Focus on Responsibility
Verena Jasper – Head of Corporate Responsibility
At bonprix, we’re already thinking about the day after tomorrow. We focus not only on future trends and our customers’ needs, but also on how our business activities impact people and the environment. We’ve outlined the goals and priorities we’ve set in this regard in our corporate responsibility strategy, “positive choice.” Of course, it’s not always easy to live up to this responsibility and continue to develop it. But that’s exactly what motivates us! We’re always on the lookout for new solutions and improvements for our products and supply chains.
Fashion with responsibility
My name is Verena Jasper and I have been head of the Corporate Responsibility (CR) department at bonprix as a parental leave cover since the beginning of 2025. Together with my team and many dedicated colleagues, I work to bring our “positive choice” CR strategy to life and help shape the transformation of the fashion industry towards greater transparency and recyclability.
When I started at bonprix in 2013, much of the work was still pioneering – from checking preferred fibres and reviewing our suppliers’ audit reports to developing our first CR strategy in 2017. Today, these topics are firmly embedded in our processes.
In my personal life, too, I’m mindful of my consumption habits, my transportation choices, and my nutrition. Just like at work, I want to inspire others by setting a good example rather than pointing fingers. Because I am convinced that a positive approach can achieve more.
Our CR Strategy in Practice
As Head of Corporate Responsibility at bonprix, I work with my team to ensure that our strategic CR goals are not just words on paper, but are actually implemented. Our work is based on the “positive choice” CR strategy, which rests on three central pillars: materials & design, climate protection & human rights, transparency & recyclability. As the CR team, we are also responsible for continuously adapting and developing our CR strategy.
We work with all stakeholders to embed our strategy throughout the organisation. One example is the digital product passport, which we are implementing with our colleagues from various departments. A QR code on the garment takes customers to a page that tells the story of the product. This isn’t just about providing information on the materials used, production facilities, and the recyclability of our products. In the future, for example, we also plan to include care and repair instructions as well as styling tips.
Just as all information is bundled in the digital product passport, the CR team also brings together the various CR projects. Our goal: to create transparency and actively drive change.
The CR team as a catalyst for change
For us, long-term and forward-looking management is not just a trend, but a necessity for our company’s future success. We strengthen the resilience and future viability of our business model by anticipating developments at an early stage and preparing bonprix to respond appropriately. This is precisely where we see our role as the CR team: we set strategic guidelines, actively shape and manage change, create structures, empower and advise our colleagues.
Our role has changed significantly over the years: whereas we used to initiate and implement many issues ourselves, we now see ourselves as a source of inspiration. We ensure that all relevant areas take responsibility and can contribute independently to achieving our goals – so that these issues are considered and implemented throughout the entire organisation. Effective CR governance is essential for this. And sometimes it takes courage to ask uncomfortable questions or to name the “pink elephant in the room”.
Working together for the future of the fashion industry
Our cooperation with other fashion brands through industry initiatives such as Fashion for Good and cascale shows how we can work together as a textile industry. No company can bring about change alone. We pursue common goals and develop solutions that advance the entire fashion industry.
The biggest driver behind our work is the passion that my team and I share. Our intrinsic motivation, our strong team spirit, and, of course, our professional expertise form the foundation of our work. At bonprix, we cultivate an open, appreciative corporate culture in which we can develop together and try out new approaches. The freedom to contribute ideas and implement projects in line with our CR strategy makes our work so special.
CR management is a continuous process. Together with my team, I want to initiate change. The challenge lies in creating structures that enable long-term change.
Verena – Head of Corporate Responsibility