Our impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

With The First Steps and Jheronimus Clothing, we are building a fair, local, and circular clothing chain in 's-Hertogenbosch. We create social employment in our workshop, extend the lifespan of clothing through repair and reuse, and produce as locally and transparently as possible. In doing so, we concretely contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations:

  • SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
    We create valuable jobs in a social workshop and demonstrate that circular fashion and repair can be a healthy business model.

  • SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
    We extend the lifespan of textiles through repair, second-hand use, and upcycling, and produce locally and transparently instead of through mass production.

  • SDG 13 – Climate Action
    Repair and reuse reduce the need for new production. This lowers the CO₂ emissions from clothing and makes the fashion chain lighter on the climate.

  • SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
    Our workshop employs people who are distanced from the labor market. Through paid work, craftsmanship, and development, we reduce inequality of opportunity.

  • SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
    We are building a local textile hub in 's-Hertogenbosch: collecting, sorting, repairing, and selling with and for the city.

  • SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
    We collaborate with social workplaces, schools, brands, shops, and municipalities to make the textile chain truly circular, step by step.

Indirectly, we also address SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) through fair jobs, collaboration with education, and an inclusive workplace.

In short, what and how we do it:

SDG Title Our contribution in one sentence
8 Decent work and economic growth Social, paid jobs in a local workshop and a circular business model.
12 Responsible consumption and production Repair, second-hand use, and upcycling instead of discarding and new production.
13 Climate action Less new textile production through lifespan extension, thus fewer CO₂ emissions.
10 Reduced inequalities Work and development for people distanced from the labor market.
11 Sustainable cities and communities Local textile chain in 's-Hertogenbosch: collection, repair, and sales in the region.
17 Partnership to achieve objectives Collaboration with social workplaces, schools, companies, and government in the chain.