The Good Sauce #3
You have received this because you are a friend of Direct To Source, Eco-Sourcing, Ethical Manufacturing and Fashion.
This is 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.
danger: Hot off the press
Dangerfield Messenger Totes, made with 100% recycled materials by Direct To Source.
Dangerfield recently reimagined their retail tote bag, creating a messenger-style that’s more than just a carrier. This new design embraces functionality, being ideal for biking or hands-free shopping, while capturing the playful essence of Dangerfield's brand by drawing from their most loved placement prints.
By introducing an exciting series of designs, these bags become collectable treasures rather than generic branded totes allowing for smaller production runs and reduced waste, enticing customers to make repeat purchases to collect the various designs.
Made from 65% recycled cotton and 45% RPET, these $5 totes reflect Dangerfield’s eco-conscious creativity. A QR-coded care label internally stitched links directly to the their website, weaving the brand's story seamlessly into the customer journey.
We’d love discuss how seasonal totes can make an impact on your brand experience. Contact us to find out how.
How Fashion Brands Can Reduce Holiday Waste
Brands can make small changes with big impact such as using glassine bags instead of plastic. (Image source: Google)
The festive season is synonymous with joy and giving, but it also brings with it a significant spike in consumer waste. For fashion brands, this is both a challenge and an opportunity to embrace their responsibility and lead by example. While pre-planing Christmas has occurred months in advance, there are still many ways to make the holiday season more responsible without compromising sales or customer experience.
1. Rethink Packaging
Using postal packaging options such as FSC-certified boxes or mailers are easily recyclable by consumers over compostable alternatives. We also highly recommend exploring “glassine” a curbside recyclable alternative to plastic bagging garments that’s durable enough for supply chain handling & transparent enough to scan individual barcodes, contact us for more information.
2. Promote Eco-Conscious Practices
Use your platforms to share tips with customers about reducing holiday waste, like opting for reusable gift wrap or donating unwanted items. By positioning your brand as a sustainability advocate, you enhance your ESG goals and engage meaningfully with your audience.
3. Create Circularity Programs
Offer incentives to recycle & repurpose Christmas gifts. Introduce take-back schemes or upcycling initiatives from the likes of our partner of choice Blocktexx, and consider offering customers can return items in exchange for store credit.
4. Address Leftover Stock Responsibly
Instead of steep discounts to clear post-Christmas inventory, explore more sustainable options:
Donate unsold stock to charitable organizations.
Repurpose inventory into limited-edition collections or accessories for the new year.
Partner with secondhand platforms to resell items.
5. Offset Holiday Emissions
With increased shipping and production around Christmas, consider carbon offset programs such as our chosen partner, Netnada. Highlighting such initiatives in your marketing can also build consumer trust while addressing the environmental impact of the festive season.
We can support your brand to bring these initiatives to life, contact us for more information.
an update on our carbon commitment
The fashion and apparel industry contributes significantly to global emissions, and we believe it’s time for transformative change. At Direct to Source, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the foundation of everything we do. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our partnership with NetNada, an industry leader in carbon tracking and environmental solutions. NetNada’s innovative carbon-tracking technology allows us to identify areas for improvement in our operations and create actionable pathways forward. This partnership equips us with the data we need to meet—and exceed—our environmental goals while empowering our clients to do the same.
With NetNada’s tools, we can precisely measure, reduce and offset our environmental impact, ensuring that the fabrics and production processes we use align with our commitment to a sustainable future.
Working with Netnada is a natural extension of our mission to create a more sustainable clothing industry. Discover more of our commitments to meet the needs of the present without compromising the future.
What the forest is FSC Paper?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has a clear purpose: to nurture responsible forestry so forests and people can thrive. As an international non-for-profit organisation, it certifies paper that is from responsibly managed forests, ensuring the protection of healthy, resilient forests for all, forever.
By sourcing paper from responsibly managed forests, FSC certification guarantees environmental protection, economic viability, and social benefits, making it a more impactful alternative to traditional packaging.
While compostable packaging is often marketed as eco-friendly, it depends on specialised composting facilities to break down effectively. Unfortunately, these facilities are not universally accessible and compostable packaging can end up in landfills releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. FSC paper-made packaging, however, is fully recyclable and easily integrates into existing curb-side waste management systems, minimising environmental harm and making it easily recyclable for everyone.
How to Implement FSC Paper in Your Brand Packaging
Retail Shopping Bags: Switch your POS shopping bags to FSC-certified paper. These bags not only promote sustainability but also allow custom branding using water-based inks, creating an eco-friendly statement for your business.
Postal Mailbags and Packaging: Upgrade your e-commerce packaging with FSC paper mailbags or wrap. FSC-certified options can include durable materials for shipping while remaining recyclable and lightweight to reduce transportation emissions.
By making these simple changes, your brand can significantly lower its environmental footprint, resonate with eco-conscious consumers and effortlessly meet sustainability goals. Explore how we can support shifting to FSC-certified solutions.
Eco Fast Fact:
Kitx talks Fast Fashion’s Plastic Problem
Kit Willow of KITX advocates empowering purchasing decisions. (Image Source: Getty Images)
At Direct To Source, we’re proud to work alongside passionate advocates like Kit Willow, who share our drive to tackle the impacts of fossil-fuel-driven fast fashion. Kit recently highlighted a startling report on how plastic fibres are infiltrating not only our environment but also our health.
Microplastics from synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon are polluting waterways and even entering the food chain. For brands, this is a crucial call to action: to move away from plastic-based materials and explore more responsible fabric choices.
At Direct To Source, we simplify this transition with sustainable options like organic cotton, Australian cotton, hemp, rPET, and FSC-certified paper. Ready to reduce your brand’s impact? Discover the materials we support here.
If you have received this unintentionally please unsubscribe below