sustainability
Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world, often placed among the top three alongside agriculture and fossil fuel. Yup, you read that right. Although we rarely see the action behind the scenes, the fashion industry is one of the worst offenders contributing to water/soil pollution & climate change.
Organic Cotton
Regular cotton production accounts for ¼ of the world’s pesticide usage. These toxic chemicals are detrimental as they degrade soil health, pollute precious water sources and cause great harm to the farmers that cultivate the crop.
Our GOTS-certified Organic Cotton has something else to say entirely. The cultivation process is actually beneficial for the land. It helps to build healthy soil (one of our most precious resources), revive biodiversity and capture carbon.
Just a few reasons why we love our Organic Cotton:
Fully renewable and biodegradableActively improves soil health by restoring organic matter
Allows ecosystems to thrive
Uses 71% less water than conventional cotton, as the soil can retain much more water
Uses 62% less energy than conventional cotton, with less reliance on machinery
Protects the health and wellbeing of farmers and their families
Linen
Linen is one of the most sustainable and versatile fabrics ever to have hit the mainstream. The process used to create our linen is zero-waste and required neither treated seeds nor herbicides. This kind of farming is the type that we like to support as it’s kind to the soil and prioritises resource conservation. Our linen is absorbent, cooling and most importantly, fully biodegradable.
Just a few reasons why we love Linen:
Fully renewable and biodegradable (made from flax)Durable and naturally moth resistant
Can naturally withstand high temperatures
Linseed Oil, linen’s by-product, is used for wood preservation
Requires very little water to produce
Requires very little energy to produce
Very easy to incorporate the plant into crop rotation cycles, which improves soil health
Compostable Mailers
Our mailers are made entirely from plant material and are 100% compostable. The bags can be added to your home or local compost heap and will break down in 6 months or less.
When placed into a compost heap, the mailer will turn into nutrient-rich material for your garden. Let’s break it down!
Don’t know how to compost & live in a city? No problem! Click here to watch Lauren Singer’s 2-minute guide to composting anywhere. Or contact your local council to find out about your best composting options.
With so much greenwashing in the sphere of eco and fair fashion, we believe that transparency is the only way the industry can achieve true sustainability.
That’s why we’re currently tracking our entire supply chain for you to see for yourselves.
We still have a way to go and we are constantly trying to improve. But we want to be honest about every step of our journey getting there.
When you order from us, very soon you’ll be receiving a hang tag with a code on it. Simply hover your camera app over the code and tap on the link that appears. This will take you straight to the supply chain of that particular item!
Label Sneha x Solai
At Solai, you can shop the stunning, eco-friendly collection of bags by Label Sneha.
Inspired by a trek through the Himalayas, the DOT collection showcases a series of bags sustainably sourced from nature. The bags are made up of wood and Organic Cotton, which has been handwoven by a group of independent artisans that Sneha works closely with. This hand weaving technique not only requires next to know energy, but also supports a cluster of artisans that are losing work as a result of mechanisation. This gorgeous clutch collection is just one small way in which we can collectively support these artisans and ensure that their textile tradition endures.
Explore our conscious fashion Shop Now
So how does the current fashion industry affect Mama Earth?
Co2 emissions
It’s estimated by the UNFCC that textile production emits around 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually…that’s more than international flights and maritime shipping combined.
Chemicals and runoff
Pesticides are one of the worst offenders when it comes to water and soil contamination. And what uses pesticides like there’s literally no tomorrow? Conventional cotton production. Cotton farming accounts for a staggering 22.5% of worldwide pesticide usage, which heavily pollutes our soil and precious fresh water supplies.
Micro-plastic pollution
Everyone knows that plastic bags and straws are enemies of the environment, but what about the plastic sitting in our closets? Most of the clothes available on the high street contain plastics that will sound very familiar: polyester, nylon, acrylic, etc.
Every time these items go in the wash, they shed up to 700,000 microscopic plastic fibres. Because they’re so small, they can pass out of our washing machines, through wastewater treatment plants and straight into the sea, where they’re swallowed by fish and later…by people. Investing in a “Guppyfriend Washing Bag” is one of the best ways to help prevent micro-plastic pollution.
Water consumption
The fashion industry uses around 79 billion cubic metres of water annually, placing it as the world’s 3rd largest water consumer. To produce just one Kg of conventional cotton, approximately 10,000 litres of water is used up.
Organic cotton requires far less water to produce as it is predominantly rain fed. On top of that, organic matter allows the soil to retain much more water.
Textile waste
As a result of fast “throwaway” fashion, over 80 billion items of clothes are sold ever year. However, only 20% of textiles are actually recycled every year meaning around 80% of used clothes end up in landfills. Most of these garments will take more than 200 years to decompose and will emit greenhouse gases in the process. Every tonne of unwanted clothes that are reused or recycled can prevent up to 11 tonnes of C02 from entering our atmosphere.
We believe that transparency is knowledge and knowledge is power. The facts aren’t always pretty, but they’ll empower you to live consciously and make informed choices.
