We believe that choosing our fibres with consideration can make a difference. Products labelled with LIFE are made with certified or branded fibres that helps us to reduce the impact on the environment. We use globally acknowledged certifications or tracer systems to ensure the integrity of all product claims.
Unless the fibre does not support a high percentage share due to quality issues, the minimum requirement for LIFE is: At least 50% of the main fabric must be either organic, recycled or branded fibres with a lower impact on the environment. This can be a mix of two or more of these materials, as long as they total a minimum of 50%.
Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that reduce negative impact on the environment without toxic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, improving soil health and protecting biodiversity. But aside from the obvious environmental benefits of organically grown cotton, the absence of hazardous chemicals also helps to improve the work environment of the local farmer.
Cotton made in Africa, an initiative of the Aid by Trade Foundation, is one of the world’s leading standards for sustainably produced cotton. Their goal is to help people help themselves, via trade rather than donations, in order to improve the living and working conditions of smallholder farmers in Africa and to protect our environment. CmiA Organic cotton provides an online Tracking System to ensure complete transparency throughout the entire value chain, allowing the cotton to be traced back the entire way from the field to the finished product.
The transition period for a farmer to get the organic certification takes an average of three years, as the soil needs to recover from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers used commonly in conventional cotton farming. In this period, the farmers are not paid extra – known as the ‘organic premium’ – for their hard work and effort. Farmers growing their cotton according to the organic farming standards will save money on input cost but they also experience drop in their yield when converting their farm while working under strict regulations.
Recycled polyester is a synthetic material made from waste items like plastic bottles or leftover textiles waste from manufacturing. Recycling polyester saves natural resources and reduces the amount of waste.
Recycled nylon – also known as polyamide - is a synthetic material commonly sourced from post-industrial waste fibres like leftover fabric scraps collected from the spinning factory and waste from weaving mills. Recycling nylon fibres saves natural resources and reduces the amount of textile waste.
Recycled cotton is made from manufacturing waste like leftover fabric scraps or from used cotton garments and textiles. Recycling cotton reduces the waste of a natural resource like water. The amount of cotton waste that could have ended up in landfills is also significantly reduced.
Recycling wool saves natural resources like water and energy. Instead of shipping wool to disposal at landfills, recycling wool helps reduce the amount of textile waste. The recycled wool is reborn and later refashioned into new clothes.
CYCLO® recycled cotton is made from pre-consumer textile waste from our own supply chain. The waste is recycled into new, high-quality yarn and fibres without the use of any additional dye, water or chemicals. Saving valuable dyed cotton from going to waste and reducing the industry's environmental footprint.
