Product Sustainability
FABRIC AND DYES
As technology evolves so do our materials. When our Designer Shereena Noelle started researching fabrics back in 2014/2015 there were a limited amount of sustainable materials. Now that we have arrived in an era where material technological processes have evolved we have proudly been able to integrate new materials and processes into the production of our SN garments. Our aim is to provide transparency to our customers.
Our Signature original collections:
We strive to ensure that the fabric production process minimises impact on the environment. We love that our original collections are OekoTex 100 certified. This ensures that raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production are free of harmful substances. You can find more information on OEKO-TEX 100 here.
The dyes used in our original collections are Bluesign approved! This system guarantees the application of sustainable ingredients in a clean process. Therefore managing the natural resources soundly and responsibly, reduces water and air emissions, improves its waste water treatment and generally reduces its ecological footprint. You can find more information on Bluesign certification here. Our 'Forest Green & Performance' collections:
A Circular Economy: Regenerative by design: Keeping materials and products in circulation for as long as possible helps eliminate both waste and resource-intensive virgin production. A circular economy is a new framework for earth and we’re collaborating with leading organizations to get the cogs turning.Our 'forest green & performance' activewear collections comprise of compression performance fabric that was developed using REPREVE®, an eco-friendly green fiber made from the recycling of discarded single use bottles that were destined for landfill. Constructed with sustainability, support, squat proof coverage and comfort in mind and also UPF 50+. Sustainability: OEKO-TEX® | REACH | GRS
Repreve's collaboration with Oerlikon Barmag on the eAFK EvoCooler technology has reduced the energy required to texture the yarn. REPREVE® SmartDye™ and WaterWise™, both proprietary innovations, have reduced the amount of water and energy used in the dye process. Repreve's flagship manufacturing site in Yadkinville, North Carolina, features their solar farm.
Mainstreaming Sustainable Fiber: REPREVE® is made with less carbon, using non-toxic products. It reduces global warming potential compared to conventional virgin polyester. Repreve also does a US-wide, mobile education tour which helps encourage planet-healthy behaviour.
Our Forest Green resortwear collection:
Known for their natural comfort, TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers have gained a commendable reputation for their award-winning closed loop production process, which transforms wood pulp (which is produced from various wood species (e.g. eucalyptus, spruce, beech, maple, southern pine, birch and acacia) into cellulosic fibers with high resource efficiency and low environmental impact. The process recovers 99.8% of the solvent, resulting in close-to-zero wastage.
The wood used as raw material for all TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers is sourced from controlled or certified origins meeting FSC° or PEFC standards˛, following the stringent guidelines of the Lenzing Wood and Pulp Policy. I.e the wood taken from nature is purposefully balanced with forest growth rates, to ensure the continued availability of this valuable resource.
Lenzing also promotes conservation solutions to protect ancient and endangered forests. In 2017, Lenzing was the first cellulose fiber producer to complete the verification audit of the CanopyStyle Initiative. In 2023, Lenzing’s efforts were again recognized with the “Dark Green Shirt”, the best ranking in the Canopy Hot Button Report.˝
TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers are certified with the widely recognized EU Ecolabel for textile products.˙ This label is awarded to products that meet high environmental standards. Key criteria for evaluation include production processes limiting the usage of substances harmful to human health or the environment, and minimizing key environmental impacts throughout their entire life cycle.
Life Cycle Assessment
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic and comprehensive method for evaluating the potential environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle. The cradle-to-gate assessment includes all stages of production, from the extraction of raw materials through processing, manufacturing, and transportation, up to the point of delivery to the customer. The LCA takes into account two different aspects: materials entering the product system’s boundary (raw materials, energy, chemicals and water) as well as the environmental impact that is created (air, water and soil emissions). Potential environmental impacts are calculated per kg of TENCEL™ Lyocell fiber and are expressed in different categories, such as Global Warming, Eutrophication or Abiotic Resource Depletion. Lenzing uses LCA to identify areas for environmental optimization of products not only during fiber manufacturing but also within the supply chain. By conducting cradle-to-gate LCA for TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers, potential environmental impacts are discovered for all upstream and core process activities until the fiber leaves the factory gate.
Higg MSI of TENCEL™ Lyocell
Our Strawberry Vanilla and Espresso collections
Sustainable, soft and supportive, our Re-Activate fabric uses a unique air jet textured Recycled Nylon that feels natural yet still provides the benefits of a fast drying, crease resistant and durable synthetic. It is also supportive yet still has freedom of movement holding its shape and retention. GRS | OEKO-TEX® | REACH certifications.
REACH ensures that the fabric has undergone 'registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals' (REACH) to protect human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals.
GRS The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is a voluntary product standard for tracking and verifying the content of recycled materials in a final product. The standard applies to the full supply chain and addresses traceability, environmental principles, social requirements, chemical content and labeling. GRS covers processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading and distribution of all products made with a minimum of 20% recycled material. It also sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions.
The standard supports companies looking to verify the recycled content of their products as well as responsible social, environmental and chemical practices in the production of these products. The goal of GRS is to increase use of Recycled materials in products and reduce or eliminate the harm caused by its production.
CARBON-CLICK
There’s only one thing we’re more passionate about than our business… the planet! This is why we’re making an effort to use sustainable practices in every part of our business. We’ve teamed up with CarbonClick, a New Zealand company making it easy for people and businesses to help fight climate change.
CarbonClick looks like a green button at checkout. When you click it, a small contribution is added to your basket which purchases carbon offsets. These offsets reduce the environmental impact of the carbon emissions related to the purchase. CarbonClick’s offsets fund forest restoration, tree planting, and renewable energy projects around the world. We’re proud to be part of the fight against climate change.
We’ll be making our own contributions, and changing our practices to reduce our carbon footprint. We hope you’ll join us in creating a sustainable future, by choosing to CarbonClick with your purchase.
ECO HOMEWARE
Bamboo cups and straws- Bamboo is one of the world's most renewable resources. Naturally sustainable - these cups, are made from the hollow bamboo stalks, where the base of the cup is the organic result of the joins in the bamboo. The unique colours of each cup is naturally created from the sugars of the bamboo. These cups are handcrafted by artisans.
Our eco homeware is sourced from a sustainable and ethical supplier. Since they launched their business in 2016, Coconut Bowls has since sold millions of products to customers in more than 150 countries. In doing so, Coconut Bowls also replaced single-use items in over 1000 cafes with handcrafted natural, reusable products, crafted by dozens of low-income farmers and artisans in Vietnam and Indonesia, who can now count on having a steady income.
Giving back is at the core of the Coconut Bowls purpose, and thanks to the incredible support of the Coco Community, who have not only helped Coconut Bowls champion sustainability to millions of people around the world, collectively tens of thousands of dollars to environmental charities (regular donations through 2018 and 2019 to Environmental non-for-profit organization the Rainforest Alliance, Humanitarian charity The World Food Programme and the World Animal Protection Animal Welfare charity) have been donated through the Coconut Bowls verified 1% For The Planet commitment. In addition to this commitment, Coconut Bowls has offset all of the carbon from every shipment since the very first order back in 2016.
On July 1st 2019 - Coconut Bowls became a verified member of 1% for the planet, where 1% of their annual revenue is directly invested into approved environmental initiatives certified by 1% for the planet.
Through this partnership with 1% for the planet, their coco charity initiative will allow us to tackle the biggest environmental challenges.
PACKAGING
You will find that our tags and packaging are locally made in NZ and we strive for recycled or biodegradable content and vegetable oil printing where possible.
EXCLUSIVITY, PRE-ORDER MODEL, REPURPOSED FABRIC
At SN we ensure that all our pieces developed are limited edition pieces/pre-orders to ensure that we are never over producing and any offcuts created out of the sewing process are given to childcare centres for art and play.
We also use repurposed dead stock fabric from other designers to help do our part by diverting this excess fabric from landfills.
TAKEBACK SCHEME
Here at SN we encourage at the end of use of your SN garments that you gift, sell or return your unwanted garments back to SN. Our SN Forest green resortwear are made of biodegradable tree fibers so you are able to return this back to the earth or use it in your garden.
If you would like to return your end of life garments please contact us.
(Image: Deloitte)