Our Sustainability Labels

Two of our main focus areas are about reducing the negative impacts of our garments when they are manufactured, and designing products for a more sustainable wardrobe.

One challenge is to source more sustainable materials that are better for the environment than conventional alternatives. Another challenge is for those materials to meet our strict requirements for design, quality and appeal.

More sustainable production methods are another important side of the coin. With more climate-friendly methods of washing and dyeing, for example, we can conserve and protect natural resources on a huge scale.

Click here to learn more about how we are working to find more sustainable new ways of manufacturing fashion for the future.

 

 

Our sustainability labels

Today 75 per cent of our range is  sustainability-labelled.

All of our products are made with consideration for people as well as the planet. However, our sustainability-labelled garments have been made with solutions that are more sustainable than conventional production methods, and it is important for us to make our customer aware of these. Our sustainability labels reflect more sustainable materials as well as more sustainable production processes, and in this we have set our sights high. By 2025 our assortment will be made of entirely more sustainable materials, and by 2030 we will only make use of more sustainable production processes. We have strict requirements that a product must meet to be described as “more sustainable”, and these are based on external certifications and third-party data.

 

BCI – Better Cotton

Better Cotton means responsibly farmed cotton. That means cotton grown according to the Better Cotton Initiatives, BCI’s, principles. BCI is an organization working to improve global cotton production. To date, they have trained 2.7 million farmers in 23 countries and five continents to grow more sustainably, which account for 23 percent of total cotton production. To be approved as a Better Cotton grower you need to demonstrate reduced usage of water, pesticides, and fertilizers.

Kappahl is a proud member of BCI and is working actively to increase its share of more sustainable cotton. BCI is not physically traceable to end products. However, BCI farmers benefit from the demand for Better Cotton is equivalent volumes to the those we source.

Learn more here about BCI’s work.

We use only more sustainable cotton. “More sustainable cotton” includes Better Cotton, organic cotton and recycled cotton.

 

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is grown entirely without chemical pesticides, artificial fertiliser or genetically modified seeds, which results in better soil quality, greater biodiversity and balanced ecosystems. The organic quality of the cotton is assured by independent inspections according to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or Organic Content Standard (OCS). Garments that are GOTS-certified bear the GOTS symbol on the garment label.

Sometimes we mix organic cotton with other fibres to create an Organic Cotton Blend. The resulting garment is then composed of a combination of organic cotton and other fibres, but never conventionally farmed cotton.

It is expensive and time consuming to convert agriculture to organic. Therefore, only a small part of all cotton production in the world is organic.

 

Recycled Cotton

Recycled cotton is made from used garments or other cotton textiles that are torn up and re-woven to make new fabric. We save a lot of natural resources by using cotton that has already gone through production.

 

Circulose®

Circulose® is a natural material made entirely from textile waste. It is produced by dissolving used cotton fabrics – such as old jeans – and turning the cotton into a new raw material: circulose® pulp. The pulp is then spun into fibers to produce new fabrics. Circulose® can be recycled.

Circulose® is an innovative product from the Swedish-based company Renewcell. Kappahl has been a partner in Renewcell since 2019.

   

TENCEL™ Lyocel

TENCEL™ Lyocell are cellulose fibers made of wood from more sustainably managed forests in a closed-loop system, which recycles the process water and solvents up to 99%. Moreover, the fibres are 100% biodegradable. TENCEL™ is a trademark of Lenzing AG.

 

TENCEL™ Modal 

TENCEL™ Modal are cellulose fibers made of wood from more sustainably managed forests in a process with reduced environmental impact. TENCEL™ is a trademark of Lenzing AG.

 

LENZING™ ECOVERO™

LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded viscose are a more sustainable alternative to traditional viscose. LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose are made of wood from more sustainably managed forests in a process with reduced environmental impact. LENZING™ and ECOVERO™ are trademarks of Lenzing AG..

 

Recycled Polyester

Recycled polyester is made from PET bottles and scraps and by-products from the manufacturing industry, as opposed to conventional polyester which is made from oil. Making recycled material is less resource-intensive than producing material from scratch, which is why it reduces pollution and energy consumption. It also reduces the volume of waste. Our Recycled Polyester-labelled garments contain at least 50 percent recycled material.

 

Recycled Polyamide

The raw material source for recycled polyamide can be old fishing nets and carpets, and also waste from the manufacturing industry. Materials that would otherwise be scrapped are used, which saves the planet’s precious resources and contributes to reduced emissions. Our Recycled Polyamide-labelled garments contain at least 50 percent recycled material.

 

Polylana® – Recycled Fibers

Polylana® is an innovative synthetic fibre made from a mixture of new and recycled polyester. It has the same feel and properties as acrylic, but is a more sustainable option for knitwear. The Polylana® fibres consist of 55% recycled polyester.

 

Rescued Leftovers

Often, design comes first, and materials second. But with Rescued Leftovers we’re doing the exact opposite. What remnant fabrics might our suppliers have in their storages? How can we design garments to put those remnants to use? The environmental benefit is immense when materials that already exist are put to use, rather than being sent for incineration or ending up in a landfill.

 

More Sustainable Denim

All our denim is labelled More Sustainable Denim, which means that the garments are made of more sustainable materials and we use more sustainable prewash processes. The material is more sustainable alternatives, such as Better Cotton (BCI), organic cotton, recycled cotton and recycled polyester.

The prewash process in More Sustainable Denim involves far fewer chemicals, about half as much water and almost 30 per cent less energy, as compared with conventional denim production.

 

Waterborne PU

PU stands for polyurethane and is a coating used on artificial leather and rainwear. This coating does not contain any chemicals that have a proven negative impact on people or the environment.

 

Responsible Down

Responsible Down Standard is an independent international standard that requires down to be sourced from farmers who do not force-feed or live-pluck their ducks and geese. The down is also always a byproduct from the food industry, meaning material that would otherwise go to waste

 

Responsible Wool Standard

Responsible Wool Standard is an independent international standard guaranteeing that the wool has been sourced from farms where both the sheep and the land they graze on are treated responsibly, and that the wool has been processed sustainably throughout the production chain.

 

Vegetable Tanned Leather

This leather is tanned using plant-based substances such as bark, wood, fruit and leaves, which means that no chromium is used during the tanning process.

 

FSC

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is a global, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of responsible forest management worldwide. FSC defines standards based on agreed principles for responsible forest stewardship that are supported by environmental, social and economic stakeholders. To learn more, visit www.fsc.org. Look for our FSC® certified products. Licens: FSC®-N003228

 

The European Flax® 

The European Flax® is a standard that aims to secure and guarantee the quality and traceability of the flax fiber grown in Western Europe: France, Belgium & The Netherlands. The European Flax® fiber is a natural, GMO-free and more sustainable fiber grown without artificial irrigation. Read more here: http://news.europeanflax.com/en/celc/4-european-flax/