H&M asks customers to vote over charity plans

Swedish retailer H&M is asking its employees and customers

to vote on which global issues that the fashion chain should support as part of its H&M Conscious Foundation.

Funded by half a billion SEK, donated by the Stefan Persson family, the fashion chain is giving its customers the power to decide which three issues its foundation should address. Using the UN Millennium Development Goals as inspiration, the H&M Conscious Foundation is looking to use its resources to address some of the world’s most challenging problems, and to make a difference in communities where it operates.

Starting today, October 22, the retailer is asking everyone to place their vote at makeadifference.hm.com before October 29, to prioritise which global challenge to support from a five different issues: clean water, strengthening women, safeguarding natural resources, education and reduction of poverty through self-empowerment.

“It is our responsibility to make a positive impact in the communities where H&M operates. Now we invite our employees and customers to tell us what they think the H&M Conscious Foundation should support. This will guide us to understand what issues are of concern to a large group of people across the world,” explained Karl-Johan Persson, CEO H&M and board member of the H&M Conscious Foundation.

When the top three issues are decided, the foundation will partner with three world-renowned organisations to globally address these issues.