The more time passes, the more we realize that we need to open our eyes and pay attention to our ecological footprint. In our company, we don't see sustainability as a trend, but rather as our task and our responsibility. That's why we've chosen to adopt sustainable practices to help reduce air pollution.
First of all, we try as much as possible to make our own deliveries of online orders with our electric car. Our order boxes and in-store bags are made from recyclable cardboard, which we recycle for reuse. We're also in the process of creating our own biodegradable envelopes.
And that's not all: the clothing companies we carry in our stores are also increasingly concerned, and have decided to take action to be as eco-responsible as possible.
BRAX
The first company to take a serious look at its ecological footprint is Brax. The company has created its own category of sustainable products called "Blue Planet". What does it mean? Quite simply, less water, energy and chemicals, but no less quality. This program aims to improve denim by combining the conscious use of natural resources with contemporary fashion demands. By using environmentally-friendly technologies, ozone washing processes and the latest laser technology, the consumption of water, chemical additives and energy is considerably reduced in the production of this denim item.
Here are some of their initiatives:
TENCELMC
TENCEL™ fibers use much less freshwater during fabric production than conventional cotton. They are derived from cellulose obtained from wood from sustainable forestry.
Seaqual Initiative
By supporting the SEAQUAL INITIATIVE, BRAX is part of a community dedicated to cleaning up our oceans, supporting local communities and putting an end to plastic pollution. SEAQUAL ® yarn contains recycled marine plastic and bottled plastic. The material is traceable and certified.
Note EIM
The EIM score is synonymous with measuring environmental impact. With the help of the EIM score, sustainability in the finishing process can be made measurable. A traffic-light system (red, yellow, green) indicates water, energy and chemical consumption. The assessment also includes employee health and safety in the score.
At BRAX, they are pursuing the goal of achieving green and therefore the best EIM score for 70% of their jeans from January 2021. From January 2022, 100% of jeans must be finished in an ecologically sustainable way and awarded a green EIM score.
Organic cotton
Compared to conventional cotton growing, organic cotton cultivation uses mainly natural strategies. The use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers is prohibited, which is particularly beneficial not only for water and air quality, but also for the health of cotton growers.
Not only do they want to offer customers fashionable, style-conscious clothing, they also want to ensure that their products are manufactured in a socially responsible and environmentally-friendly way.
PART TWO and INWEAR
The 2 companies Part Two and InWear strive to implement new solutions and alternatives for more sustainable fashion, sourcing sustainable and recycled materials. Their mission is to democratize quality through widely accessible, well-made and durable styles, designed to be worn and loved for a long time.
They have joined the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), which is a global organization committed to ensuring more responsible global cotton production through reduced pesticide and water use. They are also reducing their use of conventional viscose and turning to more responsible alternatives such as Lyocell, Tencel™ Lyocell, Tencel™ Modal and EcoVero™ viscose.
This goes as far as producing hang tags for clothing from recycled paper, and printing their catalogs and brochures on FSC-certified paper. In addition, these companies have an animal welfare policy that prohibits the unethical treatment of animals, including the plucking of live birds.
In addition, they have banned the use of genuine leather and fur from livestock farms for textile use only.
PAUL & SHARK
The menswear collection Paul & Shark contributes enormously to reducing its ecological footprint. A few years ago, the company set up a project to save the ocean from plastic called "SAVE THE SEA". This project features a collection made using certified recycled polyester filaments, derived from post-consumer plastic bottles that pollute the sea. The fabric offers thermal insulation, waterproof and windproof performance, comfort and lightness, minimizing negative impacts on the environment.
Recently, Paul & Shark entered the production of sustainable fabrics made from ECONYL® fiber: a regenerated nylon yarn created from discarded materials such as fishing nets and other nylons.
A fiber with infinite regenerative potential, which maintains the same high quantitative standards with every use. For this reason, the quality and performance of the garments manufactured are very high, as well as being totally ecological.
In addition to recycling their cotton and wool, the company is convinced that one of the greatest contributions that can be made to sustainability is to minimize waste, and that's why with SECOND LIFE, Paul&Shark repairs by hand, one by one, every garment that has imperfections, transforming them into unique pieces and giving them a chance and a second life.
MARC CAIN
In order to reduce its own consumption, Marc Cain collects 100,000 liters of rainwater in a cistern to water the park around the company's buildings. Part of Bodelshausen's new logistics building also features a photovoltaic system that converts solar energy into electricity and stores it in an internal company system. In this way, the building is partially self-sufficient in electricity, significantly reducing the CO2 emissions of coal and nuclear power.
Thanks to heat recovery, the fashion company also saves energy when heating and reheating water. In production, steam boilers are used for washing and caring for textiles. The hot steam condenses into hot water, which in turn is used to heat further water. Stale air from the ventilation systems is used again.
What's more, in front of the factory outlet in Bodelshausen, a charging station provides free electricity for electric vehicles while their owners shop. Marc Cain's "Rethink Together" products are also developed with the environment in mind, using a resource-saving manufacturing process.
The above collections are just a few of the many people who have taken sustainable practices to heart in order to reduce their ecological footprint. The important thing is to be aware of the negative impacts on the environment, and to contribute little by little to its well-being by taking individual action in our daily lives.