Fashion
Eco-Friendly Apparel Brands Powered by Sustainable Energy Sources
In recent times, buyers have become increasingly conscious of how companies and labels manage their ecological impact. Consumers are growing more committed to environmental stewardship, choosing to support businesses that are aligned with their eco-friendly values.
Apparel labels are no exception to this trend, as more consumers are favoring sustainable and ethically-produced clothes. Leading brands like Chanel and Kering have taken the lead in adopting a more eco-conscious business approach by committing to transition to 100% renewable energy sources by 2050. Other brands such as Nike and Burberry have also joined the sustainability movement. These companies have realized that utilizing solar panels can be cost-effective in the long term while significantly reducing their carbon footprint.
Here are a few of the apparel brands that have shown a strong dedication to renewable energy and environmentally-friendly practices.
New York-based Vetta is committed to assisting its customers in “cultivating a more mindful wardrobe.” This commitment extends beyond stylish fashion choices to encompass the company’s substantial environmental efforts. Some highlights include:
- Vetta currently derives about 70% of its energy from solar power.
- The brand’s production facilities undergo annual audits to ensure both social and environmental compliance.
- Emphasis is placed on using organic cotton and other sustainably-sourced materials, with material usage audited on a yearly basis.
- Even the packaging reflects the brand’s environmental commitment, with all packaging materials made from recycled materials.
Vetta exemplifies the fusion of aesthetic innovations with environmental consciousness.
Reformation is at the forefront of sustainability. The brand has been climate-neutral since 2015 and aims to be climate-positive by 2025. Several additional ways in which Reformation demonstrates its commitment to the environment include:
- The company sends quarterly “sustainability reports” to stakeholders to keep them informed of progress towards key environmental goals.
- Reformation has developed a metric, “RefScale,” to track their environmental impact in terms of carbon emissions, water usage, and waste generation, allowing for comparison with other clothing brands.
- The brand has made substantial investments in carbon offsets worldwide.
Reformation showcases how fashion and sustainability can merge in extraordinary ways.
Lucy&Yak showcases strong environmental credentials in several ways:
- Their factories and production sites, located across countries like India and the Middle East, are predominantly powered by solar energy, emphasizing the cost-saving and environmental benefits of solar power.
- Lucy&Yak utilizes recycled materials for their packaging.
- The brand maintains transparency regarding employee salaries, ensuring fair wages in all countries of operation, aligning the commitment to people with ecological stewardship.
Even athletic footwear companies have demonstrated their dedication to environmental advocacy. A case in point is the renowned brand Adidas, which sources about 20% of its energy from renewable sources. Additional key points include:
- Adidas is focused on phasing out plastic. By 2024, their goal is to replace virgin polyester with recycled polyester, aiming to have 90% of their products using sustainable materials by 2025.
- The brand is committed to reducing its carbon footprint, evidenced by the creation of a performance running shoe in collaboration with Allbirds that emits less than 3KG of CO2 per pair.
Adidas is among the many clothing companies driving innovation to address the climate crisis, and their efforts are commendable.
Lastly, consider Miakoda, a brand that has achieved carbon-neutrality. The company has taken significant steps toward greater environmental consciousness, including:
- Utilizing sustainable plant fibers such as organic cotton, bamboo, and soy, with a focus on ethically sourced organic fibers, some of which are OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified.
- Miakoda uses nontoxic, safe, and eco-friendly dyes.
- All fabrics used by the brand are either GOTS certified or Control Union certified.
- Environmental commitments extend to the packaging, with many components made from 100% recycled materials.
Clearly, eco-friendly apparel production is gaining momentum, and these brands demonstrate that sustainability can coexist with profitability. These companies enjoy energy savings and enhanced consumer reputation due to their eco-friendly practices.
Consumers can easily research a company’s sustainability credentials online, taking the first step towards more environmentally conscious shopping.