Sustainability
& Environmentally conscious diversity
The printwear® brand offers a versatile range of the classic promotional bags and sacks: from Fairtrade-certified organic cotton bags, colourful shopping bags, trendy oversize bags to reusable food bags. Different suppliers and different product characteristics stand behind the multitude of articles.
OEKO-TEX
With regard to pollutant-reduced production, all articles of the printwear® brand meet the EU REACH requirements. In addition, the majority of articles are certified according to OEKO-TEX 100. The STANDARD 100 from OEKO-TEX® is a globally uniform testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production. Requirements of the REACH Regulation as well as the ECHA-SVHCCandidate List are covered by the test procedure.
Fairtrade Cotton
The Fairtrade product label for cotton stands for fairly grown and traded raw cotton that is directly traceable through all production steps and is processed separately from non-Fairtrade cotton. The cotton for selected printwear® articles is grown by Fairtrade producers, certified and traded according to Fairtrade standards. Fairtrade promotes better working and living conditions for cotton producers as well as environmental protection. Printwear® articles with Fairtrade certified cotton are labelled accordingly, licensed and approved by Fairtrade Germany. More information on Fairtrade: info.fairtrade.net/sourcing.
Organic-Cotton
Some printwear® items are made from cotton that is certified to a recognised organic standard. Depending on the product, certification is in accordance with GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or OCS (Organic Content Standard). Both standards ensure the traceability of the organic cotton throughout the supply chain. In addition to requirements regarding the use of organic cotton, the GOTS standard also includes social and environmental criteria for processing throughout the certified supply chain.
Combining Fairtrade certified and organic certified cotton is the best possible solution to improve social sustainability and protect the environment in the growing countries.
Seeds without genetic engineering
Only traditional seeds are used in the cultivation of organic cotton, genetically modified plants are prohibited.
Low artificial irrigation
Organic cotton also needs water – but the water consumption is lower than for conventional crops. Most of organic cotton’s water needs are met by rainwater and moisture stored in the soil.
Without pesticides
Only natural methods are used for fertilisation and crop protection instead of synthetic chemical agents.
Hand-picked
By eliminating machinery and defoliants, farmers’ health and soil fertility are preserved.
Social standards in the supply chains of printwear® articles
All printwear® articles have been manufactured in factories with at least one certification regarding improved working conditions/human rights in the workplace. These include the amfori BSCI, Fair Wear and SA8000 standards. Beyond factory audits and certifications, the programmes also include training and continuous improvement in all social areas.
Transparency through the Digital Product Passport
Transparency is more than a promise for us – it is an important part of our responsibility. Together with GreenStory, we have therefore developed and already integrated the Digital Product Passport for our products.
The Digital Product Passport makes visible what lies behind a product. Via a QR code or a link, customers can see which materials were used, where key production steps take place and what impact a product has on the environment and resources.
Key indicators such as water consumption, energy use and CO₂ emissions are presented transparently. In this way, sustainability becomes not only possible, but also understandable and measurable.
For us, transparency is an important step towards more responsible products. The Digital Product Passport helps us better understand our supply chains, make progress measurable and take more sustainable decisions.
(The QR code shown here is for illustrative purposes only and relates to a single item.)
