Sustainability 07.12.2021

Many steps along the way 
Crafting performance apparel takes a lot of steps. To make base layers, for example, you have materials, samples, a test phase, more samples – then finally fabrics and manufacturing – each step requiring the movement of goods. Once it’s time for that layer to go into production, we source fabrics and ship them to our manufacturing centre in Romania by sea, train or truck.

Why here and why not by plane?

Sea, train and transport truck are the cheapest and greenest methods when it comes to shipping. But Romania is critical for other reasons.

Most of our customers can be reached easily from Romania by land. Spotting this, we updated our facility in 2018, and now 70 per cent of our performance apparel is made here. Last year this shift meant we could move 90 per cent of our product from Romania to Brüggen, Germany, (our distribution centre) by train and truck, cutting CO² emissions by 40,543kgs.

A big step. Many left to go.   

But what happens when a customer clicks?

When customers shop online – and we’re thankful when they do – that base layer or merino top must go from Germany to wherever they are – quickly. Generally, this means using a box – a step that also has a separate CO² footprint. Seeing we could do better here, last year we started working with Climate Partner – a supplier that makes climate neutral boxes.

Climate Partner calculates the CO² impact of each box, which we then offset by supporting a climate project equaling the CO² impact of that shipment. When we ship now, it’s with a QR code which tells a story about emissions and the corresponding project we’re supporting to offset it.

Similarly, shipping (fuel) emissions get offset too, by working with shipping companies that calculate total CO² emissions and correspondingly supporting green projects. As of September 2021, 97 per cent of the ~250,000 parcels we ship per year are offset. 

Still more to be done 

All we can do be a better partner to the planet and protect the places we love most is to continue taking these and other steps towards sustainability. Albeit small, they all add up.

We’ll keep you updated on our progress in these pages. Thanks for reading. 

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