Prohto’s mission is to make sustainable shopping easy and convenient. To kick it off, we want to publish a list of clothing companies we think are doing some good in the world and talk a little bit about them. Before we get into it, we’ll have to talk about what makes clothing “sustainable”, and there’s a lot to it. This is a living document, meaning we will constantly be updating it with new brands, information, and revisions of existing content. Check back frequently if you want to stay up to date, or visit our website for everything we have to offer!
Our Eight Factors
Being sustainable is no easy task for a company, and here at Prohto, we’re serious about the companies and products we support. Because there is so much gray area in and around what makes someone or something sustainable, Prohto is focusing on 8 factors to determine our brand picks.
Materials
The choice of materials is one of the most critical factors in determining the sustainability of a product or company. We won’t go in-depth on different fibers here, but each fiber has a distinct environmental footprint based on factors such as carbon emissions, resource consumption, and chemical usage. When a company uses materials that require fewer resources, such as land and water, or a material that has lower carbon emissions overall, they are reducing the ecological strain that is associated with clothing production. In addition to the environmental footprint of each fiber, there are also practices that producers can use to make a fiber more eco-friendly. This includes organic farming or closed-loop manufacturing, both practices that minimize pollution and habitat degradation. Fiber materials are split between natural fibers (cotton, wool, linen, silk, etc.) and synthetic fibers (polyesters, rayon, nylon, acrylic, etc.), with natural fibers typically being favored by sustainable and closed-loop companies. One thing of note is clothing that combines both types of fabric, makes for a very difficult fabric to recycle.
Production Practices
Even with sustainable fibers in hand, a company that uses poor production practices can commit far more harm than good. Optimizing material usage, reducing energy consumption, and using water-saving techniques throughout the production process can minimize waste and environmental impact. Sourcing materials locally or regionally can reduce transportation emissions and support local economies. Further down the product pipeline, companies using lean manufacturing and just-in-time production can streamline operations and further minimize resource waste. Responsible waste management is also very important; companies shouldn’t pour their wastewater into rivers and oceans, and hazardous dyes and materials need to be disposed of properly.
Labor Practices
A company that wants to ensure ethical production would need to uphold fair labor standards and prioritize the well-being of its workers throughout the supply chain. This means providing safe working conditions, paying fair wages, and providing opportunities for skill development and advancement. Companies that excel at labor practices may partner with factories that follow international labor standards and undergo regular 3rd party audits to ensure compliance. Some companies also choose to label products with the workers that made them, advocating for workers’ representation all the way down to the sales floor.
Transparency
Transparency enables accountability and traceability within the supply chain. Companies that take the extra step to openly share information about their production processes, sourcing practices, and labor conditions, can build trust with their communities and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Typically, many companies will release yearly sustainability reports that elaborate on their sustainability successes and detail their plans and goals for the future.
Certifications
Organizations such as Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Fair Trade, Bluesign, and others, offer certifications that represent a company’s commitment to specific social and environmental standards. By allowing an independent third-party validator to look behind the scenes, companies can gain credibility and trust among consumers. These certifications also play into the transparency factor, where claims about products are verifiable, and enable potential customers to be sure their shopping choices align with their values.
Packaging and Shipping
To pack and ship products requires additional resources and emissions. Packaging materials come with their own resource usage, whether it’s plastic bags, cardboard boxes, poly mailers, etc., and shipping processes rely on fossil fuels for transportation, contributing to carbon emissions and air pollution. Companies may take it upon themselves to combat the extra environmental impact with a few tricks:
-Minimizing packaging waste can be done by using lighter-weight materials and right-sized packaging, ensuring a snug fit for products. Reducing or altogether removing unnecessary packaging such as plastic wrap or filler material when possible.
-Opting for eco-friendly packaging materials. Recycled cardboard/paper, or compostable alternatives like biodegradable plastics and plant-based materials. Compostable and recyclable materials also feed into the disposal aspect of materials, which is much more difficult with traditional plastic materials.
-Reusable packaging enables customers to get involved. Poly mailers with 2 or even 3 glue strips allow packaging to be used multiple times, reducing the ultimate environmental impact. Some alternatives even incentivize customers to return the packaging to the company for recycling or reuse.
-Partnering with logistics companies to optimize shipping routes can minimize transportation distances and reduce unnecessary carbon emissions. Eco-friendly transportation alternatives such as electric vehicles, and bicycles for last-mile delivery in urban areas to reduce air pollution and congestion.
End-Of-Life Considerations
Fast fashion relies on cheap clothing that is meant to be replaced frequently. This wasteful trend allows brands and manufacturers to ignore the durability of their products and focus instead on quick manufacturing, and an abundance of clothing options. Millions of tons of waste are produced each year from the fashion industry, and fast fashion has exacerbated this problem. For companies looking to make a difference, the life cycle of their products needs to be considered, starting from the creation of the raw materials to the end use by consumers.
Disposal of conventional clothing involves landfills or incineration, and both processes can contribute to environmental pollution and greenhouse gases. Clothing companies can increase their overall sustainability by creating products to be recycled, repurposed, or composted, and minimize waste while promoting a circular economy. The bottom line is to reuse or regenerate materials rather than dispose of them, leading some brands to offer take-back programs or recycling initiatives. Creating durable clothing to extend the lifespan of a garment is also an option to offset the use of less sustainable materials, or make clothing last a lifetime.
Community and Impact
The community and impact initiatives of a company’s sustainability strategy are essential components that address the social and ethical impacts of the fashion industry. Companies must take responsibility for the people and communities around them, and ensure they give back in thoughtful and meaningful ways.
Ethical companies may support local artisans, traditional craftsmanship, preserve cultural heritage, or promote economic development in artisan communities. When sourcing materials and partnering with artisans and workers from marginalized or disadvantaged backgrounds, companies support local communities, create sustainable livelihoods, and foster economic resilience.
Sustainable companies may also choose to engage with local communities through outreach programs, educational initiatives, and infrastructure-building projects. These types of activities foster positive relationships with local communities, promote social cohesion, and create lasting impact beyond the company’s operations.
Notes on Sustainable Clothing Brands
Many of the factors discussed require great financial and intellectual investment, because of this, no company in this list is successful with all 8 factors, but rather they all focus on a few. As consumers, companies, and governments move toward a more sustainable future, the cost to include these factors in sustainability initiatives should come down as more companies and governments innovate on product and strategy.
Many companies, like people, make mistakes and fail, this is a natural part of growth. Prohto is choosing to focus on the good that people and companies do by celebrating the innovations made, and the challenges we all face. We hope this information is helpful and thank you so much for coming along. Finally, read on for some brands we think you’ll love. We’re glad you’re here.
Everlane
By focusing on durable, high-quality clothing, and radical transparency, Everlane has become one of the most popular sustainable clothing brands. Their sustainability strategy relies on partnering with ethical factories that receive regular audits and using certified recycled, renewable, organic, and responsibly sourced materials. Their goals are also aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Patagonia
While Patagonia got its start by selling outdoor equipment and gear, today they’re known for being a ferocious advocate for the outdoors, and creators of the ever-popular Nano Puff jacket and Better Sweater. Patagonia prides itself on creating high-quality clothing and urging customers to repair their clothing to last a lifetime. Having built environmental and animal welfare programs, along with social responsibility programs, Patagonia strives to give back to local and global communities, while providing transparency throughout their supply chain.
Reformation
Originally selling vintage clothing in LA, Reformation now focuses on selling clothing with ethical labor practices and transparency within the supply chain. All of their tier 1 finished goods manufacturers are made public, and they participate in the Open Supply Hub to make their supply chain data accessible. A climate-neutral certified company, reformation has become very popular in the sustainable fashion industry for its chic designs and luxurious feel.
Outerknown
When it comes to using preferred fibers, Outerknown hits hard. Of all the garments that they make, 95% of them are made using fibers such as organic cotton, hemp, recycled cotton, recycled wool, etc. They also have a strong sense of great supply chain practices and energy management, with two of their suppliers being B Corp Certified, and 8 of their facilities using renewable energy. A strong closed-loop system, called Outerworn, was also made to resell and repurpose used clothing that would have ended up in a landfill.
Many of these companies do more than is posted here, if you’d like more details, please visit their websites, and if you want ALL the details, read through their sustainability reports if provided. There are also way more companies out there doing great work, so check back regularly as we spread the love. Thanks!
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