Sustainability
Thoughtful, from seed to post
Styles come and go, but quality never goes out of fashion.
Our core values drive us to find the best responsibly sourced materials with the guarantee of safe and respectful work environments for everyone involved in our production. So, by the time one of our tees arrives to you, you know that its journey was defined by the smallest environmental footprint and made proudly by people treated fairly and with dignity.
Unfortunately, no one is perfect and there is no such thing as full sustainability, but we are 100% committed to trying to bring you the most sustainable products wrapped in the most sustainable packaging possible. At byZOE we will continue to keep the waste at minimum and avoid over-production. We want to continue and operate on a made-to-wear basis. We want to be a business that respects workers, environment and consumers in equal measure.
Organic cotton
All our tees are made of 100% organic hand-picked cotton.
Being produced in a land free of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, and defoliants results in a safer workplace and healthier environment. Organic methods support biodiversity, improve the quality of soil and often use less water.
We are extremely proud to say that our tees are coloured with low-impact dyes and our pakucho range is made for Peruvian native naturally pigmented cotton. Low-impact dyes provide a higher absorption rate resulting in less water required in the rinse process and less dye runs off in the water. They also don't contain heavy metals nor do they require toxic chemical mordants to fix them to the fiber.
Organic cotton feels much softer, is hypoallergenic and is much more durable.
Fair $$
Our Peruvian partners are FAIRTRADE certified which was a no-brainer to us. What does being fair-trade certified mean in practice?
Surely there are many definitions, but for us it simply means that all workers involved in byZOE production are guaranteed safe and hygienic working conditions.
There is no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour involved and absolutely no child labour used. Living wages are paid regularly and working hours are not excessive. No discrimination is practiced and no harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed.
Thoughful Packaging & Shipping
We explored various environment conscious packaging options and decided to use recyclable paper satchels and replace single use poly bags with Vela paper bags.
Placing both, the shipping satchel and paper bag in your kerbside recycling allows them to live again as part of a circular economy.
For deliveries we partnered with Australia Post to ensure that each parcel delivery is recognised as carbon neutral. More about their activities to build more sustainable society can be found here.