The UN SDGs and Dibella

The 17 global goals for sustainable development of the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are aimed at everyone: governments worldwide and also civil society, the private sector and the scientific community. Dibella’s actions contribute to the implementation of the SDGs.

• Strategy to promote the payment of living wages.
• Use and pre-financing of GMO-free seeds to avoid consequences such as the financial dependence of cotton farmers on expensive hybrids.
• Extensive training for around 5,000 Indian cotton farmers to secure further sources of income and independence for the farmers*.

• Extensive training programme for approx. 5,000 Indian cotton farmers in food cultivation and self-sufficiency for the farmers*.
• Our organic Fairtrade cotton supports the preservation of soil fertility for agricultural use in food cultivation.

• Commitment of our suppliers to the exclusive use of ZDHC-compliant substances to prevent toxic effects on humans and the environment in the production process.
• Commitment of our suppliers to comply with OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN, product class II.
• As part of our GoodTextiles Foundation, various health-promoting measures were initiated in multiple projects. These include clean drinking water, waste management, and the creation of sanitary facilities.
• At our head office, we provide our employees with free water and regular fruit and vegetables. We provide training on health in the workplace, promote workplace glasses and offer the option of a job bike. If required, we can equip workstations with height-adjustable desks. We also offer various part-time models for an optimal work-life balance.

• Support programme for around 2,000 schoolchildren in the Indian province of Adilabad*:
  • Equipping classrooms and dormitories
  • Promoting the recruitment of teachers
  • Modernisation of the sanitary facilities
  • Installation of a solar system
  • Installation of a drinking water filter system
  • Provision of bicycles
• Further school promotion projects were carried out in cooperation with the GoodTextiles Foundation.
• As a founding member of the MaxTex association, Dibella actively supports the development of seminars on sustainability.
• Employees at the head office have access to comprehensive training programmes.

• Support programme for girls of school age in the province of Adilabad*:
  • Construction/equipment of a girls’ school
  • Furnished with desks and benches, among other things
  • Providing the girls with bicycles to get to school
  • The sanitary facilities, 46 toilets, were completely refurbished.
• Dibella communicates a Code of Labour Practices to all suppliers. This lists and explains the prohibition of discrimination.
• Guaranteeing TC contracts and other individual contract models
• The proportion of women at the head office is currently around 62 % (as at Nov. 2025).

• A support programme for schoolchildren in the Indian province of Adilabad ensures clean drinking water by installing filter systems*.
• The use of organic Fairtrade cotton and the associated ban on the use of pesticides counteracts groundwater pollution*.
• Our standard range is OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN and our premium brand Good Textiles is GOTS certified. Both standards prohibit the use of hazardous chemicals and test the pH value of the wastewater in the factories, for example, which is also treated so that no harmful substances are discharged.

• A support programme for schoolchildren in the Indian province of Adilabad ensures a continuous power supply by installing a solar system.
• Guidelines with best practice recommendations for energy-saving measures in production facilities were distributed to all suppliers.
• The Dibella head office in the Netherlands does not have a fossil fuel heating system. Instead, it cools and heats with air/heat pumps. The electricity required for this is 100 % renewable energies or from the company’s own photovoltaic system.

• The farmers associated with the Chetna cooperative practise sustainable cotton farming. Conversely, fixed purchase quantities, fair prices and premiums secure the farmers’ basic income. This is supplemented by investments in education.
• Almost all Dibella suppliers have a valid social audit. We accept: SA8000, WCA, BSCI and STeP.
• Communication of the Dibella Code of Conduct to all suppliers. This is based on the ILO core labour standards.
• At the Dibella head office, employees work exclusively on permanent contracts.

• The Chetna Cooperative is constantly researching various organic cotton seeds for their resistance to drought and flooding.
• Expansion of the infrastructure through projects from our GoodTextiles Foundation: Provision of bicycles to schoolchildren from cotton farmers in rural areas to overcome the long distances between home and school.
• Expansion/construction of schools to support education in those communities of Indian smallholders from whom the organic cotton is purchased
• Dibella is a founding member of the MaxTex association and CIBUTEX
• Dibella has introduced an idea management system at the company site. Flat hierarchies encourage every employee to contribute suggestions for improvement at any time

• The farmers associated with the Chetna cooperative practise sustainable cotton farming. Conversely, fixed purchase quantities, fair prices and premiums secure the farmers’ basic income. This is supplemented by investments in education.

• The farmers associated with the Chetna cooperative grow cotton sustainably and do not use genetically modified seeds, artificial fertilisers or pesticides in accordance with GOTS. This is supplemented by investments in education, such as training in organic farming, which also contribute to an increase in living standards, as well as the promotion of local biodiversity through planting in the Dibella Forest.
• Dibella is committed to the common good at its headquarters. In addition to involvement in various local projects, a flower meadow was planted at the beginning of 2020.

• Our company is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
• Dibella creates awareness of sustainability throughout the entire value chain.
• Thanks to the non-profit GoodTextiles Foundation set up by Dibella, socially and ecologically committed hotel guests and entrepreneurs can participate in sustainable projects within the textile value chain. It promotes ecological and social projects within the textile value chain with funds set up specifically for this purpose.

• The Dibella Forest (see SDG 15) will create a species-rich forest with up to 10,000 trees. After just five years, they will have already bound up to 80 tonnes of CO2 and after ten years up to 310 tonnes of the harmful greenhouse gas.
• The vehicle fleet currently consists exclusively of electric vehicles (08/2025).
• In 2025, 25,309 km were travelled to work by bike. We have achieved a significant improvement from year to year, including through the creation of job bike leasing options (comparison 2024: 21,762 km).
• 100 % compensation for car and air travel
• No fossil-fuelled heating systems (see SDG 7)
• Since January 2015, Dibella has been offered to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions of raw materials used on request. We also calculate product carbon footprints for some of our product range on request.

• The Dibella Forest (see SDG 15) is irrigated exclusively with drip irrigation in order to regulate the use of water
• Our standard range is OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN certified and our premium brand Good Textiles is GOTS certified. Both standards prohibit the use of hazardous chemicals and test the pH value of the wastewater in the factories, for example, which is also treated so that no harmful substances are discharged.

• Since 2018, the species-rich Dibella Forest has been established on an area of 8.5 hectares in Nachikuppam, India, and is forested by a smallholder family. A total of 10,000 young trees will be planted within the planned ten-year project duration.
• The use of organic Fairtrade cotton or certified cotton supports the preservation of biodiversity by ensuring crop rotation. This also counteracts soil pollution.
• The cellulose for the TENCEL™ fibres used comes from wood from FSC-certified plantations, which are based on sustainable forestry.

• Establishing and maintaining a corruption-free, transparent supply chain.
• Through the GoodTextiles Foundation, we support projects to strengthen disadvantaged groups in textile regions.
• Respect for human rights.

• Founding member of the MaxTex association for sustainable textiles. MaxTex aims to strengthen the overarching development of the sectors, taking into account the special requirements of customers and end consumers with regard to sustainable production and services.
• Member of Textile Exchange since 2011
• Further memberships: Deutscher Textilreinigungsverband/Global Compact/B.A.U.M/MVO Nederland.
• Regular participation in expert talks and discussion forums

* In collaboration with the Chetna Organic cooperative in India