The Good SAUCE #1
You have received this because you are a friend of Direct To Source, Eco-Sourcing, Ethical Manufacturing and Fashion.
Welcome to your monthly source of The Good Sauce, things we hope will help forward-thinking brands like yours thrive. With insights into current ethical sourcing and sustainable manufacturing news, events, innovations and trends, our vision is for this blog to be your go-to for the good, green and conscious stuff.
We are in the business of conscious production of premium fashion products, so each month, you can expect conversations that spark new ideas, help solve industry challenges and guide your sustainability journey, all while keeping you connected to the latest eco-conscious trends. We’re here to help you make your supply chain planet-friendly and hit your ESG targets.
How to remove the complexity from ESG compliance
P.E Nation : Organic Cotton T-shirts. Manufactured by Direct To Source.
Navigating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance can feel overwhelming, especially for fashion brands striving to make a meaningful impact while navigating the normal operations of running a business. Your team might already be stretched keeping up with market movements and production timelines. Adding another layer of complexity to their priority list could mean you and your team feel stretched beyond capacity. We believe sustainability doesn’t have to be complex and you can simplify your ESG compliance by evaluating your products, materials, and production methods to create more responsible products.
Brands often struggle with questions around where to start or how to optimise their operations for sustainability. Here are some key questions we ask our clients, like our friends at P.E Nation who identified a key opportunity in their core apparel, that can help you find where you can have the biggest impact in your brand;
What are your core fabrics? Are they sustainable? What take-back options are available?
What packaging materials do you use? Can you switch to eco-friendly alternatives like FSC-certified paper or compostable bags?
How do stores receive stock? Can you optimise your distribution for lower emissions?
How do you manage your waste? Are there opportunities to improve recycling or repurposing? What textile recycling partners are operating local to you?
What post packaging do you use? Is it recyclable, compostable, or reusable?
What shopping bag options do you offer? Are they reusable? How you considered seasonal totes to market events or programs?
These questions can help reveal what changes will make the most impact on your goals. If you’re feeling unsure about where to begin, you’re not alone. The process might feel daunting, but we’re here to help you & your team every step of the way. We’d love to help you create great products: Let’s do a discovery call
B-Corp and Beyond: Building a Better Future Together
Because we envision a future where profit and planet thrive in harmony, we know that joining a global community of business working together to create positive social and environmental change is going to be important to make lasting change.
We are proud to be B-Corp certified and part of their global movement of more than 8,300 businesses spanning 162 industries, employing over 760,000 people across the world using their influence as a force for good and continuously moving towards a more sustainable andequitable future.
The process of becoming B-Corp certified is governed intrinsically by ethical and environmental standards to ensure each certified business is doing more than just talking the talk. It’s a finely detailed process we are continuously committed to, keeping us accountable to our vision and mission of collaborating with more brands who share our commitment to ethical & environmental responsibility.
See all our credentials and why they’re important or visit the B Corporation website to discover their onboarding process and join us in working towards a harmonious future.
From Waste to wow! : making the most of unwanted fabric & Plastic Bottles
Recycled Cotton & Polyester Lifecycle
Curious about what to do with leftover fabric scraps from a large production run? Instead of contributing to the growing landfill crisis impacting the fashion industry, these offcuts can be repurposed. By combining fabric waste with post-consumer plastic bottles, you can recycle them into durable textiles like Recycled Cotton and Polyester. It's a win for the planet, your brand and your customers!
The process of recycling these materials is not only eco-friendly but also cost-efficient. By repurposing fabric cut-offs and plastic bottles, you’re saving on raw materials and eliminating the need for a traditional dyeing process. This means no more harmful dyes polluting water sources—just vibrant colours that are already embedded in the fabric, reducing the environmental impact significantly.
Not only is it great for the planet, the recycled fabrics are versatile, durable, and stylish, making them perfect for everything from apparel to accessories and packaging. Plus, this process supports circularity in fashion, helping brands like yours take a major step toward reducing textile waste and meeting global targets.
Don't let excess materials go to waste. Learn how recycled textiles can benefit your brand’s sustainability journey and deliver eco-friendly solutions your customers will love!
Discover it’s value: Recycled Fabric
Why 2024 was FSC’s Most Successful Forest Week Yet
We recently actively participated in the 2024 FSC Forest Week Campaign, and we are thrilled to share that this has been FSC New Zealand & Australia’s most successful year yet—achieving an incredible 64% growth in participation compared to last year’s campaign. This success wouldn’t have been possible without the support of certified forest managers, retail partners, chain of custody certificate holders, members and NGOs.
Throughout this week, we celebrated the small but impactful steps that each of us can take to safeguard our forests. But the work doesn’t stop here. Together, we must all continue these efforts, day by day, to protect the invaluable ecosystems that sustain us all.
You can continue supporting FSC’s mission by becoming a forest steward and choosing FSC-certified products year-round for your brand. Every decision we make has a lasting impact, and by uniting our efforts, we can create a sustainable future for all. Find out more.
Eco Fast Fact:
Cars Can be made from hemp
The First Ever Race Car To Be Made Out Of Hemp - The new Porsche 718
Making conscious manufacturing choices isn’t just the responsibility of the rag trade. All industries can be taking innovative steps to improve their environmental impact.
Porsche is an example of using natural materials in replacement of commonly used synthetics with the revolutionary new hemp-made race car. They took flax and hemp fibres and arranged them to compose a similar pattern that one would find in components built from carbon fibre. It is the first ever race car to be made out of hemp.
The material isn’t only a lot better for the environment, it’s also a low-cost alternative to carbon fibre . Another one of the major environmental advantages is its biodegradability.
Porsche’s innovative use of hemp not only revolutionises automotive design but also highlights the potential of sustainable materials in high-performance industries. Another groundbreaking innovation paving the way for sustainable design and a great step forward for both the automotive industry and the future of manufacturing.
You can read more about it here.
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