This is your monthly source of the good, green and conscious stuff with insights into current ethical sourcing and sustainable manufacturing news, events, innovations and trends.

Brand New Year

In Chinese astrology, this is the Year of the Snake, a time for change, development, and self-discovery. It's also a time to let go of the past and embrace the new. So, it seems the perfect and logical time for Direct To Source to update our identity. Let’s make it simple. Let’s even make it what most of our clients already call us…DTS

We love it because it’s easy and efficient, just like the way we create sustainable products that our customers love.

For those who don’t know us yet, our tagline ‘Made Responsibly’ provides some guidance. It describes our continued commitment to finding the most sustainable manufacturing solutions and providing a complete chain of custody with everything we develop.

We are still your go-to producer of planet-friendly fashion, retail bags and e-commerce packaging but now we are DTS Made Responsibly.

Proudly B-Corp certified.

What The New Climate Reporting Mandates Mean For Fashion Brands

The future of climate reporting for the Australian fashion industry is here, and with it comes new expectations for brands. The introduction of the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards AASB S1 and AASB S2 marks a change where sustainability reporting is moving from a choice to a requirement.

Brands are now expected to align with the evolving regulatory framework, ensuring their operations reflect transparency, accountability and environmental responsibility.

How To Stay Compliant:

Material sourcing: Look to incorporate organic, recycled, ethically farmed materials with an end-of-life solution considered.
Packaging: Make the move from compostable to FSC-certified home-recyclable paper packaging & mail bags.
Supply chain transparency: Ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions through certified mills & manufacturers.

If you’re unsure where to start, we can help. Our manufacturing solutions integrate compliance-ready processes, ensuring you stay ahead of regulatory shifts. Learn more: www.directtosource.com.au/contact.

Source: Netnada

How to Begin aligning your ESG goals & Manufacturing Processes

The new reporting standards aren’t just about ticking government boxes, they’re about delivering real environmental benefits with transparency, through ethical manufacturing and more planet-friendly fabric choices.

A first step to aligning your ESG goals with your manufacturing processes is to identify where in your business you can make the biggest impact. Generally, this is in volume products such as core apparel or packaging, due to the quantity. Often, these are avoided due to financial constraints or the effort required to make the change. But with sustainability becoming a necessity, changes to align with the new protocols are critical and if applied strategically can deliver in some cases can recovery and abundant marketing opportunities. See some of the cost-positive results customers of Direct To Source have experienced here.

Whether it’s through your products, packaging or uniforms, we can help to identify where in your business you can improve your sourcing & manufacturing to align with the new standards. Feel rest assured with support throughout the process, you can have a credible & compliant, responsible end product to be proud of.

fabrics that can impact your ESG goals

From organic cotton to hemp and RPET fabrics, there are more responsible fabric choices to reduce environmental impact

Making the best choice for your business when it comes to fabrics and materials can feel overwhelming especially when produced at volume.

To help businesses navigate the process, there are a few things to consider:

Material Composition – Understand the fibre content and its impact. Natural fibres like cotton and hemp offer biodegradability, while recycled synthetics provide durability with a reduced footprint.
Supply Chain Transparency – Ensure the material comes from traceable, responsibly managed sources. Certifications like GOTS, OEKO-TEX, or FSC can help verify compliance.
Production Impact – Assess water usage, chemical treatments, and emissions involved in creating the fabric. Lower-impact dyeing and closed-loop processes can significantly reduce environmental strain.
Circularity & End-of-Life – Can the fabric be composted, recycled, or repurposed at the end of its lifespan? Thinking beyond production ensures long-term sustainability.
Cost vs. Longevity – Higher-quality fabrics may cost more upfront but extend the lifecycle of a product, reducing waste and replacement frequency.

Some more responsible fabric choices that balance performance, impact, and traceability without compromising quality to consider include;

Organic Cotton – A breathable, soft, and durable option free from pesticides and synthetic fertilisers.
Australian Cotton – A traceable, high-quality fibre grown with innovative water and soil management practices.
Hemp – A strong, naturally pest-resistant fibre requiring minimal water and inputs, with excellent durability.
Recycled PET (rPET) – Diverts plastic waste from landfills to create performance-driven, long-lasting textiles.

By carefully selecting materials that align with your brand’s goals, you can create products that not only meet compliance requirements but also contribute to a more responsible future for fashion. If you need support in sourcing the right fabrics, Direct To Source is here to help.

How A Basic Cotton Tee Can Make A Difference

When P.E Nation set out to change to more responsible sourcing & manufacturing, they started with one of their core products: the classic cotton tee. Rather than attempting an overnight overhaul of their entire supply chain, they focused on a meaningful shift—transitioning part of their core range from conventional cotton to organic cotton.

This decision aligned with their long-term goals to improve material sourcing and take greater accountability for their environmental and social impact. By making this change, their cotton tees were produced by avoiding synthetic, pesticides and fertilisers, reducing the strain on ecosystems and promoting healthier farming practices.

Beyond the environmental benefits, P.E Nation’s move to organic cotton proved to be a strategic business decision. The shift sparked stronger sales and positive customer feedback, demonstrating that customers care about where and how their clothing is made. Rather than making vague claims, they could back their efforts with certifications and transparency, building deeper trust within their community following.

Sustainability isn’t a one-time fix, it’s an ongoing process. Since making the switch to organic cotton, P.E Nation has continued refining its approach, ultimately achieving B Corp certification. This milestone signals their broader commitment to responsible business practices, from supply chain ethics to corporate governance.

P.E Nation’s journey highlights a practical lesson for fashion brands: start with a single, high-impact change. Whether it’s improving material choices, auditing your supply chain, or implementing better waste management, small steps add up.

If your brand is looking to transition to responsibly sourced materials or better align with customer expectations, Direct To Source can help navigate the process efficiently & effectively. Let’s make it easier to do better together, without compromising on quality or performance.

A Hard Look at fashion Overconsumption

“The world doesn’t need more stuff. It needs better choices.”

That’s the sharp, satirical message behind Patagonia’s new film, The Shitthropocene; a brutally honest look at human consumption habits. The film doesn’t hold back in exposing the consequences of a system built on overproduction, overconsumption and waste. And while it delivers the truth with humour, the reality is anything but funny.

The fashion industry plays a major role in this crisis. Overproduction, synthetic materials, wast, and unsustainable supply chains contribute to environmental degradation and exploitative labor practices. Brands that prioritise volume over value are part of fueling a system that isn’t built to last.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

While the movie paints a bleak picture, it also highlights a clear takeaway: brands that are willing to challenge the status quo can make a difference. Businesses that focus on responsible sourcing & ethical production are proving that an alternative path exists.

We work with brands committed to shifting from “more” to “better.” Whether it’s through low-impact materials, responsible manufacturing or reducing waste in production, real solutions exist and they start with conscious decisions at every stage of the supply chain.

We all have a choice: keep fueling “The Shitthropocene” or start designing for a future that doesn’t look like, well… this. What choice will your brand make?

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The Good Sauce #5