by Next are safe and comply with relevant UK and European legislation and guidelines relating to health and safety and the environment.

You can find out more here.

Next is committed to the responsible sourcing of timber products. We aim to reduce our impact and to increase social and environmental benefits by only using responsibly sourced timber and paper. Our Timber Policy is available here.

As part of our Responsible Sourcing Approach, we are committed to working with our suppliers to deliver 100% of our timber products from Responsible or Certified Responsible sources by 2025 through our Timber Sourcing Policy.

NEXT aims to contribute to zero net deforestation and forest degradation through our sourcing decisions.

NEXT is committed to the responsible sourcing of timber products across its business and we aim to reduce our impact and to increase social and environmental benefits by only using responsible and sustainable sources. Wood is the main raw material used to make regenerated man-made cellulosic fibres such as viscose and modal, which are made from the dissolved wood pulp of trees. To ensure these wood-based fabrics are responsibly sourced, Next is committed to ensuring the wood comes from responsibly managed forests.

In July 2018, NEXT committed to the Roadmap Towards Responsible Viscose and Modal Fibre Manufacturing as set out by the Changing Markets Foundation. This Roadmap aims to minimise the effects of harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process by viscose manufacturers’ adopting closed-loop production systems by 2023-25.  These systems aim to recycle chemicals used during production and prevent negative impacts on human health and the environment. Through this commitment Next will work with its supply chain to improve their viscose and modal manufacturing processes to support the fibre manufacturers in meeting the requirements of the Roadmap.

As the use of timber based fabrics increase, it is important we understand and work to address the impact of our sourcing decisions on forests.

NEXT is committed to the responsible sourcing of timber products. We aim to reduce our impact and to increase social and environmental benefits by only using responsibly sourced timber.

As part of our Responsible Sourcing Approach, we will ensure manmade cellulosic fabrics such as viscose, modal and lyocell, which are made from the dissolved wood pulp of trees, are responsibly sourced.

NEXT is committed to working collaboratively with industry and civil society partners such as Canopy, who work to protect the world's forests, species and climate, to support a move to more responsible supply chain practices that ensure manmade cellulosic fabrics do not come from ancient and endangered forests and endangered species habitat or illegal sources through our Protecting Forests through Fabric Choices Policy.

We are working with Canopy through their CanopyStyle initiative to improve the sustainable sourcing of our timber based fabrics. We will work to prioritise FSC^® certified materials and support innovative sustainable materials as an alternative to traditional forest products such as recycled materials. Should we find that any of our fibres are being sourced from at-risk forests (as defined by Canopy) we will engage our suppliers and influence our fabric supply chain to change their practices to eliminate the use of these sources.

NEXT is a supporter of Canopy's Next Generation Vision for Viscose which supports the investment in, creation and purchase of products made from low-impact alternative fibres such as waste textiles. This move to circular alternatives such as waste textiles will support the end of sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests.

Our products should not contain chemicals which could be harmful to our customers, the workers who make our products or the environment. This is not only important in the countries where our products are made, but also where they are sold and eventually disposed of. As a signatory to the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) programme, we commit to reach zero hazardous discharge from textile and leather supply chains. To do this we have ensured our Chemical Policy covers all production stages and sets out substances banned from intentional use in any facilities that process materials for NEXT brand products.

The policy details four key standards our suppliers must adhere to:

• Restricted Substances Standard (RSS)
• Restricted Substances List (RSS)
• Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL)
• ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines (ZDHC WWG)

Cotton is one of the most important raw materials used in textiles, and one of the most commonly used fibres in products sold by NEXT.

Cotton is grown in more than 80 countries and its production provides incomes for over 250 million people globally. NEXT recognises that wherever it is grown, unless it is produced according to sustainable practices, cotton production can create significant challenges, and in some parts of the world may be associated with high social, environmental and economic impacts.

We all have a role to play in supporting responsible and sustainable farming practices in cotton production, including efficient water usage and reduction in the use of harmful chemicals. We take the human rights of those working in these supply chains very seriously.

Our commitments, within the Cotton Sourcing Policy, are part of our Responsible Sourcing Strategy which covers the raw materials used in the products we sell.