Chantelle for Change

Manifesto

We are Chantelle – an international, family-owned company and a Paris-based creative studio designing lingerie since 1876.

Through our brands, built on the principles of collaboration and innovation, we challenge conventional ways of crafting and thinking about lingerie.

For more than 145 years, we have invested in our independence and deep rooted in-house industrial capacities to grow responsibly and establish high quality standards in our industry.

We aim to empower and serve all femininities with sustainable products that last, and fit all bodies and needs. Improving our global impact and acting for a more equal, inclusive and respectful society is important to us. We shape our own authentic and meaningful narrative, true to our values, disrupting the way women and lingerie are portrayed.

Beauty, in all its forms, is what we want to protect: whether it be human-beings and their diversity, nature and its riches, or our know-how and its history. We constantly challenge ourselves, and collaborate with our stakeholders, to do better and be actors of progress. We value transparency: we commit to measure and share our complete detailed impact on a regular basis.

We are Chantelle and we believe we have the duty to make a difference. Together with you.

Change is a collective adventure.

Ambition

“Committing to more responsible fashion compels us to rethink our entire value chain and to communicate our initiatives with honesty and transparency [...]

Over twenty high-priority projects were approved and implemented in 2022 as part of our Chantelle For Change program.”

– Guillaume Kretz, CEO

Discover our CSR Reports

In figures

of our collections are OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 label guarantees .

we commit to ensuring that all items in our collections look like new after 50 washes.

high-priority projects were launched in 2022, focusing on the environment, working conditions, local development, consumers, human rights, and business practices.

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of solar panels have been installed in our Tunisian factories, supplying 50% of the annual electricity needs of our three sites.

we work with 122 suppliers. All are committed to upholding our values based on international conventions and compliance with local law.

De A à A

we design high-quality lingerie in cup sizes A to I and clothing sizes 36 to 54.

Chantelle One is the world’s first 100% recyclable and zero-waste lingerie.

of the electricity we consume in France comes from renewable sources.

of our corsetry production is carried out in our own factories.

employees trained on human impact on biodiversity and the global responsibility of the textile industry.

Nature

Minimize our impact on the environment

We are committed to significantly reducing our carbon footprint by transitioning to more sustainable processes.

In 2022, we conducted an environmental footprint assessment of the CHANTELLE group. This included the impact of the collections we design and offer — from the cultivation or production of fibers, to fabric manufacturing (weaving, knitting, dyeing, printing…), garment production, generated waste, transport at every stage, and product end-of-life. The assessment also covered the impact of our own sites (factories in France, Tunisia, Morocco, Thailand, and Vietnam), logistics hubs in France and Thailand, our headquarters, retail stores in France (Chantelle and Darjeeling), company vehicles, employee travel, and even product care by customers.

This 16-criteria evaluation was based on the European O.E.F (Organisation Environmental Footprint) methodology adopted by the European Commission.

OPTIMIZING THE LIFECYCLE OF OUR MATERIALS

We are using levers such as Reduce, Reuse, Resell, and Donate to manage our surplus stock of materials (fabrics and components) at our warehouse in Thailand. In 2022, more than 7 tonnes of materials were reused, overdyed, donated, or prepared for reuse in 2023.

MANAGING AND PREVENTING OUR WASTE

All paper and cardboard waste is 100% recycled in France, Europe, and across all our industrial sites. Textile waste primarily comes from fabric cutting before assembly or decommissioned materials. Optimizing material use is part of our eco-design objectives. 25% of our total waste volume consists of non-hazardous industrial waste, mainly from our French headquarters — particularly from the company restaurant, managed by an external provider. Our goal: begin composting organic waste mixed into this stream starting in 2023.

Our 2030 Goals

The impact categories making up over 80% of our global footprint are interconnected and closely tied to our direct and indirect consumption of fossil fuels.

By committing to reduce the climate impact of our operations, we are also reducing our overall environmental footprint.

The O.E.F methodology also helps us avoid shifting environmental burdens to other areas when implementing our greenhouse gas reduction strategies.

These actions also aim to reduce the indirect pressure our activities place on biodiversity.

Reduce our climate footprint

Due to market conditions and strategic decisions, we reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% between 2019 and 2022 across scopes 1, 2, and 3.

Already achieved:

95.5% of total electricity consumption across our offices, warehouses, and stores comes from renewable sources.
Energy optimization in renovated stores (air conditioning, LED lighting, etc.)
Renewal of company car fleet.

2023–2026 Goals: Implement energy efficiency and conservation measures to reduce energy consumption by at least 40% by 2030 (which represents a 55% reduction compared to 2019), in line with French regulations.

Continue renewing the vehicle fleet, targeting exclusive use of decarbonized energy by 2030. Explore the best renewable energy alternatives for our stores in Metz, Grenoble, Strasbourg, and our Péronne warehouse in Picardy.

Our Commitments

Scope 1 & 2:

Reduce natural gas consumption in France (heating warehouses in Picardy and our Épernay factory).
Reduce refrigerant leaks from air conditioning systems, especially in North African and Asian sites.
Lower fuel use by electrifying part of our vehicle fleet.
Switch all remaining French sites to electricity from renewable sources.
Maximize the output of the solar panel system in Tunisia.
Install solar power systems in Vietnam and Morocco.
Invest in renewing some of our air conditioning units and industrial machines.

Scope 3:

Prioritize lower-emission transport modes (ship vs. air) for supply deliveries to our Thailand warehouse and for shipping to factories.
Maintain and increase shipment planning efforts for mostly sea-freight delivery of finished goods.
Use at least 50% low-impact materials (recycled, bio-based, or eco-labeled) by product weight.
Collect energy consumption data from key suppliers (especially fabric makers) and support their decarbonization efforts.
Raise awareness among all employees worldwide on low-carbon mobility and create tailored mobility plans where possible.

Create sustainable products

Eco-design means considering and minimizing negative environmental impacts at every stage of a product’s lifecycle — starting from design.

Since Autumn-Winter 2022, we have used the Product Environmental Footprint (P.E.F) methodology developed by the EU for apparel and footwear to scientifically evaluate our products' impact. This enables us to transparently communicate product environmental scores.

From 2024, we plan to act on: - Weaving/knitting, dyeing/printing processes - Transportation - Use of renewable energy - Optimized material use and product design in partnership with committed suppliers.

We are currently prioritizing actions on: - The use of recycled and bio-based materials - Weight reduction - Material efficiency - Product durability - Energy use and renewable energy integration.

OUR 2030 GOAL (SET IN 2022): 100% of our products to be made with at least 50% low-impact, traceable fibers by weight.

Materials

Eco-design also means replacing conventional fibers with recycled, bio-based, or EU Ecolabel-certified materials — requiring fewer natural resources and less energy.After simulating the resulting emissions reductions, we chose to go even further.

OUR AMBITION, SET IN 2022: 100% OF OUR ARTICLES COMPOSED OF AT LEAST 50% OF THEIR TOTAL WEIGHT FROM REDUCED IMPACT AND TRACEABLE FIBERS BY 2030.

Our results (CHANTELLE mega-brand and DARJEELING):*

17% of Spring-Summer 2023 collections met the target (representing 29% of new styles/colours by volume)
27% of Autumn-Winter 2023 collections (44% of new items by volume)
26% of Spring-Summer 2024 collections (44% of new items by volume)

Reducing product weight

We aim to reduce the weight of certain products without compromising functionality or durability.
Using fewer raw materials means fewer environmental impacts.

Reducing waste

Reducing material waste during the cutting process in our factories is a core objective of our eco-design strategy.

Durability

Eco-design also means extending product life. As an alternative to fast fashion, we release only two main collections per year and one swimwear collection. Each item is tested by 200 experts and guaranteed to stay looking new after 50 washes. We encourage customers to care for their lingerie via detailed advice on our website and in-store, and we offer repair services to prolong product life.
Visit our care guide

Contributing to the circulare economy

Circularity is central to our strategy. We aim to offer sustainable alternatives to traditional lingerie consumption.Chantelle One:Bras are difficult to recycle due to mixed materials.In 2021, we launched the world’s first 100% recyclable, zero-waste bra — a groundbreaking innovation and a viable circular business model.In 2023, fabric scraps and returned Chantelle One products were recycled into components for future bras (hooks, sliders, underwires, etc.).We’re also working to develop a recycled yarn from these products to enable infinite production cycles.Through these innovations, we are paving the way toward truly responsible and circular consumption.

New sales methods

Creating more sustainable collections also means rethinking how we sell them.
We’re testing new tools (3D visualization, sample halves, rack alternatives) to replace traditional sales samples and significantly reduce material use.

Sustainable packaging

We use packaging made from recycled and/or recyclable materials, sourced locally (Italy) whenever possible. Priority is given to FSC- or PEFC-certified paper, from sustainably managed forests, and plant-based inks.

Act transparently

Acting transparently means, above all, building a relationship of trust — by providing clear information about the composition, traceability, and recyclability of our products and packaging. It also means committing to a thorough, progressive, and verifiable traceability process.

To strengthen this approach, we expanded our team in early 2024 with the appointment of a dedicated Traceability Project Manager, whose mission is to audit our supplier network, enhance risk assessment, and support our partners in a continuous improvement process. An innovative traceability solution is currently being tested on a pilot that covers a significant portion of the Autumn-Winter 2024 collection developed with our external partners.
In the same spirit of transparency and education, we were the first to display the environmental impact score of our collections online, starting with Autumn-Winter 2023. While the score is no longer publicly available — due to the methodology now falling under a professional-use-only technical framework — we continue to apply this evaluation tool to each new collection to maintain our high standards.
At the same time, we are focusing our efforts on developing the upcoming Product Passport, as introduced by the European Eco-design Regulation. This tool, which will ultimately enable standardized, reliable product impact information, will be progressively implemented both on product labels and online product pages.
Transparency and accountability remain at the heart of our approach. What we started yesterday builds the foundation for what we will achieve tomorrow.

Culture

Serve and represent all women

We are committed to promoting an inclusive vision of women and challenging traditional beauty standards. We reject all forms of appearance-based expectations and aim to celebrate beauty in all its richness and diversity through our imagery.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY

Fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and respectful society is a priority for all brands within our group. Since 2017, under the creative direction of Renaud Cambuzat, Chantelle has created its own powerful, authentic, and disruptive visual narratives. These campaigns have redefined how women — and lingerie — are represented. Season after season, we collaborate with inspiring models from all backgrounds, with strong, creative personalities who are eager to co-create and reshape the visual codes of the industry, while breaking free from harmful stereotypes. Our models represent a wide range of bodies and identities.

RESPECT & COLLABORATION

We are committed to representing our models with respect, encouraging them to express themselves and unleash their creativity throughout the entire collaboration. Our campaigns highlight diversity, honesty, and the individual stories of our models.

Serving all forms of femininity also means putting our expertise at the service of everyone, offering collections from cup sizes A to I, sizes 36 to 50, and constantly innovating through the Chantelle Lab to meet diverse everyday needs (SoftStretch line, Pure Maternity, Period Panties, and more).

INCLUSIVITY

We design for women from cup sizes A to J, back sizes 65 to 105, and clothing sizes 34 to 52. We introduced G and H cups over 15 years ago, added cup I in 2016, and J in 2023. We remain attentive to our customers’ needs and continuously strive to simplify their lives.

QUALITY

We focus on designing exceptional products that combine ultimate comfort and refined aesthetics. Each collection is tested by 200 product experts to fine-tune every item.

INNOVATION :

Chantelle SoftStretch: Our innovative one-size-fits-all underwear line was specifically designed to adapt to all body types, transforming the everyday lives of millions of customers. Chantelle Life: Launched in 2021, our Chantelle Life (M) Period Panty is made of recycled microfiber, organic cotton, bamboo viscose, and upcycled lace.

Committed to our employees

The health, safety, and well-being of our employees are our top priorities.

The Group has always placed great importance on its people, who are at the heart of our story. This commitment is reflected in proactive measures aligned with today’s volatile world.

Health & Safety

We are uncompromising when it comes to the safety of our employees. Prevention and vigilance are key to ensuring a safe and supportive working environment. We’ve implemented a proactive policy on workplace accidents, achieving a 75% reduction between 2019 and 2020 (from 80 accidents to 20).To ensure health and safety compliance across all our sites, we initiated a social audit program based on the SEDEX Smeta framework. In 2022 and early 2023, we audited:

All three factories in Tunisia:
Our factory and material warehouse in Thailand
Our Vietnamese factory
Our two Moroccan factories will be audited very soon.

Training & skill development

We are committed to supporting our employees’ personal and professional growth. In 2020, we launched My Chantelle School and My Digital Workplace in France to help employees build their knowledge, soft skills, and technical expertise. Continuous training: Chantelle supports career-long development, offering over 9,000 training hours in France in 2023. Apprenticeships: We are committed to passing on know-how and providing first work experiences through apprenticeship programs.

Work-Life Balance

We support remote work where possible and provide digital tools to enable efficient, collaborative work from anywhere.

A culture of kindness

We foster dialogue, empathy, and inclusion. All new team members benefit from onboarding programs to help them integrate into our culture, organization, and operations.

Gender equality & equal opportunity

The Chantelle Group has zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind.

Ethics & respect for human rights

We promote a culture of respect, ethics, and integrity. We produce most of our collections in our own factories and work with a limited number of trusted suppliers to ensure traceability, quality, safety, and transparency.

60% of our collections are produced in-house (France, Tunisia, Morocco, Vietnam, Thailand) to maintain strict control over working conditions, professional ethics, and traceability.

All external suppliers have signed our Responsible Purchasing Charter and Code of Conduct, formalizing our ethical and social commitments. We ensure compliance with local regulations and international human rights standards across the entire supply chain.

In 2020, employees most exposed to compliance risks were trained using the “Doing Business Without Bribery” online module from Transparency International.
In 2022, 100% of our corsetry collections and 97% of our lingerie, swimwear, and accessory collections were OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100label guarantees that the items mentioned, tested, and labeled do not contain any harmful substances in quantities that could be detrimental to health.
In Q2 2023, we collaborated with consulting firm Bluequest to strengthen our responsible sourcing policy in preparation for upcoming regulations on human rights due diligence in the supply chain.

This new charter will be rolled out to all employees in 2024. We’ve also chosen to go further by supporting non-production suppliers starting in 2025 to help them meet these standards.

Developing our societal initiatives

In 2014, we developed the “Merci” post-surgery bra in partnership with the Pierre and Marie Curie Institute. We also work with Cover-Dressing to better understand and serve women with disabilities.

In 2020, we collaborated with Info-Endométriose and supported the podcast “Mon endométriose” to raise awareness of this often-overlooked condition.

In 2021, we sponsored the podcast “Ceci est ton corps”, exploring women’s relationships with their bodies.

We actively participate in breast cancer prevention campaigns. Since 2013, we’ve supported Odyssea, Seintinelles (until 2019), a collaborative breast cancer research platform, and Ruban Rose

In 2022: - We launched an October Breast Cancer Awareness Month donation drive in all Chantelle and Darjeeling stores in France and with retail partners. - We renewed our participation in the Odyssea race, with 80 employees joining. - Nearly €31,000 in donations were raised for breast cancer research through these two initiatives. - We also partnered with Les Bienfaiteurs for a pop-up sale in November, donating 10% of sales to Info-Endométriose, supporting their three key missions: - Raising public awareness and educating youth - Improving care and speeding up diagnosis - Empowering a community of volunteers and support networks

We support Joséphine, an NGO in the SOS Group that helps women regain self-confidence and take back control of their lives. As part of our work with Bien-à-Porter, we created and donated custom vests for occupational therapists in 2021. Occupational therapy focuses on assessing, rehabilitating, and treating people with motor or psychomotor disabilities.

Since 2022, we have partnered with En Avant Toutes, an organization fighting violence against women. Donation campaigns were held in our French Chantelle stores, and awareness initiatives were organized internally. Over €10,000 has been donated.

In March 2022, in response to the Ukraine emergency, our Polish subsidiary partnered with Dobra Fabryka to donate 11,300 products (bras, panties, etc.) from our French and Dutch brands to Ukrainian refugees at the Polish border.

To combat period poverty in Tunisia, where we operate three workshops, we donated 1,200 period panties to the association Wallah We Can, which supports girls in rural areas by providing menstrual education and preventing school absenteeism.