The Fashion Pact Journal » MEMBER CASE STUDY: ZIMMERMANN
Case studies

Reaching Zero: Zimmermann's ZDHC Journey

About Zimmermann

Zimmermann, is an Australian luxury fashion brand known for its women’s ready-to-wear and swimwear collections. Founded by sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann, it has a global footprint of over 70 stores, operates a digital business globally and has international wholesale clients.

Summary

In 2021, Zimmermann joined the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Roadmap to Zero Programme – a global collaboration to phase out hazardous chemicals from the fashion industry’s value chain – as a Friend of ZDHC. By July 2024, they had elevated their commitment by becoming an official ZDHC Signatory Brand, reflecting a deepened responsibility towards a cleaner and safer supply chain. That same year they earned ZDHC’s Pioneer Level Achievement for Sustainable Chemical Management Progress, which recognises a commitment to the guidelines and implementation in the supply chain, at least partially using ZDHC solutions and platforms.

Zimmermann faces a familiar challenge to many global fashion houses – embedding environmental stewardship within a complex, multi-national supply network. This case study charts Zimmermann’s progress, innovation, and the strategies driving its sustainable chemical management across its entire supply chain.

The Challenge

Zimmerman committed to achieving ZDHC Supplier to Zero Level 2 (out of the 3 Levels available) at 90% of its wet processing facilities by 2024, alongside full compliance with the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) by 2025, but faced a number of challenges, including:

  • Limited supplier readiness, particularly in environmental auditing and data transparency.
  • Gaps in emissions monitoring, waste management, and environmental impact assessments.
  • The complexity of scaling innovation, especially among lower-volume suppliers.
  • Balancing return-on-investment expectations of the long-term value of sustainability investments.
The Approach
  • Since joining ZDHC, the brand undertook important steps to support supply chain transition leading towards the Supplier to Zero program and its objectives. This included:
  • Virtual and in-person training programmes to key wet processing suppliers.
  • Engaged BlueWin, a specialist technical consultancy, to offer tailored, one-to-one guidance for mills requiring more robust support.
  • Progressed environmental audits across supplier facilities to identify non-compliance and implemented corrective action plans at seven production sites found lacking in critical environmental indicators during FY 2024.

In July 2024, when Zimmermann became a ZDHC Signatory Brand, it gained access to enhanced collaboration opportunities, shared tools, and ZDHC’s full suite of sustainable chemical management solutions. Including:

  • Supported MMCF (Man-Made Cellulosic Fibre) Module Training for Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers of viscose-based products, in line with ZDHC guidelines.

Zimmermann also updated its Viscose Sourcing Policy, aligned with ZDHC principles. This is designed to promote chemical transparency and embed sustainability requirements in production, including the use of only FSC-certified viscose from approved suppliers and the implementation of chemical recovery systems for viscose production.

To encourage responsible practices and minimise environmental impacts from viscose production, Zimmermann requires that all viscose be sourced from suppliers who have completed ZDHC’s Man-Made Cellulosic Fibre (MMCF) Module training program and hold a valid Certification of Achievement. The policy is designed to increase the proportion of FSC-certified viscose in the supply chain by requiring all viscose to come from suppliers who have passed CanopyStyle audits and have robust chemical recovery systems.

Impact
  • On track to achieve Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MSRL) full conformance by the FY 2025 deadline.
  • 77% of fabric spend covered by Supplier to Zero Level 2 suppliers to date (against a 90% goal by the end of FY 2024).
  • FSC-certified viscose rose to 37% of total viscose use (up from 32%) in FY 2024. This is expected to rise steadily over the next two reporting cycles, with an emphasis on continuous improvement.

Structured remediation to address key non-compliance across the supply chain. This included:

  • Approved supplier list: sourcing only from viscose producers who meet both FSC certification and CanopyStyle audit standards.
  • Chemical recovery systems, ensuring suppliers recover and reuse the chemicals used in viscose production.
  • Training and capacity building, with Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers participating in ZDHC’s Man-Made Cellulosic Fibre (MMCF) Module Training to align production with best practice.
  • Traceability requirements to ensure suppliers provide verifiable documentation of FSC status and chemical management systems.

Emissions inventory disclosed as part of a commitment to transparency and long-term climate goals.

Key Learnings
  • Collaboration with suppliers and experts is vital, especially in chemical management. In FY 2024, tailored 1:1 support from BlueWin helped mills close compliance gaps, directly contributing to 77% of fabric spend being from Supplier to Zero Level 2 facilities.
  • Data-led decisions drive smarter, more sustainable sourcing. Annual emissions inventory disclosure enabled targeted investments in waste management improvements, reducing non-compliance at seven sites.
  • Long-term vision remains critical, progress takes time and resilience. Although the 90% Supplier to Zero Level 2 target was not fully reached, the structured remediation plans mean more suppliers are on track to reach compliance in FY 2025.
Looking Ahead

Zimmermann is expanding its Tier 2 supplier capacity building to include waste management, emissions monitoring, and environmental impact assessment. Further capacity-building efforts include introducing training to enhance supplier transparency across all tiers. In addition, Zimmermann is increasing the uptake of preferred fibres, with a focus on FSC-certified viscose and continuing annual environmental audits, with corrective actions monitored quarterly.

All images provided by Zimmermann for external use in this publication. 

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