Sustainability Goals and Achievements
There are many steps in achieving our goals of a greener product. Here are the measure we have implemented thus far as well as what we're planning on implementing in the future:
Ethical sourcing
For our first collection we worked with Supplycompass, a sourcing platform that is revolutionising supply chains through radical transparency and a user friendly system. Supplycompass assured us of the supply chain of my product and of the ethical treatment of the workers. It was a treat working with them and I don't think I could have made my dream a reality without them. Having said that, we're always happy to hear about new producers and manufacturing options.
Sustainable Fabrics
When we looked at the various possibilities for fabrics, linen was the choice for our first collection. Its green accolades are plentiful and it is one of the most luxurious textiles for interiors. There are, however, many great choices for ecological textiles out there that we can't wait to discover.
Fabric Reactive Dyes
Dyes are the part of textile production with hands down the worst environmental footprint. However, natural dyes have a lower light fastness than synthetic dyes, which is an important factor to consider. Our first collection was printed with Huntsman digital printers and the fabrics are printed with Huntsman NOVACRON® ADVANCE. We are still dreaming of naturally dyed fabrics for our products, and are always on the lookout to make this dream a reality.
Ecological Packaging
Currently, our packaging comes from NoIssue - compostable mailers and tissue paper printed with soy ink are how we send out orders at the moment. We loved working with NoIssue (check out this little interview Sophie did with them recently!) but we also know that everything moves when it comes to developing more sustainable options, so we're keeping our hearts and ears open for new and even greener solutions.
Free Shipping
Another whopper that increases the environmental footprint of our little company is that we offer free shipping. We try to offset this part of the business by regularly supporting the amazing SUGi Project who are supporting local communities worldwide in building diverse native forests. We're hoping to put even more effort into our SUGi support soon.
Customer Input
We're always open to suggestions, questions, critiques. Don't ever hesitate to reach to us via swd@sophiewilliamsondesign.com. We look forward to hearing from you!