The more time goes by, the more we realize that we have to open our eyes and pay attention to our ecological footprint. In our company, we do not view sustainability as a trend, but rather as our task and our responsibility. This is why we have chosen to adopt sustainable practices to help reduce air pollution.
First of all, we try as much as possible to deliver our online orders near our stores with our electric car. Our order boxes and in-store bags are made from recyclable cardboard and we recover them for reuse. Moreover, we are also in the process of creating our own biodegradable envelopes.
That's not all, the clothing companies that we have in store are also being increasingly challenged and are also deciding to act to be as eco-responsible as possible.
BRAX
The first company to care a lot about its ecological footprint is Brax. It has created its own category of sustainable products called “Blue Planet”. What does it include? 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 the demands of contemporary fashion. By using environmentally friendly technologies, ozone washing processes and the use of the latest laser technology, the consumption of water, chemical additives and energy is significantly reduced in the production of this denim item.
Here are some of their initiatives:
TENCELMC
TENCEL™ fibers use far less fresh water in fabric production compared to conventional cotton. They are derived from cellulose obtained from wood from sustainable forestry.
Initiative Seaqual
By supporting the SEAQUAL INITIATIVE, BRAX is part of a community dedicated to cleaning up our oceans, supporting local communities and ending plastic pollution. SEAQUAL ® yarn contains recycled marine plastic and bottled plastic. The material is traceable and certified.
Note EIM
The EIM score stands for environmental impact measurement. With the help of the EIM score, it is possible to make durability measurable in the finishing process. A system of traffic lights (red, yellow, green) indicates the consumption of water, energy and chemical products. The assessment also includes employee occupational health and safety in the score.
At BRAX, they are pursuing the goal of achieving green and therefore the highest EIM score for 70% of their jeans from January 2021. From January 2022, 100% of the jeans must be finished in an environmentally sustainable way and be see assign a green EIM score.
Organic cotton
In the cultivation of organic cotton, compared to conventional cotton cultivation, mainly natural strategies are used. The use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers is prohibited, which is particularly beneficial for water and air quality, but also for the health of cotton farmers.
Not only do they want to provide fashionable and style-conscious clothing to customers, but they also want to ensure that their products are produced in a socially responsible and environmentally friendly way.
PART TWO and INWEAR
Both companies Part Two and InWear strive to implement new solutions and alternatives for more sustainable fashion, by 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 use of pesticides and water. 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.
It even goes as far as producing hang tags for clothing from recycled paper, as well as printing their catalogs and brochures on FSC-certified paper. Furthermore, these companies have an animal welfare policy that prohibits the unethical treatment of animals, including the plumage of live birds.
Additionally, they banned the use of real farmed leather and fur for textile use only.
PAUL & SHARK
The Paul & Shark men's clothing collection contributes enormously to reducing its ecological footprint. For several years now, the company has implemented a project to save the ocean from plastic called "SAVE THE SEA". This project is characterized by a collection made using certified recycled polyester filaments, derived from post- consumption 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 of 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 produced are very high, as well as completely 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 is why with SECOND LIFE, Paul&Shark repairs by hand , one by one, each garment that has imperfections, transforming them into unique pieces and giving them a chance and a second life.
MARC CAIN
In order to reduce his own consumption, Marc Cain collects a volume of 100,000 liters of rainwater in a cistern to water the park around the company buildings. Part of the new logistics building in Bodelshausen also has a photovoltaic system that converts solar energy into electricity and stores it in an internal company system. The building can thus partially supply itself with current and significantly lower the CO2 rate of coal or nuclear energy.
Thanks to heat recovery, the fashion company also saves energy during heating and water heating. In production, steam boilers are used for washing and care of textiles. The hot steam condenses into hot water, which in turn is used to heat more water. The stale air from the ventilation systems is used again.
And even more, in front of the factory outlet in Bodelshausen, a current charging station supplies electric vehicles free of charge while their owners shop. Also for the development of the products "Rethink Together" (Rethink Together) Marc Cain takes care of the protection of the environment because these are subjected to a manufacturing process economical in resources.
The previous collections are only some among many others which in turn take to heart sustainable practices to reduce their ecological footprint. The importance is to become aware of the negative impacts on the environment and to contribute little by little to its well-being by taking individual actions in our daily lives.