Sustainability
Manufacturing
We stay sustainable by working with multiple clean and green manufacturers, such as Bella+Canvas, to manufacture our merchandise. Wondering how we’re sustainable? Read on.
Electricity
While most industry average manufacturers use cheap electricity powered by petroleum coke (one of the dirtiest fossil fuels on the planet, releasing more CO2 than coal along with lung poisoning sulfur), we take measures to lower our energy and resource use. We make use of natural light with skylights, we use motion-sensor LED lighting, and our factories are powered with solar.
Steam
Another industry average for most clothing manufacturers is using cheap steam. Steam is required to transfer dye (color) to fabric. They use steam boilers in their dyeing process, which burns cane sugar, palm oil waste, or trees to create the steam. This of course causes deforestation which is why we don’t use this process. We use an energy exchange within our dyeing process. Instead of letting the air from our dryers go to waste, we pump that air into a thermal oxidizer, which leaves oils from the dyes in the air which is then burned to create energy. The energy is captured by a boiler that creates steam, which is then used to heat the dyeing machine. No trees harmed.
Wastewater
Industry average manufacturers cause damage to their surrounding ecosystem with their wastewater method. They produce a lot of filthy waste water which is dumped into very large ponds that extend over hundreds of acres, allowing bacteria to eat the chemicals as the wastewater moves through the ponds. These wastewater ponds affect the ecosystem and the wildlife nearby due to the chemicals in the water. On the other hand, our manufacturers use extremely efficient dye machines that use 7x less water than the industry average.
This saves 24 million gallons of water per week. The little wastewater they create is brought to a state of the art water reclamation plant in LA to be purified and reused. The EPA (California Environmental Protection Agency) is the most strict agency in the world. Thanks to their high level of oversight and regulation, we are able to ensure no harmful chemicals are released into surrounding ecosystems. The dye houses that we use are very rare in China and Central America where most clothing manufacturers dye their fabric.
Industry average manufacturers cause damage to their surrounding ecosystem with their wastewater method. They produce a lot of filthy waste water which is dumped into very large ponds that extend over hundreds of acres, allowing bacteria to eat the chemicals as the wastewater moves through the ponds. These wastewater ponds affect the ecosystem and the wildlife nearby due to the chemicals in the water. On the other hand, our manufacturers use extremely efficient dye machines that use 7x less water than the industry average. This saves 24 million gallons of water per week. The little wastewater they create is brought to a state of the art water reclamation plant in LA to be purified and reused. The EPA (California Environmental Protection Agency) is the most strict agency in the world. Thanks to their high level of oversight and regulation, we are able to ensure no harmful chemicals are released into surrounding ecosystems. The dye houses that we use are very rare in China and Central America where most clothing manufacturers dye their fabric.
No Landfill
Our manufacturers produce almost no landfill because they recycle just about everything that’s left over. If it’s fabric, it can be recycled into a number of things like baby bibs or stuffing for upholstery. Nothing goes to waste.
Our manufacturers produce almost no landfill because they recycle just about everything that’s left over. If it’s fabric, it can be recycled into a number of things like baby bibs or stuffing for upholstery. Nothing goes to waste.
Material
We try to use recycled material whenever possible. We feel it’s the most sustainable way to make clothes. Some of our garments are made from 15% recycled material, some are made from 50% recycled material, and some are even made from 100% recycled material. If it’s not, then it’s made of organic cotton as a much greener alternative to industry average cotton. First off, organic cotton produces 46% less CO2 emissions than regular cotton. It also uses less resources in general, especially water. Organic cotton uses, on average, 1,600 fewer liters of water per t-shirt when compared to conventional cotton. Of course, organic cotton is also free of the chemicals and pesticides that come with conventional cotton along with limiting soil erosion. Now we still feel using recycled polyester/cotton is still more sustainable, so we’re moving in that direction. Given time, we expect to have all of our merchandise made of 100% recycled material.
We try to use recycled material whenever possible. We feel it’s the most sustainable way to make clothes. Some of our garments are made from 15% recycled material, some are made from 50% recycled material, and some are even made from 100% recycled material. If it’s not, then it’s made of organic cotton as a much greener alternative to industry average cotton. First off, organic cotton produces 46% less CO2 emissions than regular cotton. It also uses less resources in general, especially water. Organic cotton uses, on average, 1,600 fewer liters of water per t-shirt when compared to conventional cotton. Of course, organic cotton is also free of the chemicals and pesticides that come with conventional cotton along with limiting soil erosion. Now we still feel using recycled polyester/cotton is still more sustainable, so we’re moving in that direction. Given time, we expect to have all of our merchandise made of 100% recycled material.
Packaging & Inks
Our packaging is made of 30-50% recycled material, while the rest is plain cardboard. Whenever possible, we source from local mills with the highest available post-consumer recycled content. Our boxes are also 100% curbside recyclable or compostable.
One thing we don’t see a lot of “green” brands mention is their inks. Many inks out there are not vegan, nor are they friendly to the environment. Luckily the inks we use are indeed vegan and as green as they can be. We use vegan, water/soy based inks for all of our merchandise and packaging.