Is an international organization founded in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia) and Craig Mathews (founder of Blue Ribbon Flies). By joining the organization, companies pledge to dedicate one percent of their annual turnover directly to some of the approved non-profit organizations dealing with environmental protection. The organization's mission is therefore to build, support and kick start an alliance of companies that are financially committed to co-creating a healthy planet. 1% for the planet thus helps non-profit organizations that focus on protecting soil, forests, rivers, oceans or promote sustainable energy production methods.
The B Corporation certification is a certification given to companies by the non-profit organization B Lab. Certified companies must meet the highest standards of social and environmental behaviour, public transparency and legal responsibility for balancing profit and purpose. This creates a community in which the power of business is used for a good cause. Specifically, the B Corp community strives for a healthier environment, building a stronger community, and creating better jobs which can at the same time lower poverty and reduce inequality.
Perfluorocarbons, or PFCs, are a resistant chemical compound that provides water-repellence. Unfortunately, it is so resistant that it lacks the property of decomposition. Ending the life cycle of products with this treatment is then very demanding, as it burdens the environment. As such, the substance is not dangerous for the wearer of the product with this treatment, however it can be dangerous for watercourses or soil in the vicinity of the production. Most brands operating in Europe should stop using PFC C8 (8 carbon atoms) for regulatory reasons, as the impact of this compound has been scientifically proven to be serious. The brands therefore resorted to C6 type impregnation (6 carbon atoms). But even that is not fully safe, it has only a smaller impact on the environment. If the brand uses the password "PFC-free", it should only be a modification completely without the presence of PFC, not with a C6 representation.
Is a system that was created in Switzerland in 2000. Bluesign® represents a vision of a gentle approach to the production of textiles and means for its protection or maintenance. The certificate covers the entire production chain from the acquisition of material to the use of chemicals needed for the treatment, cleaning or maintenance of clothing. The Bluesign® label on textile products guarantees, that the product has been manufactured in a safer and more sustainable environment for the people who work and live in it. Bluesign® thus minimizes the impact of the textile industry on the environment and at the same time seeks to encourage the textile industry to increase its efforts in the field of sustainable processes.
The aim of this European initiative is to ensure quality working conditions in the production of products throughout the entire supply chain. Both in the production and distribution of products, basic labour law and ethical principles such as fair wage, environmental protection or zero tolerance of child labour must be respected.
Is a concept based on the creation of an ingenious / minimalist wardrobe that contains mutually combinable pieces of clothing, shoes and accessories. The creation of a capsule wardrobe can be considered a step towards minimalism, where you get rid of unnecessary pieces from your overflowing drawers, which you are unable to combine. The intention is to put together a wardrobe, which will consist of high-quality, timeless and, above all, mutually combinable pieces. You can read more on our blog.
Cordura® is a technical fabric made of polyamide fibbers. It is extremely strong, flexible and resistant to abrasion or tearing. Due to its properties, it was first introduced in the military industry. The first brand to start using Cordura® for non-military products was Eastpak.
COSMOS is a uniform European standard for natural and organic cosmetics consisting of two levels, Cosmos Natural and Cosmos Organic. During product certification, all aspects of the purchasing, production, marketing and control of cosmetic products are monitored. At no level may the product contain GMOs, chemicals, phthalates or parabens. The minimum share of raw materials from organic farming is 95% for both levels. In addition, the proportion by weight of these substances must be at least 20% of the total weight of the product.
Cost-per-Wear is a financial indicator defining the cost per piece of clothing per number of wears. It can be easily calculated using the formula: CPW = the price paid for a given piece of clothing / the number of days you wore it. Thanks to this, everyone can calculate how it pays to invest in an expensive but higher-quality piece of clothing that costs more but lasts longer. Thanks to this indicator, it is often found that more expensive pieces pay off much more in the context of the number of wears than cheap and low-quality fast-fashion products.
Cradle to Cradle certification is a globally recognized measure of safer and more sustainable products that are produced for the circular economy, where waste is reused as a source for the production of a new product. To obtain the certification, products must be assessed for environmental and social performance in five critical sustainability categories: material health, material reuse, renewable and carbon energy management, water management and social justice.
CSR or Corporate Social Responsibility is a concept based on linking business practices with social and environmental aspects. According to the definition of the European Union's Green Paper of 2001, this is the voluntary integration of social and environmental considerations into day-to-day business operations and interactions with corporate stakeholders.
Dead-stock is leftover stock.
Is a work activity that is performed by a child who has not reached the legal age for work.
The supply chain is a system of suppliers, traders and carriers who supply raw materials and semi-finished products to produce the final product and then deliver the product itself to the final customer.
A durable water repellent that covers the fabric to make it hydrophobic (water resistant).
Is an independent international certification company that deals with the certification and inspection of products that contain raw materials from controlled organic farming. The Ecocert trademark can be obtained by products that do not contain genetically modified raw materials, parabens, phenoxyethanol, PEG derivatives, nanoparticles, silicones, synthetic perfumes and dyes and ingredients obtained from dead animals.
This is a certification used in Europe since 1992. The Ecolabel label guarantees that products or services are environmentally friendly. This certification complies with the ISO 14024 standard - environmental criteria that must be observed throughout the life of the product. These criteria include, but are not limited to, low water consumption, a low carbon footprint and support for recycling and reparation.
This is European labour law, which regulates the basic transnational standards of employment and partnership at work in the European Union and other countries that respect the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Is an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of workers around the world. The association brings together universities, civil society organizations and socially responsible companies. In particular, it focuses on tackling harassment or abuse in the workplace, a safe working environment, freedom of association and collective bargaining, pay and other areas related to labour law
The international organization Fair Wear Foundation was founded in 1999 and strives to improve working conditions in the textile industry. It focuses mainly on textile production in China, India, Bangladesh and Turkey. Member companies are committed to implementing Code of Labour Practices throughout the supply chain to make fashion fair for all.
Is an alternative approach to conventional trade. The Fairtrade approach is based on partnerships between manufacturers and buyers of products. A fair commodity price (e.g. organic cotton, flax, etc.) ensures that farmers and workers get paid fairly, grow their crops with respect for the environment and their children can attend school.
A material, which is made of high-strength fibbers and is used to create lightweight uppers with targeted areas of support, stretch and breathability.
It is an artificial leather material that is made by joining at least 50% of the regenerated leather fibbers together. It is a sustainable and innovative process of joining these fibbers, which reduces water consumption and creates a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional leather processing.
It is a mineral raw material created by geological forces from organic waste and dead bodies of formerly living biological organisms. Examples are oil, natural gas or coal.
An international non-profit organization founded in 1993. FSC certification guarantees that products have been created in accordance with the principles of sustainable forest management.
G-1000 is a functional material developed by Fjällräven. It consists of polyester (65%) and cotton (35%). The fibber bond of this breathable material is very dense and ensures its wind resistance and abrasion resistance. The G-1000 Eco and G-1000 Air variants are made of recycled polyester and organic cotton. To prolong the life and increase the resistance of the material, it is recommended to use a protective Greenland wax from the same brand.
The GRI, or Global Reporting Initiative, is an international independent organization that helps businesses, governments, and other organizations understand and communicate their implications for issues related to economic, social, and environmental performance. This organization has been promoting sustainability reporting since 1997.
Is a United Nations initiative based on ten basic principles, in the area of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption measures.
Genetically modified organisms are those whose genetic material has been purposefully altered in a way other than natural. Ways to achieve these changes include, for example, the action of mutagens, ionizing radiation or genetic engineering (introduction of genes from other organisms).
The GoodShipping program is the world's first sustainable transport initiative to offer companies around the world the opportunity to reduce pollution during containerized fuels using biofuels.
Gore-Tex is a waterproof and breathable textile membrane manufactured under the brand of the same name. It is a porous material that does not let water in (the pore is smaller than a drop of water), but at the same time lets moisture out (the pore is larger than a molecule of steam). Thanks to the emphasis on durability, quality and performance, it is one of the popular outdoor materials.
GOTS certification guarantees that the products are made of organic textile fibbers and the entire production process is environmentally friendly. This protects the environment, the health of workers and final consumers. At the same time, the Global Organic Textile Standard includes requirements for the ethical and social aspects of production. Farmers and production workers are provided with good working conditions.
The term can be described as misinformation, the intention of which is to create the impression of an environmentally responsible company (organization) in the public (consumers).
It is an international standard that aims to increase the use of recycled materials in products and reduce the damage caused by the production.
Is a group of clothing and footwear brands, retailers, manufacturers, non-governmental non-profit organizations, academics and government organizations working to reduce the environmental and social impact of the textile industry. SAC members are collaborating on the development of the Higg Index. Which is a set of tools that allow the consumer to accurately measure and evaluate the sustainability of a company or their product.
ISO is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives of national standards bodies. The organization was founded on February 23, 1947 and creates global industry and business standards.
International standard of environmental management system administered by ISO.
Reducing carbon emissions, for example by buying credits through emission reduction projects.
Organizations established to meet specific needs or a socially beneficial goal. They are generally not dependent on governments.
Is Norway's official sustainable eco-label. Strict environmental, quality and health requirements must be met in order to obtain this label.
The circular economy is an alternative to the traditional linear economy, where raw materials are transformed into products, sold and disposed of as waste in incinerators or landfills at the end of their life. The principle of the circular economy is that "waste" is transformed into a new source and reused. This closes the flow of materials and prolongs the product’s life cycle.
It is an approach to the textile industry in which clothing, footwear and accessories are designed, sourced and manufactured with a view to long-term use and the possibility of circular circulation for as long as possible. At the end of the product life cycle, safe return to the biosphere should occur.
Is an energy that is made from renewable sources that have the ability to regenerate naturally. These renewable sources include biofuels, hydro, solar or wind energy.
These are chemicals that are used to eliminate losses when growing cultivated plants.
The PETA - Approved Vegan label guarantees that the products do not contain any animal ingredients and that no animal has suffered during the production.
The enlightenment about slow fashion is spread by Kate Fletcher (Centre for Sustainable Fashion), who defines it as fashion that is not subject to trends, is variable and timeless. This is the opposite of the so-called fast fashion.
The essence of the principle of triple benefit is that the organization focuses not only on achieving profit and economic growth (profit aspect), but also on the environmental impact of its activities (environmental aspect) and, last but not least, on the social responsibility of its activities (people aspect). Based on the threefold principle, these 3 aspects should intersect.
Is the process in which materials destined for disposal are collected, reprocessed and reused.
Is a report that provides information on the economic, environmental, social and administrative aspects of the organization. It is a method of internalising and improving the organization's commitment to sustainable development in a way that can be demonstrated to internal and external stakeholders.
"Fast fashion" is a term for cheap and easily available fashion, which is produced in huge quantity and low quality. It often copies the latest trends and is "in" only for one season, so the customer tends to change these products quickly. Good working conditions and environmental impacts are often not considered during the production.
Is an international standard that helps a company create, maintain and use socially acceptable practices in the workplace. This standard primarily regulates and monitors the working conditions of employees.
Gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, ozone or methane) that capture heat and contribute to global warming. Their limitation is conditioned by more careful consumption of energy and resources.
SMETA is a standard used for ethical audits. It is designed to help auditors perform high-quality audits that cover all aspects of responsible business practice and cover the four pillars of Sedex - work, health and safety, the environment and business ethics.
Is a regulation related to the European Union's chemical policy. This legislation on chemicals aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks associated with the use of chemicals.
It is a group of clothing and footwear brands, retailers, manufacturers, NGOs, academics and government organizations working to reduce the environmental and social impact of the textile industry. SAC members are collaborating on the development of the Higg Index.
The Textile Exchange is a global organization that assists member firms in their sustainability efforts.
The degree of openness and information sharing not only in the decision-making process of the organization.
Is a concept that is based on the fact that current economic developments and the needs of the current generation will not jeopardize the ability to meet the needs of future generations.
The process of converting waste into new material. Upcycling is safe to eliminate resource wastage. An example is the use of fabric leftovers to sew a facemask.
The US Department of Agriculture grants its own certification to products that come from organic farming (the minimum limit is 95%). In addition to the origin of raw materials, ingredients, handling or packaging, access to animals is also controlled. These animals must come from a free range and must be fed with food from organic farming without any added antibiotics and hormones.
Is a process that involves reusing the product beyond its original purpose. An example is the provision of a textile bag at the time of purchase, which will not end up as waste after unpacking the purchase but will be used regularly for further purchases.
