Owning the change

BY : MALLORY BRITTON  • Sustainability • 25.10.2023

At its core, sustainability requires living with intent. Studying impact. Measuring effects. Making a plan of action and executing it.

As Global Sustainability Day approaches, we acknowledge the ways we’re working towards our own sustainability goals. In each of our four commitments – go for green, make it fair, close the loop and choose with care – we’ve focussed on areas where we can really contribute and make a tangible impact. We can do more, and it starts with owning the change:

• in facilities we own,
• in products we create, and
• in materials we choose.

In facilities we own

“Going for green” is our commitment to making sure 100% of our Scope One and Two energy sources at Odlo-owned facilities are renewable by 2030. In 2024, we’ll use the widely adopted Science Based Targets to set updated GHG reduction objectives. Where possible, we’re already opting for clean, renewable energy to align with these forthcoming targets.

At the heart of our “Make it fair” pillar is the belief that every person working in our facilities has the right to fair working conditions, health and overall well-being in the workplace. “Make it fair” is our goal for garment workers to earn a living wage for themselves and their families and to work reasonable hours. For the last ten years, we’ve been partnering with Fair Wear Foundation - an independent organisation that works with brands, workers, governments and industry stakeholders to improve labour conditions in garment factories.

Fair Wear verifies that producers respect labour standards by performing audits, resolving complaints and providing training. Using Fair Wear’s insights, we’re collaborating with our suppliers to create action plans to improve labour practices. For example, within our own garment production facility, Odlo Romania, we're actively working to address living wage standards.

We also work with Fair Wear to monitor our entire garment-making supply chain.

In products we create

We design products to be durable, with the ability to repair and reuse, so that we can propose solutions when a piece of kit has reached the end of the road. This is our “close the loop” pillar. We’ve already launched ReWEAR, a product circularity initiative that gives Odlo pieces a second chance at life through take-back and resale programmes.

Our aim is to keep clothing in use and out of the bin. We’re looking at how to extend our offerings in this space in the near future. Stay tuned.

In choosing preferred materials

The environmental impact of our products is determined by the materials we use. “Choose with care” is our goal to use 100% preferred materials by 2030. From fibre production to yarn preparation, fabric manufacturing through dyeing and finishing, every step in the process contributes to our products’ environmental footprint, including carbon emissions and water use. By choosing materials for our designs that deliver consistently reduced impacts when compared to conventional equivalents, we can, in turn, reduce the impact of our clothing on the climate, protecting both finite resources and people.

Partnering for progress

Meeting our sustainability targets requires collaboration with key partners. Since 2021, we’ve had a valuable partnership with Protect Our Winters (POW) Switzerland – an NGO dedicated to raising climate crisis awareness. This fall, we were proud to launch a co-branded base layer set: The POW Blackcomb.

These base layer tops and bottoms are made with over seventy per cent recycled polyester and feature a unique design – inspired by glacial melt – created to help spread the word about POW’s work.

"Collaborating with Odlo and leveraging our collective influence to reach and engage more people is critical to our climate protection efforts," stated Nicholas Bornstein, founder of POW Switzerland. “We’re thrilled to strengthen our partnership with this launch – the first in our joint product development."