SUPPORTING BETTER COTTON FARMING

The Better Cotton Initiative aims to shape the sustainable future of the cotton sector. We also feel responsible and want to support the growing of sustainable cotton. For this reason we are proud member of the BETTER COTTON INITIATIVE (BCI).

By 2022, we will source at least 50% sustainable cotton (organic cotton, Better Cotton, recycled cotton). Better Cotton is sourced through a chain of custody model called mass balance.

ORGANIC COTTON

Certified organic cotton is rare, but it's advantages are obvious.
Excessive use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers which are common for conventional cotton farming is restricted according to organic farming practices. Also, the use of genetically modified seeds is not allowed. Crop rotation and efficient irrigation build solid organic matter on the fields. This preserves the livelihood of the farmers.
We see a huge potential for growth. We made a first step and will continue on this path. 

NON-MULESED WOOL

Wool is one of the most important and premium natural materials which characterize our products. It's a renewable raw material, comfortable on the skin and the fibres can be recovered through recycling processes. 

However, especially Australian virgin wool is criticized for the so called mulesing treatment. The process in which skin flaps around the buttocks of the sheep are cut with special scissors to prevent parasitic flystrike of the “Sheep Blowfly” (Lucilia cuprina). Flystrike without treatment of the animal is lethal. The remaining skin is free of flaps, no wool grows on the scars, and infestation of bugs is not possible. Animal welfare organisations denounce this treatment as painful and cruel and so do we. 

Products with this hangtag are mulesing-free.

RECYCLED WOOL

Reusing old textiles and waste materials reduces the ecological footprint of many fibres. Reprocessed fibres and recycled fibres both play an important role in textile recycling. Despite complex recycling processes considerable amounts of energy, carbon emissions and chemicals are saved compared to the production of virgin fibres. 

Additionally, crop area, crude oil supply and environmental damages as consequence of livestock breeding can be saved or reduced. What normally ends up in landfills or waste incineration plants generates raw material for new products and helps to close the material flow. Recycling of woolen textiles has been tradition for decades in Italy. We have been using this alternative for years which allows us to preserve natural resources.  

SUSTAINABLE VISCOSE

Viscose is a plant based fibre. Commonly, fast-growing trees such as beech, spruce, bamboo or eucalyptus are used to extract cellulose. The cellulose is transformed into a versatile and  soft fibre. Products with this hangtag are guaranteed to be sourced from sustainably managed forests. As cellulose recovery is a chemical process, it is critical to fulfil highest environmental criteria. This includes the recovery of the process water and the solvent chemical. If this is given, then viscose joins the list of sustainable cellulosic fibres with distinct advantages compared to pure synthetic fibres. 

LENZING™ ECOVERO™: The viscose fibre of the well-known Austrian producer Lenzing AG is one of the most environmentally friendly cellulose fibres on the market. Lenzing obtains wood from certified responsibly cultivated forests and produces the fibre also in its production site in Austria. All processes are subject to highest environmental standards. The result is a fibre which causes 50% less emissions than generic viscose.

CUPRO

Worldwide there is only one provider for Cupro fibres left. The Japanese company Asahi Kasei uses short cotton fibres which are not usable for fabric production to produce cellulose in a closed loop process. It recovers the copper used in production processes from the process water and reuses it. The manufacturer provides B2B clients cooperatively and transparently with all information of its certified and extensive safeguarding processes. A perfect example of a sustainable fibre and positive change in the industry. 

Lyocell

TENCEL™ lyocell fibres are part of the environmental friendly product family of Lenzing AG. Cellulose is dissolved and finished in a physical process using an organic solvent. 99% of the solvent is recovered from the process water and reused. 

TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™ technology: The ground breaking REFIBRA™ technology adds cotton waste, e.g. from clothing production or from worn-out textiles to the lyocell production process The raw material is processed to new TENCEL™ lyocell fibres to create new fabrics and clothes. A true answer to the call for a circular economy.