How To Make Your Clothing Brand More Sustainable

Julie Starr • Feb 22, 2023



It may surprise you to know that the fashion industry alone contributes 10% of annual global carbon emissions, according to experts. And this has a significant toll on the environment. 

Making your clothing brand more sustainable can help reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to preserving the planet’s natural resources. And as sustainability is becoming increasingly important to consumers, making this shift in your apparel manufacturing business can immensely benefit your business’s bottom line. Here are five tips to make your clothing brand more sustainable .

Use eco-friendly materials 

Using eco-friendly materials is essential to making your apparel brand more sustainable. Start sourcing eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, or recycled polyester. By choosing these materials, you can reduce your carbon footprint and minimize the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides. Consider implementing a closed-loop supply chain that promotes the recycling and upcycling of materials. This approach helps reduce your brand’s waste while contributing to a more circular economy. 

You can also consider partnering with companies experienced in recycling or upcycling fabrics and materials. For example, while entrepreneurs in the apparel manufacturing business like ThirdLove’s David Spector focus on perfect fit and comfort, they also recognize the importance of keeping their businesses sustainable. Therefore, they work with an upcycling partner to help make the company’s textile solutions more sustainable. 

Embrace circular fashion

The traditional linear model of fashion production, where clothing is created, worn, and discarded, is unsustainable. To create a more sustainable model, you can embrace circular fashion , where products are designed to be reused, recycled, or repurposed. That may include using recycled materials, creating rental or resale programs, and encouraging consumers to recycle or upcycle their clothing.

Reduce waste

Reducing waste is another crucial aspect of sustainability. You can do this by minimizing the waste generated during production and creating designs that use fewer materials. You can also create durable products so they last longer, reducing the need for consumers to replace them frequently. Doing this can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your products.

Optimize transportation

By reducing transportation-related emissions, you can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your apparel brand and contribute to a more sustainable future. Start by sourcing materials from local suppliers to reduce transportation emissions. If you need to import materials, consider using low-carbon transportation options like sea or rail. Use data analytics and logistics optimization software to optimize transportation routes and reduce the carbon footprint of your supply chain. Finally, choose sustainable packaging materials and use efficient packaging designs to reduce the weight and volume of your shipments.

Communicate your sustainability efforts

Finally, communicate your sustainability efforts to your customers. Consumers are increasingly interested in sustainability, and by sharing your efforts, you can create brand loyalty and differentiate your products from competitors. You can also provide information about how your products were made and how they can be cared for sustainably. And with the increase in demand for sustainable products, you can attract more customers when prospects know about your sustainability investment. 

 

Keep Your Business Comfortable And Yet Sustainable

By Julie Starr • 11 May, 2024
Keeping your business comfortable and yet sustainable is a great idea. By keeping your business sustainable, you are doing your part for the planet, ensuring that you are doing something to take care of it. A lot of businesses don’t bother with this, but that’s the problem. You need to be different, and work out how you’re going to keep your business comfortable and sustainable at the same time. That’s what we’re going to be working on today, so keep reading if you’re interested in learning more. How Are You Powering Your Locations? The first thing that we’re going to say is that you need to think about how you are powering your locations. Whether it’s a business office, a warehouse, or any other large space, you need to think about the way that you are powering it. If you are using traditional electricity then you’re going to be contributing to part of the problem. We only have so much fossil fuel available, and it’s killing the planet to use. It’s a better idea to use a renewable form of power such as solar or wind, depending on where you live and the weather conditions. Look into this as an option if you can. We’re not saying that you have to completely rely on one or the other, you could use a combination as well as traditional power. Any power that’s coming from somewhere else is a bonus! Keep The Spaces Comfortable For Employees Employees work in a variety of places for your business. Again, perhaps some work in an office, some work in a warehouse, and some work in other locations, but they all need to be kept comfortable. For example, if we take the warehouse and you think about it, it’s not that comfortable, right? You’re not going to have couches and plush chairs all over the place, but you can still make it as comfortable as possible. You could use an industrial drum fan or something similar to keep the space cool, ensuring that your employees are content working there. Ensure Recycling Is A Top Priority The final important point that we want to make is that you should ensure that recycling is a top priority . It has been pushed on people for a long time now, and it’s essential that you are doing this to the best of your ability. Reusing materials wherever possible gives your company a more sustainable approach to business, setting the example for others. Recycling is the very least that you can do, it’s not hard, but it makes a world of difference to the planet. We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you should be doing to ensure that your business is comfortable and sustainable. We do understand that for some companies this is going to be a little more difficult than others, but there are always ways if you are dedicated enough. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you manage going forward.

Is Your Small Business an Appealing Place to Work?

By Julie Starr • 07 May, 2024
Bringing passionate, enthusiastic and talented people into your business is obviously a top priority when you’re growing a company. However, the only way to onboard the brightest talent is by ensuring that your brand is an appealing place to work. Driven employees have certain expectations when it comes to choosing their ideal workplace, so you need to show them what you have to offer. Whether you’re looking into your business ethos , or reassessing certain compensation plans, you can do so much to ensure you’re attracting the best possible employees. Consider some of the following methods and your small business will soon be the go-to place for skilled, driven and talented individuals to work. Pay and Benefits Should Be Competitive When you’re running a small business, the idea of paying regular salaries to your employees will always be on your mind. Keeping up with bills and ever rising costs will never be easy, but you have to offer a competitive salary in order to attract the right type of people to your business. You should also consider all elements of a compensation plan so that your employees always feel valued for their contributions at your workplace. It may be worth talking to your current staff members to see what would be most important to them so you can assess it in the near future. Create a Career Development Plan Working towards the next goal is certainly something that most career driven individuals are keen to do. Staying stagnant in the same role for a prolonged period of time can reduce motivation and cause issues with staff retention. Making sure that there are clear progression opportunities will help to bring in the most talented and focused employees who are willing to put in the work and climb the ladder within your business. Adopt an Eco-Conscious Approach More and more employees are looking for workplaces that put the environment at the forefront and actively choose sustainable processes. Taking care of the planet and going green with your business may help you to align with the right talent for your company. Although this might not be the priority of everyone, it’s certainly a very popular value that a number of people carry in the modern day. Working in an environment where sustainability is a priority is extremely appealing and these people will help you to work alongside like minded colleagues within your business. Your small business goes above and beyond you as an individual; it’s also about the people who work for you and the potential employees you could be onboarding very soon. You can be sure that you’re reaching out to the right type of people and attracting the best possible talent by offering competitive salaries and benefits and working in a sustainable way that always keeps the environment in mind too. Hopefully, these ideas will give you a huge advantage when it comes to bringing in new people who would be an asset to your business.
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