What is Sustainability?

Biodegradable products can be broken down by bacteria without releasing harmful chemicals, therefore reducing pollution. In terms of clothing, this usually applies to organic cotton or hemp that has been dyed with organic dyes. In order for something to biodegrade it must be commercially composted rather than thrown away to end up in a landfill, where the conditions aren’t right for it to biodegrade. Biodegradable is different to compostable, which refers to a product that can be placed in a compost heap where it will disintegrate into natural elements and not release any toxins.

Carbon neutral is the term given to a product that reaches net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can either be by eliminating all carbon emissions or by balancing the emissions with carbon removal (known as carbon offseting), such as reforestation or funding renewable energy efforts. The idea behind offsetting is to increase the ability of environmental projects to actively reduce greenhouse gas emissions through funding. You can read all about our carbon-offsetting initiative here.

The term conscious when used in relation to consumerism is relatively self-explanatory. It refers to the health and environmental standards of the producer or the consumer, as well as an awareness of our impact on our surroundings.

Ecology is an area of biology that studies organisms and their effect on each other and their surroundings. The phrase eco-friendly is used to describe a product that has been developed to have little or no negative impact on the environment. Within fashion, the term is used for materials such as organic cotton or hemp, organic dyes, or a garment/material that uses very little water to produce.

Ethical fashion encompasses many areas of production, although it is not strictly defined and covers a range of issues. These issues include, but are not limited to, working conditions, environmental impact and animal welfare. The term tends to be indicative of fair pay for workers and of little negative environmental impact. Not only will the manufacturing have little negative impact, but ideally it will actually have a positive effect on the planet as well as on the lives of those employed within each step of the production process. 

The term fair trade aims to improve the lives of farmers and workers in developing countries by ensuring they receive a fair price for their products. Fair trade also promotes sustainable development and ethical treatment of workers and farmers. The Fairtrade Foundation's mark of approval includes promoting environmentally sustainable practices, working to build positive relationships between producers and buyers, and ensuring that companies pay sustainable prices for products, which must be at least as high as the market price.

The GOTS badge of approval is the gold standard of organic certification and sets the standard when it comes to ethical and environmental certification. Products that come with the GOTS certification are made with 95% organic fibres, are free from toxic treatments and are produced in a manner that treats employees and nature with the utmost respect. Many of our organic cotton styles are proud to bear this mark, which you can shop here.

Organic is used to describe materials that have been grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. It is a defined term and means the materials used have been grown in compliance with the guidelines of organic agriculture. For example, certified organic cotton is grown usually in subtropical climates, from non-GMO plants and without the use of synthetic chemicals, therefore protecting the environment from toxic substances.

The term recycled refers to the process of breathing new life into would-be waste materials, including old textiles, plastic bottles and fishing nets, regenerated to start the next phase of their material journey. The most positive takeaway from this practice is that the process ruses and repurposes materials that would otherwise end up in landfill or our oceans. 

The term sustainable is used to denote a product that has been developed to “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations, to meet their own needs,” as set out by the United Nations in 1987. In other words, it’s not a process that will wear itself out as the production cycle and materials are, to some extent, infinite. It takes into account all areas of production, including, but not limited to, the social impact, the environment and the economical feasibility and longevity.

Used rather ambiguously as an umbrella term for being kind to the planet — in reality, there are very few companies and products (if any) out there that are truly sustainable, although many of which are endeavouring to work towards this for our future generations.