Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Brands Commited to Climate Action
Latest Climate Action Brand Actions
Fully Renewable Resource
Seaweed is a fully renewable natural resource in Ireland. From sea to skin, we go to great lengths to maintain the unique purity of our seaweed. We do not need to use any of our precious freshwater resources for irrigation; we do not require the use of fertiliser, pesticides, or even soil. Every step in our process is natural and sustainable. Seaweed naturally absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere acting as what to refer to carbon sinks, as its growth rate is about 30% to 60% times the rate of land-based plants. All scientific research indicates that seaweed will play a huge role in fighting climate change by absorbing carbon emissions, regenerating marine escosystems, creating biofuel and renewable plastics as well as generating marine protein for years to come.
Evidence
Carbon emissions offsetting
The negative results of global warming will eventually affect us all, in every corner of the world. Therefore, every year since 2012 VOYA through the World Land Trust offset our carbon emissions. These funds are then invested in the protection and restoration of threatened tropical forests to combat the devastating effects of global warming. The WLT is working through local project partners to restore biologically important habitats throughout the world. Carbon Balanced projects are currently taking place in Vietnam, Ecuador, Paraguay and the portfolios continue to expand. Through the generous support of individuals and organisations, the World Land Trust has been instrumental in the purchase and protection of over 500,000 acres of tropical forest and other threatened habitats which would otherwise have been lost. Offsetting of CO2 emissions through WLT is a voluntary action demonstrating a corporate commitment to addressing climate change and threatened biodiversity through credible conservation projects. We are proud to say that from the 1st January 2013 – 31st December 2017, 483.79633 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions associated with the general operations of VOYA have been offset.
Plant-Based Footbed
The same support you know and love, but kinder to the planet. Our new B.plantfoam™ footbed is made from 72% plant-based materials (USDA Certified Biobased). With a carbon footprint of 3.85 kg CO2e, it reduces CO2 emissions by 70% compared to traditional petroleum-based footbeds.
MIRUM® Plant-Based Material
Born from our desire to minimize our footprint on the earth, our new range of leather alternative sneakers and heels are the first of their kind. MIRUM® is a high-quality, 100% biobased material that is vegan, durable, has a premium feel and raises the bar for sustainable fashion. Made from natural ingredients including citric acid, cotton, natural rubber and soybean oil, MIRUM® is a plant-based, plastic-free material designed to withstand your every day and then ultimately rejoin the Earth’s nutrient cycle, closing the loop.
Shoe Recycling
In partnership with Melbourne-based company, Save Our Soles, we transform pre-loved shoes into rubber mats for gym and playground flooring. To date, we have recycled 16,360 pairs of shoes and counting! Drop off your old shoes (Bared or not!) at any one of our stores, alternatively, post them to our warehouse.
Reducing Our Carbon Footprint
We're working hard to reduce the emissions we cause in manufacturing and distributing the shoes you love. We have partnered with Greenfleet, committing $95,000 to plant thousands of native species and offset over 5,380 tonnes of carbon! We understand that on its own, carbon offsetting doesn’t prevent global warming, but has a large part to play in the overall approach to carbon management.
Evidence
Micro-Pak Dri Clay® Kraft Anti-Mould Paks
Great for your shoes but even better for our planet, the Micro-Pak Dri Clay® Kraft Anti Mould Paks are 100% natural, plastic-free and biodegradable.
Sustainable sites
We are working hard to develop the Comfort Group business ecosystem, moving towards being fully sustainable, and ensuring all activities carried out internally are respectful of the planet: from hybrid vehicles and water reduction to printing less, and everything in between.
Clean Up Australia Day
We're committed to keeping Australia's natural environment healthy, and have been inspired by the Clean Up Australia Day movement to pledge towards a Zero Waste Policy. Clean Up Australia Day is the country's largest community-led environmental event, with millions of participants over the past thirty years.
The Ocean Bottle – stopping ocean bound plastic
The Ocean Bottle, designed to last a lifetime, has an impactful mission to stop 7 Billion Plastic Bottles from entering our oceans by 2025. When you buy an ocean bottle from Arid Zone, you fund the collection of 1000 ocean-bound plastic bottles. Local coastal communities turn those bottles into a sustainable livelihood using our innovative exchange platform. Many brands have already chosen Ocean Bottle as a partner to help have a direct and tangible environmental impact. Contact us to learn how this bottle can bolster your CSR activities.
Carbon Offset
Working with clients on both specific campaigns and products or for ongoing supply, we collaborate with a number of Government and NGO’s to offset carbon emissions during the production cycle. As part of our ISO and EcoVadis programs we are working towards off-setting all team members to reduce our overall footprint.
B Corp Certified
B Corp Certification confirmed that our community and the environment are stakeholders in our impact-driven business model and our commitment to balancing social and planetary good in everything we do against the highest standards of transparency and accountability. We are now part of a global network of businesses shifting our global economy from a system that profits few to one that benefits all.
Evidence
Ethical Manufacturing
We make all of our underwear ethically in China. We ensure safe and respectful working conditions for all our makers. As part of our sustainable fashion practices, we are uncompromising on the materials and processes we use, including regenerated eucalyptus and utilising waste to create recycled items. We invented our own recycled elastic because we could not buy it.
Plastic Free Packaging
We made our packaging minimal in size to preserve natural resources. We use recycled kraft board. We developed it utilising soy-based inks instead of the more common fossil fuel ink. There is zero plastic and small amount of animal free glue holding it together. We transfer our stock into kraft card pick boxes. They are picked and mailed in a small compostable mailer. We are looking into reusable mailers because whilst compostable mailers are great, the reality is there are so few facilities in Australia that can take them, if you can add them to your home compost that is the best current way.
One-for-one Underwear Donation
We are incredibly proud of the underwear that we are able to donate through our one-for-one campaign. It all started one day when we found thousands of meters of elastic at one of our factories that was destined for landfill, and this sparked a transformation in our business model. We now utilise all of our factories' deadstock – from other customers’ cancelled orders, half rolls, leftover elastic - to create the underwear we give away. The special thing is, they are all different. We have a close 10-year relationship with the factory that makes our donation underwear, based on mutual trust. They have been using BCI and organic cotton, as well as Oeko-Tex non-toxic dyes, for many years to unsure their fabrics are safe. WHO DO WE DONATE TO? If you have an organisation that needs underwear donations, please contact us. The National Homeless Collective. A local Australian charity that provide programs and resources for people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and social disadvantage. Kara House Kara House provides support to women and children affected by domestic and family violence. They offer crisis accommodation, outreach and emotional support to those in need, and are waiting on new donations. Days for Girls In many areas of the world, having your period means not going to school. Days for Girls creates critical period packs and sewing circles to prevent girls from leaving their education in developing parts of the world.
Work Training Program
Getting and maintaining a job is something many take for granted. We are partnering with Social Engine to create paid workplace training opportunities in a non-judgemental environment that is supportive and set up for success. Our partnership and work program creates job training opportunities in warehousing, order fulfillment and customer service and work in processing for recycling to support work for youths at risk.
Poly Bags used in packing garments
In the fashion industry, garments are transported in plastic poly bags inside boxes, the boxes are then palette wrapped in warehouses with reams of cling film. This plastic is invisible to the consumer because it disappears before a product ever reaches the shelf. Poly bags are important in transporting garments to avoid damage and water exposure. But as we know single use plastic items are polluting our land, waterways and even the air we breathe. There is an urgent need to reduce this invisible shipping plastic. We couldn't find a solution, so we developed our own reusable system. We are proud to have developed our own reusable shipping bags, to be used over and over again. They eliminate any single use plastic from our shipping and align to our vision of being a low waste brand. They are made from Recycled Polyester, which is recycled post-consumer plastic bottles. They feature a sturdy zip and reinforced seams to ensure they will last for many years and will be repaired when damaged. They are shipped inside recycled card boxes; these are then reused in Australia, once damaged they are then recycled.
Tencel vs Cotton & Bamboo
Currently, the most common fibres used to make underwear are cotton and bamboo. The production of cotton requires intense levels of chemical and water, with research showing that it takes 3kg of chemicals and 4,300 litres of water to make just 1kg of cotton. While organic cotton is an improvement from a chemical perspective, it often requires an even higher rate of water use to produce. Bamboo fibres are almost always produced through a viscose process involving a highly toxic substance, Carbon Disulfide. This chemical poses a health risk for both the people producing the fibre, and local communities through water pollution (eutrophication). We believe that the production of cotton and bamboo present too great a cost to our planet. , Therefore, we have chosen to make our underwear with the sustainable and regenerated fibre, Tencel. Tencel, which is Lenzing’s brand name for the fibre process ‘lyocell’ , is made using the wood pulp of certified Eucalyptus trees, meaning it is a renewable planetary resource. Eucalyptus trees are some of the fastest growing in the world, requiring no irrigation or fertilisers, and sequester carbon as they grow. Tencel fabric requires 5 times less land and 20 times less water than cotton to produce the same amount of fabric, making it a sustainable material. The ‘lyocell process’ (the method for turning wood pulp into Tencel fabric), is very different from a chemical perspective to the viscose process, it uses a safe surfactant in a closed-loop system, 99% of the water and solution are recovered and used over and over again. When released it is safe.
Evidence
Chemicals in production
The fashion industry currently uses over 8,000 chemicals in the processing and manufacturing of materials. Many of these chemicals are not even identified, let alone researched for safety. Of the ones that have been investigated, over 2,000 pose a significant threat to human health and are categorised as ‘substances of concern’. Due to decentralised supply chains, there is a lack of transparency in the fashion industry regarding chemical use and their full effects on the environment. To divert from these unsustainable and toxic chemical practices, we use Oeko-Tex certified dyehouses to ensure no toxic substances are used in the dying of our fabrics.
Evidence
Recycled Nylon Elastic
Elastic needs to be soft, supportive to create a frame for underwear. It needs enough elongation to stretch and be comfortable to wear, but also enough power to hold. While there are many suppliers of elastic, recycled elastic is very difficult to source, so we created our own. Our in-house elastic is a beautiful, soft elastic that is made from GRS certified recycled nylon. The decision to be uncompromising on our standards delayed our launch, but we were unwilling to use virgin nylon. Utilising nylon manufacturing waste to create recycled nylon diverts waste from landfill.
Pre-loved Bras - creating positive change
Second-hand bras and crops that are in good to excellent condition are sorted through our warehouse pick and pack training program and donated to help support women in need to lead healthy fulfilling lives with Support the Girls. Reuse is even better! Send us your bras and we will quality check them, and send them to Support the Girls a charity that supplies bras to women in need. The sorting of these bras also creates work for Social Engine. If your bras are in poor condition please still send them in, we will recycle them
Evidence
On A Mission Climate Positive Company
We work with On a Mission to offset our emissions and carbon impact across our entire supply chain. Our Climate Positive certification with On a Mission recognises that our business buys at least 1.5 times more carbon offsets than we produce each year. We are continuously striving to leave as little impact on the environment as possible, in all we do.
Evidence
PETA Approved VEGAN
PETA is an Animal Rights organisation that protects the treatment of animals. Their Vegan certification indicates that our products are completely free of animal ingredients, and that no animals were used or harmed in their making.
Evidence
Social Traders Certified
This certification shows that our business, as part of our constitution, has a social, cultural or environmental purpose as its primary objective, and ensures that our primary efforts and resources are invested into this purpose.
HERO Home Compostable Mail Bags
We choose Hero compostable HEROPACK shipping mailers which are certified as both Home and Commercially Compostable. Our mailers hold certifications which meet the Australian standards (AS5810 and AS4736) administered by the Australasian Bioplastics Australia (ABA). Our supply chain also complies with ISO 14001 standards, ensuring environmentally ethical sourcing and production. We also only use compostable postage labels - so the entire parcel can be reused to send back product or recycling or composted in your home green bin. https://heropackaging.com.au/
Evidence
Soy-based ink printed packaging
We made our packaging minimal in size to preserve natural resources. We use recycled kraft board. We developed it utilising soy-based inks instead of the more common fossil fuel ink. There is zero plastic and small amount of animal free glue holding it together.
Evidence
We convinced our landlord to spell out CRAP in solar panels
In very serious and exciting news: we convinced one of the biggest landlords in Australia to install solar panels on the rooftop of our Melbourne warehouse. Even more serious and exciting: the panels spell out the words ‘WE GIVE A CRAP!!’ Why that specific message? Because we care about the future of our planet and wanted to shout about it from our rooftops. Putting our entire team on the roof with megaphones was a safety hazard, so solar panels it was.
100 YR CLEANUP
The 100YR CLEANUP is an initiative that maps out a vision to fund large-scale rubbish cleanups for the next 100 years. Because it's up to all of us to untrash the planet, not just today, not just tomorrow, but across multiple generations. For Year 1 of the 100YR CLEANUP, we'll aim to remove 15,000,000+ water bottles of rubbish from the planet, implemented through projects across Egypt, the 7 Seas, the Himalayas, and the Pacific. Find out more at 100yearcleanup.com.
Oceans 21
21 million tonnes of plastic flows into our oceans every year. That’s one truck of garbage every minute. Single-use plastic is the main culprit. From March to June 2021, we’re investing $5 from every Starter Box to fund our epic Oceans 21 clean-up projects. If we can inspire 10,000 Aussies to ditch single-use plastic from their kitchen, laundry & bathroom, we’ll have $50,000 in the kitty to clean-up the mess we’ve made. There’s never been a better time to clean your house and clean the ocean! The Result: 16,067 Aussies signed up to ditch single-use plastic from their kitchen, laundry & bathroom, well above our target of 10,000.
Trashure Hunt #1: The World’s Longest Solo Underwater Clean-up
To kick off our clean ups, we headed to Sydney and live streamed a world-first 24 hour underwater clean-up! One of our legendary Zero Co supporters (one of you), Dean Cropp, put up his hand to attempt a 24 hour underwater ocean clean-up in Sydney Harbour to grab as much rubbish as he could. We collected 200kgs of rubbish from the harbour floor and you can watch how it all unfolded here! Some of the plastic Dean collected will be recycled and turned into our next generation of forever bottles to be made here in Australia. Thanks to everyone who helped us out. It was an epic way to begin our clean-up efforts!!
Trashure Hunt #2: The Great Island Clean-up
In June this year, the whole team headed to a paradise island off the coast of QLD to conduct a massive ocean and beach clean-up. And guess what? We collected over 500kgs of rubbish and over 21,000 pieces of plastic including a heap of single thongs, eskys and even plastic chairs.
Australia's First Fully Recyclable Mattress
Launched in 2021, A.H. Beard Origins is for people who want to contribute to a sustainable future while enjoying the best sleep of their lives. Hand-made by our team of highly skilled craftspeople, every component, fabric and fibre in an Origins mattress is chosen for its sleep-enhancing qualities, the sustainable of its source, and end-of-life recyclability. Wool sourced from Australian family farms. Fabrics made from organic cotton and the pulp of sustainably grown eucalypts. And the world’s first 100% recyclable pocket spring support system, EvoCoil. Origins mattresses are free of GMOs and synthetic foams. And because they are made without glue, the components can be disassembled for recycling at the end of the mattress’s life. A.H. Beard Origins has been rated one of the healthiest and least toxic products by Global Green Tag, the world’s most rigorous sustainability certification body. It is the first mattress globally to achieve a Platinum HealthRATE and Platinum Asthma & Allergy rating.
Mission Australia
In 2009, Mission Australia established a mattress recycling social enterprise, Soft Landing, in Bellambi, NSW. The program provided jobs to disadvantaged jobseekers and recycled thousands of mattresses and bases from hotels, retailers, councils and the community throughout Sydney and the Illawarra. In 2012, the initiative won the Premier's Award for Environmental Excellence in the NSW Green Globe Awards. A.H. Beard joined forces with Mission Australia in 2012, and by June 2022, had redirected over 500,000 beds from landfill. Mission Australia is committed to reducing its ecological footprint and advocating for action on climate change.
Sustainable Forestry
A.H. Beard are a proud member of The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), who works with businesses and manufacturers to ensure that any timber used in products are sourced sustainably, and works towards preventing deforestations, preserve biodiversity, and protect human rights in the process. The FSC are committed to upholding a common set of responsible forestry standards that support: zero deforestation safeguarding of ancient and endangered forests fair wage and work environment biodiversity preservation community rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples
Sleep Wellness Centre
Sustainable Development Goal 3, regarding "Good Health and Well-being", is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015. The official wording is: "To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.“ A.H. Beard believe that sleep is a key factor for well-being. Poor sleep quality is a very real public health issue. It affects around 7.4 million people in Australia* and manifests itself in every aspect of daily life: from our moods, relationships and general happiness to our productivity and safety at work. In recent years, medical research has shown a strong link between insufficient sleep and the increased risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, type II diabetes, obesity, and depression. A.H. Beard’s Sleep Wellness Centre is a source of information to inspire and motivate people who want to improve their lives through better sleep. The Sleep Wellness Centre aims to: Actively engage sleep-deprived individuals Provide Practical Advice Create awareness Promote all pillars of Health and Wellness. *Deloitte Access Economics report commissioned by the Sleep Health Foundation and published for the 2016-2017 financial year.
OEKO-TEX
OEKO- TEX is a standard that tests for harmful substances. Our fabric suppliers have Oektex 100 certification on the yarns that they use in fabrics. OEKO-TEX® standards enable everyone to make responsible decisions and protect natural resources. Driven by sustainability and a dedication to transparency, our work is grounded in proven science.
Organic Cotton
Our Organic Stone Washed Cotton sheet set, and Organics Stone Washed Cotton quilt cover set is GOTS certified. GOTS, Global Organic Textile Standard, is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain.
Action against landfill
Snooze proudly partners with the Australian Bedding Stewardship Council. The ABSC is continuing the development and implementation of a whole of lifecycle product stewardship scheme for mattresses and bedding industry. This is an industry facing organisation.
The Snooze Safety and Sustainability Committee
Snooze has formed a Safety and Sustainability Committee with the aim of improving the way in which we conduct business. Some initial initiatives, at head office, include the adoption of Green Office supplies, sensor lighting, LED lighting, recycling and reviewing green utilities.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
The timber sourced and used in our furniture range is PEFC approved. PEFC stands for the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification which is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organisation. It promotes sustainable forest management through independent third party certification.
Forest Stewardship Council
Manufacturers of our furniture ensure any timber sourced is FSC certified. The FSC, Forest Stewardship Council, is an international non-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation established in 1993. It promotes responsible management of the worlds forest.
Snooze Linen Recovery Project
Snooze in partnership with BlockTexx and Select-O-Pedic is proud to launch a linen recycling project. This project is live in participating Queensland (and Tweed Heads) Snooze stores commencing June. Consumers who donate preloved and laundered fitted sheets, flat sheets, quilt covers and pillow slips will be rewarded with 30% off Snooze Branded linen on the day. This program is a trial and runs from June to end of August, 2023.
Global tracking and benchmarking
During 2020, we began tracking our electricity usage, water usage, and carbon emissions at all our manufacturing facilities and distribution centres. This allows us to create baselines, adopt target reduction goals, and implement programmes to reduce energy consumption and emissions across the business. In 2020, our Danish plant reduced annual emissions by over 10,000 metric tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of 2,242 cars being driven for a year! In 2021, we are now transitioning to third-party World Resources Institute-certified accounting of emissions to help us measure and benchmark our progress. Using these recognised standards ensures we are presenting a true and fair account of our emissions.
Renewable energy and ensuring efficient use
100% of the electricity used in TEMPUR® UK head office will come from renewable sources from July 2021. We’ve invested in solar power for our largest mattress manufacturing operation in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the first half of 2021. Our facility in Estonia already gets over 20% of its energy from solar panels, helping to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. In 2020, we started transitioning to energy-saving LED lighting in all of our production and assembly facilities worldwide. Our Danish production factory is ISO 50.001 certified – this is an international standard which recognises businesses who have taken steps to enhance their energy performance. It was awarded thanks to our new energy management system designed to reduce consumption and increase efficiencies.
Clean the Seas
Enbacci supports the Clean the Seas project, in partnership with i=Change and The Seabin Project. Over 160 million tons of plastic is produced each year to create single-use disposable items and packaging.With no established system to close the loop, this has led to over 70 years of accumulation of plastics in landfill (40%) and the environment (32%), with only 10% being recycled. Plastics end up in waterways and oceans, breaking down into ever smaller pieces called micro-plastics, well known for entering the food chain through the water, air and food that we consume. Seabin Smart Tech, similar to a rubbish bin X pool skimmer, removes floating plastics as small as 2mm, filtering 600,000L of water per day from oil and surface pollutants. $1 removes 1.2kg of plastic and debris from the sea.
Sustainable sites
We are working hard to develop our business ecosystem, moving towards being fully sustainable, and ensuring all activities carried out internally are respectful of the planet: from hybrid vehicles and water reduction to printing less, and everything in between.
Clean Up Australia Day
We're committed to keeping Australia's natural environment healthy, and have been inspired by the Clean Up Australia Day movement to pledge towards a Zero Waste Policy. Clean Up Australia Day is the country's largest community-led environmental event, with millions of participants over the past thirty years.
Shopping with a purpose
Urban Ethos has partnered with i=change to donate $1 of every sale, and you get to choose where it goes! We are delighted to use our platform to encourage continual support towards three planet-saving projects that Urban Ethos endorses; even better, you have the choice of which charity the donation goes to! Giving even more motivation to your purchase; that goes beyond the purpose of positive environmental impacts of each one of our products. Urban Ethos is committed to our planet, climate and even more committed to frequent and recurring support to charities that nurture, regenerate and protect our planet. “There is no question climate change is happening. The only arguable point is what part humans are playing in it.” - David Attenborough. By making a concerted effort to protect our planet now, we can only thrive as a community, with generations to come. Together, let's continue to take a stance and create awareness by always shopping with a purpose.
Minimising our Carbon Emissions
All parcels are shipped through a carbon neutral service that offsets the transport and shipping emissions of every parcel by investing in conservation projects and emissions reduction projects. At Reluv we offset the emissions associated with powering our website every year by investing in accredited reforestation projects within Australia. We also power our headquarters with with carbon neutral energy. We have chosen to bank with a financial institution that does not invest in fossil fuels.
Social Impact
Reluv supports advocacy, empowerment, health and well-being programs for garment workers in Bangladesh. $1 from every purchase is donated to an organisation in Bangladesh to support this work. All items that are not accepted for sale through Reluv are donated to the Remote Opp Shop Project which supports entrepreneurship in indigenous communities. We are also supply work wear to Fitted For Work to support women seeking employment.
Circular Economy
The world’s natural resources are limited. So we’ve committed to become a circular business by 2040 – maximising resource efficiency across vehicles, components and materials. We’re focussed on eliminating waste, making greater use of recycled material, and remanufacturing and reusing parts. Design for circularity: Most companies (and people) still participate in a linear economy – you take raw material, make a product, use it, and in the end, throw it out as waste. A circular economy maximises resources by designing products for durability, reuse and recycling. From the start, we’re considering a vehicle’s entire life cycle and how to maximise the value delivered throughout that time. When that’s over, the dissasembly and recycling process can provide high quality and quantity raw materials. More remanufacturing: Compared to producing new parts, remanufactured parts use around 85 per cent less raw material and 80 per cent less energy. We currently remanufacture 36 different component groups, including engines, gearboxes, turbo compressors and clutches. In 2021 we saved over 4,000 tonnes of CO2 by remanufacturing over 37,000 parts. Less production waste: In 2021, 96 per cent of our global production waste was recycled – so we avoided creating additional carbon emissions and were able to keep valuable material in circulation. This also reduced the amount of virgin material needed. Recycling: Our largest waste stream is metal from car production, which amounted to 209,000 tonnes in 2021 and is entirely recycled.
Conscious Choice - Our Roadmap to 2030
Rather than telling a customer that a product is more sustainable, we would like to increase awareness amongst consumers on why they are choosing a particular product, based upon actively assessing the product’s fibre composition, the labour conditions, and its environmental impact. This is what Conscious Choice stands for; the customer making a conscious purchase for a product that has been made using preferred fibres (Pillar 1), better packaging (Pillar 2), has high environmental standards (Pillar 3), and like all of our products is ethically manufactured (Pillar 4). These criteria fall under our foundational Conscious Choice 4-pillar product labelling model. Products carrying this label will be produced using the most sustainable materials and packaging and with high social and environmental manufacturing standards.
Pillar 1 - Preferred Materials
We can proudly report that all of our cotton is either from Better Cotton, Recycled Cotton or Organic Cotton. Additionally, we have started implementing other recycled materials, such as recycled polyester, made from plastic bottles, which is diverted from landfill. We have also launched our bamboo range (viscose derived from bamboo) which comes from Sustainably grown Bamboo crops, that use no pesticides or water to grow the crop. This range has also been certified by oeko-tex to ensure there are no harmful substances. But it does not stop there, we are continuously innovating to become a pioneer in utilizing the most sustainable and innovative materials.
Evidence
Pillar 2 - Better Packaging
We have pledged to transition away from single use plastics in our packaging and can confirm we have now transitioned away from plastic hangers and unnecessary films and coatings on our cardboard packaging, also using soy ink, making them recyclable. 95% of our collection is now recyclable.
Pillar 4 - Environmental Standards
All our factories must sign our environmental and zero tolerance of hazardous chemicals policies. Our apparel factories are also audited using the third-party audit methodologies such as WRAP or Amfori BSCI. In each of these frameworks a Performance Area (Amfori BSCI) or Principle (WRAP) is dedicated to the protection of the environment. Our factories making products labelled with our Conscious Choice-products must score either an A or B on the Amfori BSCI audit or obtain a Gold or Platinum score on the overall audit.
Supporting a circular economy
We've partnered with Upparel to support a circular economy, advocate for garment and textile recylcling and help to educate our customers on the importance of mindful consumption and disposal. Recycle your old socks with Underworks and get 10% OFF your next order. Together with Upparel, we are closing the loop on textile waste and giving your old socks a new life. Only available in Australia. Before purchasing this product, please check whether there are any drop-off points near you.
Sustainable sites
We are working hard to develop the the Comfort Group business ecosystem, moving towards being fully sustainable, and ensuring all activities carried out internally are respectful of the planet: from hybrid vehicles and water reduction to printing less, and everything in between.
Clean Up Australia Day
We're committed to keeping Australia's natural environment healthy, and have been inspired by the Clean Up Australia Day movement to pledge towards a Zero Waste Policy. Clean Up Australia Day is the country's largest community-led environmental event, with millions of participants over the past thirty years.
Decarbonisation
We recognise the significant impact that concrete production has on global GHG emissions and we are committed to prioritising carbon reduction strategies and leveraging the opportunities that exist to reduce our emissions throughout our business operations. Read more about this in our Sustainability Charter.
Eco -Office /Warehouse
We take every step possible to ensure that our office space and warehouse are eco-friendly. We do this by: - Using all recyclable or compostable materials for packing - Recycled paper for any printing - Only printing when necessary - Eco-Cleaning products and an Eco-Cleaning service - Use of natural-light to light our warehouse whenever possible
Supporting global projects through Treecreds
We audit the carbon emissions from every event, including pre-production and the live event, and offset these emissions through Treecreds to support reforestation, wildlife preservation, biodiversity support, and conservation projects both in Australia and around the world. Through this partnership we ensure that we are doing more than simply buying a carbon offset.
Sustainably-grown Australian Cotton
Our garments are made from pure natural fibres with no synthetics or plastics, which means we don't use any pollutive toxic chemical processes. The 100% cotton fabric we use has been grown in Queensland using best practices to conserve water consumption.
Carbon Offset with Positive Impact
We've partnered with Greenfleet to plant one tree for every singe garment purchased.
A proud member of 1% For The Planet
As a member of 1% for the planet since inception, we are proud to confirm that 1% of very dollar we have ever earned has been donated to environmental organisations or non-profits.
Evidence
Environmental Advocacy
By joining 1% for the Planet and committing 1% of our revenue to environmental nonprofits, we support SDGs 6 (clean water and sanitation), 7 (affordable clean energy), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 12 (responsible consumption and production), 13 (climate action), 14 (life below water), and 15 (life on land). Our 1% membership also helps us foster productive partnerships with members.
Energy Use
We chose The Commons co-working space for our office due to their B Corp certification and commitment to sourcing renewable energy. Through this we are supporting SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 12 (responsible consumption and production) and 13 (climate action).
We are a member of 1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet is an international organisation whose members contribute at least one percent of their annual revenue to environmental causes to protect the environment. More than 1% of our sales every year go towards certified environmental charities.
The Paintback Waste Management Scheme
We’re a proud supporter and founding member of Paintback, a world-first, industry-led national paint collection, disposal and recycling scheme, which aims to reduce the large volumes of waste paint and packaging going into landfill. The scheme has over 160 drop off locations across Australia.
Variable Pressure Foaming (VPF)
All Joyce Foams are manufactured using Variable Pressure Foaming (VPF) technology, recognised for its environmentally conscious approach to foam production. VPF machines are designed to capture emissions, ensuring our process does not use or emit additional CO2, surpassing EPA standards. This method eliminates the need for Auxiliary Blowing Agents (ABAs) and significantly minimises Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) compared to conventional foam manufacturing processes. Through adopting VPF technology, we have achieved a significant reduction of up to 79% in our foaming emissions between 2011 and 2020. As the sole Australian foam manufacturer utilising this innovative method, we have remained committed to advancing eco-friendly foam production. The launch of our Adelaide facility in 2023 marked the integration of our second VPF machine, affirming our continued investment in sustainable manufacturing practices.
Lowering Transport Emissions
Since 2005, Joyce has been compressing foam for transport. This allows us to transport our products using 60% less space, maximising truck capacity and reducing transport requirements. Through compression and partnering with logistics suppliers who share our commitment to sustainability, we are striving to reduce transport-related emissions.
Promoting the recycling of disposable diapers
With the advent of a super-aged society, production of disposable incontinent adult diaper continues to increase and it accounts for around 1/8th of total household waste by volume. In addition, disposable diapers are made from paper pulp which uses wood as its raw material and rising pulp usage leads to the increased consumption of forest resources. We consider efforts to reduce waste incineration costs and CO2 emissions and make effective use of resources the “responsibility of disposable diaper manufacturers,” therefore we began efforts to recycle used disposable diapers in 2015 and are working on technology development and demonstration experiments. Initiatives aimed at promoting the recycling of disposable diapers include - Contributing to SDGs - Creating our own unique recycling system for used disposable diapers (Japan) - Verifying environmental effects and hygienic safety - Collaboration with self-governing bodies - Formulation of “Guidelines for the Reuse of Used Disposable Diapers” (Ministry of the Environment)
Reducing the amount of plastic use
The quantity of "plastic waste in the oceans" has been increasing steadily and, because this type of waste takes a long time to decompose, it is forecast that, by 2050, the combined weight of all the plastic waste in the sea will exceed the combined weight of all the fish living in the oceans. As a manufacturer that uses plastic in its packaging materials, Unicharm feels that it has a responsibility in this regard. With the aim of helping to address the global problem of plastic waste in the oceans, Unicharm supports the "Plastics Smart" campaign organized by the Ministry of the Environment which is being implemented in collaboration with organizations in many different sectors, and is working to reduce plastic usage at every stage of product development from R&D onwards. Initiatives aimed at reducing the amount of plastic use include - Contributing to SDGs - Adopting environmentally-friendly packaging (Japan)
Introducing renewable power
With the effects of climate change increasing year after year, Unicharm recognizes that reducing carbon dioxide is a priority. Therefore, to contribute to achieving the 2℃ scenario outlined in the Paris Agreement, in June 2018, we received certification for our CO2 reduction plans up to 2045 under the Science-Based Targets(SBT) initiative. In addition, in our “Kyo-sei Life Vision 2030” revealed in October 2020, we set the goal of “using 100% renewable electricity for all of our business operations by 2030.
Safcol partners with Clean Up Australia
Safcol No Net Tuna is a proud partner of Clean Up Australia. For every can of No Net Tuna sold, we contribute 5 cents towards Clean Up Australia, helping the iconic Aussie charity provide free resources and materials to communities, schools and youth groups all year round, supporting Australians everywhere to clean up, fix up and conserve the environment.
Sustainable product development & resource efficiency
Excessive material consumption causes negative environmental impacts. JOST products and packaging are designed with a strong emphasis on sustainability, aiming to mitigate these impacts by using materials efficiently. This practice includes aspects such as reducing energy and water consumption, minimising raw material waste, and implementing lean manufacturing processes. This reduces waste, minimises the extraction of natural resources, and lowers the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing. In 2022, we were able to reduce our CO2 emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2) per production hour by 15.0 % compared to 2021 and by 35.2 % compared to the base year 2020. Material efficiency: Products are engineered to use materials efficiently. This reduces waste, minimises the extraction of natural resources, and lowers the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing. Lightweight design: JOST's products are specifically designed for weight optimisation. Lightweight components, such as aluminium landing legs and lightweight fifth wheels, not only enhance fuel efficiency in transportation but also reduce emissions. Lowering the weight of products directly contributes to a more sustainable supply chain and environmental footprint. Reduced contamination: JOST's use of biodegradable high-performance lubricants minimises environmental contamination. This ensures that our products are not only efficient but also environmentally friendly, reducing the ecological impact over the product's lifecycle. Occupational safety and health: The introduction of assistance systems like KKS, Drawbar Finder, and King Pin Finder in JOST's products enhances occupational safety and health protection for users. By focusing on these aspects, we strive to create products that are not only efficient but also environmentally responsible. This commitment to sustainable product design reduces material waste, promotes energy efficiency, and contributes to a healthier and more environmentally friendly operation in line with our sustainability principles.
Renewable energy adoption
We are actively reducing our reliance on non-renewable energy to align with global efforts to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our focus is on increasing the share of renewable energy in total electricity consumption. In 2022, the share of renewable energy in total electricity consumption increased several times to 15.6 million kWh compared to 3.1 million kWh in 2021. Solar installations: Solar energy is clean and environmentally friendly, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources. New solar installations on the roofs of two manufacturing sites are already producing solar energy, and the construction of additional solar installations is in the planning stage.
Develop Educational Programs
We partner with businesses, institutions, professionals and everyone interested on investing on education about sustainable practices. We are working very hard to develop and launch an e-Learning platform where everyone will have access to educational material to help kids and grown-ups make the shift to a more sustainable life.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up.
Business Clean Up Day
Highlighting sustainability as an important metric in our business has fed into everything we do. This includes taking up actions that supports sustainability initiatives on local and regional level. Clean Up Australia “inspires and empowers communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment” with more than 20 million Aussies having participated in events over the past three decades. Sleep Corp® is proud to have become a part of Clean Up Australia this year. On the 28th of February upwards of 60 Sleep Corp team members joined to “step up and clean up”, removing the rubbish and other waste pollutants from our local environment to help reduce the waste that accumulates each year. Our focus was on a local creek and park, that is used as a lunch or walking spot by many who work in our area. Interstate team members working on cleaning up an area local to them. This is an initiative that we will do at least annually. To find out more about Clean Up Australia, and how you can be involved visit: http://www.cleanup.org.au/
CONSTANT SEARCH FOR IMPROVEMENT - RECYCLED PACKAGING
Our packaging was originally paper packaging with a plastic hook and plastic Gimble pin. The plastic hook was first use plastic, and was packed into polybags for transportation. We then moved to a recycled card for our packaging, evolving the design by removing the plastic hook and replacing it with a sewing method (cotton thread) for attaching the header cards to the socks. To hold 3 pairs of socks together we used a paper wrap and a recyclable PU liner for the shipping cartons. This liner was able to protect the products during shipping. Our packaging change resulted in the removal of over 900,000 plastic hooks from circulation annually and we said goodbye to 300,000 polybags and a gazillion gimble pins. While we were happy with these stats, we were not satisfied it was enough. We did find that unfortunately, in the current market, there are no products that are 100% biodegradable in terms of plastic bagging for carton liners or shipping bags – many claim to be Biodegradable but none have been proven to pass the residue tests that can confirm they leave behind no trace elements. Since we don’t know for sure that they cannot be reabsorbed into the food chain, we choose to avoid them in favour of recyclable materials that we know can at least have another life and not cause harm to animals or humans.
ORGANIC BAMBOO
Bamboo has a natural pesticide (Bamboo kun) which means no chemicals are used in growing or harvesting our bamboo, providing a cleaner, safer environment. Sustainably sourced, this wonder fibre can grow up to 4ft a day. Every part of the plant is used in manufacturing super comfy, luxuriously soft and breathable eco-friendly garments.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up.
Targeting Net Zero by 2025
We are on track to reach Net Zero by 2025. Actions include installing Solar PV, using 100% accredited green power for remaining grid energy, have transitioned to an EV charged onsite from renewables, have no staff commute to the office as all WFH, any business travel is done as sustainably as possible using our EV or public transport, we've gone as paperless as possible, recycle everything we can (we have 6 waste streams, almost nothing to landfill), we rarely print and purchase carbon neutral paper for when we have to. Just our phones to transition to a carbon neutral service (under analysis) and where possible (we're a small business) we're asking our key suppliers for their sustainability credendtials. We are carbon neutral, intend to maintian carbon netural status, but we will have to offset the remaing emissions.
Evidence
Upgraded company vehicle to 100% Electric
In December 2022 we upgraded our company car to an EV for all onsite visits and works. This removes our scope 1 fossil fuel use and assists us towards net zero emissions. Its charged from our onsite solar and 100% Green Power.
Community Relations
Providing renters with the option to reduce their carbon emissions through our partnership with Greenfleet in both Australia and New Zealand. Keeping customers informed on how they can drive in a safe and efficient manner, reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Encouraging customers, suppliers and employees to participate in Greenfleet programs, such as tree planting days and other internal initiatives focusing on Sustainability. Europcar Australia and its customers have donated over $615,000 to off-setting carbon emissions from vehicle rental. These funds contribute to Geenfleet’s Forest restoration projects, including the Great Ocean Road Restoration Project, which involved the planting of native trees on 27 hectares around the Great Ocean Road region. The project will result in more than 20,350 tonnes of carbon being captured from the atmosphere as the forests grow. Our employees have personally planted over 2000 trees as part of our long term partnership with Greenfleet.
Help restore koala habitat along the Great Ocean Road
Greenfleet and Europcar have joined forces to re-build vital habitat for native wildlife along the Great Ocean Road. Europcar's and their customers' contributions are helping to plant native trees along the Great Ocean Road, such as Manna Gums, to restore habitat and food supply for koalas. These trees also provide habitat for many other animals, including the Powerful Owls, echidnas and wallabies. Additionally to providing vital habitat, donating to the Great Ocean Road Restoration Project is helping to sequester carbon from the atmosphere in projects, protect biodiversity, improve water quality and transform the landscape back to its natural state.
Employee Awareness & Community Involvement
In partnership with Greenfleet, we look for opportunities to engage our employees around our commitment to Sustainability. Our workforce actively participates in community tree planting volunteer programs that contribute to a more sustainable future.
Workplace Culture
Ensuring that we promote the already good work that we are doing in the area of Sustainability. We carry out programs to increase employee awareness and to train them on environmental issues. We raise their awareness on the responsibility of each person to perform simple gestures and best practices through e - learning courses.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up.
Soy wax is more sustainably produced
Soy wax is made from soy beans, which are a renewable crop, and the by-product soy bean husks are biodegradable. Paraffin wax is a by-product of the oil industry, which is not renewable and energy intensive to produce. That makes soy wax a big win for the environment!
Carbon neutral shipping
Our courier partners offset carbon emissions for every delivery.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up
Community Grants Program
Through the 21-22 Responsible Wood Community Grants program, we seek to support regional and rural Australian communities to connect with their local certified forests. Specifically, the program is designed to support local communities better access or experience their local forest. This may be through the construction of bike or walking tracks, improved signage within a forest, construction of picnic facilities, rehabilitation or habitat improvement of forest areas, bushfire related commemorations, commissioning and or installation of art along existing forest tracks. The funding available per project is between $5 000 and $15 000. Each year, the applications open on 1st September and close on 31st October with the project to be completed by 31st May of the following year.
Environmental Sustainability Policy
Our guiding principles are: • Environmental commitments are integral to our day to day activities • Environmental stewardship the responsibility of all employees • We are committed to open communication and good relationships with our local communities
felix gains product certification with Climate Active
felix is proudly certified carbon neutral by government-backed initiative, Climate Active for their product - including their business and support services. This Climate Active Product certification covers access to the mobile network for felix customers. It also includes the operation and maintenance of the mobile network and the production, distribution and end-of-life for the SIM cards which are used by felix customers to access the network. South Pole worked with felix to become certified carbon neutral under the Climate Active program and felix mobile was certified in October 2020.
felix gains service certification with Climate Active
felix mobile is certified carbon neutral by government-backed initiative, Climate Active for their business and customer support services, as well as its mobile network and SIM card products. Certified in October 2020.
Certified Carbon Neutral
felix mobile is certified carbon neutral by government-backed initiative, Climate Active. Our phones might look cute and clean but the data centers and network that drive them use electricity that causes carbon emissions. At felix, we buy renewable electricity in Australia to cover the power used in providing our service, and invest in certified carbon offset projects to offset all other emissions. All of this is certified through the Climate Active initiative, a partnership between Australian government and businesses. felix is a business owned by TPG Telecom Limited. Together we have an ongoing focus on the energy efficiency of the mobile network and undertake various initiatives to reduce energy usage such as: - Installing passive fan-cooling systems to keep network equipment cool and reduce our reliance on energy-intensive air conditioners. - The installation of hundreds of energy ‘smart meters’ to better understand and manage energy use. - Working with network partners to install more efficient equipment and using innovative network site design to improve energy performance.
felix is the first telco brand in Australia to be powered by 100% renewable electricity
felix mobile is proudly Australia's first telco brand to be powered by 100% renewable electricity, from solar projects in Victoria, Australia. Renewable energy is simply putting to use the natural resources we have available from our beautiful planet (for example, sunlight and wind) that never run out and do not release any greenhouse gases. felix came to life with a mission to create a phone plan that does better by our people, and the planet by being certified carbon neutral, powered by renewable electricity and planting one tree for every month you’re with us. We believe companies can and should be tackling climate change by considering how they’re producing and using energy. One of the most significant forms of energy we use is electricity. That’s why we’re proud to share that we’re powered by 100% renewable electricity. This reduces the amount of harmful greenhouse gases that are released, while leaving more fossil fuels in the ground, unburned. Renewable electricity is key for felix, because the network that powers our mobile service requires a lot of energy to keep us all connected daily. Of that energy, electricity forms a large portion of the emissions we’re responsible for, so ensuring we’re purchasing renewable certificates is a way we can do better by our electricity emissions. This allows us to go above and beyond being carbon neutral . Here in Australia, the two types of RECs are called small-scale technology certificates (STCs) and large-scale generation certificates (LGCs). For felix to be able to say that we’re powered by 100% renewable electricity, we’ve purchased enough LGCs that equate to the total electricity (MWh) that felix consumes in a year. As we welcome more customers to felix, we look forward to increasing our purchase of renewable electricity and helping to incentivise the growth of renewable electricity in Australia. Read more about this here: https://felixmobile.com.au/purpose/renewable-electricity
felix partners with One Tree Planted - with a goal to plant 1,000,000 trees
We've partnered with non-profit partner, One Tree Planted, to help regenerate the planet. How does it work? Just for choosing felix as your phone plan provider, we’ll contribute one tree for every month you’re with us through One Tree Planted. Along the way we’ve also made some donations including 15,000 seedlings for bush fire relief in Australia when we launched in late 2020 and 25,000 additional trees for World Environment Day in June of 2021. We work with the passionate team at One Tree Planted to select the projects where the felix trees will be planted. Project selection considers the planting season and other benefits such as biodiversity and community benefits. One Tree Planted’s local planting partners then plant the saplings in the rainy season and the trees are monitored and maintained. We then receive a report on the impact generated and share it back with our felix customers! Essentially by being with felix, you’re supporting one little sapling to be grown in local nurseries, planted in the earth, and cared for in the wild in its early stages of life. What projects does felix work with? To date, we've planted here at home in Australia, as well as around the world in places like India and The Andes. You'll often see us contributing to a new project every three months, depending on where it's the rainy season at that time. At the end of the project, we send a wrap up to our community, so you know what tree species we've planted, the number of trees and any great benefits that have come from working with the local communities along the way. Our Tree Planting Projects: January - March 2023: Brazil, Agroforestry Cocoa Project October – December 2022: Indonesia, Kalimantan Water Catchment Restoration July - September 2022: Southwest Western Australia and South Australia April – June 2022: Uganda, Plant Trees for Chimpanzees January – March 2022: Bhutan, Fruits For All Project October – December 2021: Plant for Punjab (India) April-September 2021: Southwest Western Australia (Trees contributed: 72,676) January-March 2021: The Andes, South America (Trees contributed: 10,031) Previous projects + donations: PROJECT – 778 trees contributed to a project in the Philippines through One Tree Planted (December 2020) DONATION - 25,000 trees donated to One Tree Planted for World Environment Day (June 2021) DONATION - 15,000 trees donated to One Tree Planted for Australian Bushfire Relief (November 2020).
Freedom To Green Committee
Freedom's 'Freedom to Green' is our internal committee with a shared vision of creating a greener and healthier future, inspiring change internally and externally. The committee has had impact across initiatives such as recycling and waste management, advocacy for renewable energy, sensor and LED lighting, PandaDoc to eliminate paper use, education on sustainability for all teams and upcycling carboard packaging.
Environmental Choice
Our Dunlop Foams products are 100% recyclable. We cleverly reuse all captured waste that is then used to manufacture other products such as carpet underlay. Dunlop Foams works hard to ensure that through advanced manufacturing processes, we are continuing to reduce harmful emissions. A number of our foam grades have been accredited by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA).
100% Carbon Offset
With the GloGreen energy plan, we offset 100% of the carbon emissions associated with your electricity usage by buying the equivalent number of carbon credits. Offsetting is a climate action that enables individuals and organizations to compensate for the emissions they cannot avoid, by supporting worthy projects that reduce emissions elsewhere. The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduced through offsetting are measured in credits or certificates. We purchase credits that are generated from certified carbon reduction projects. These projects earn one certificate or credit for each metric tonne of GHG emissions they reduce or avoid and are measured in CO2 equivalent (CO2-eq). The certificates are then bought to offset the unavoidable emissions.
We are an early adopter of solar
GloBird Energy were one of the first energy retailers in Australia to offer huge solar feed-in credits to promote solar when we released our $0.20 cent feed-in product SolarPlus. The product was oversubscribed and sold out in 21 days with thousands of Aussie households signing up.
Assisting Sustainable Purchasing
Global GreenTag operates on two levels towards environmental actions. 1. We facilitate action within the procurement and design sectors towards purchasing ecologically, health end ethical supply chain preferred products; 2. We have formal Sustainability and Climate Action plans that include being a member of the Rainforest Trust's Conservation Circle preserving core biodiversity and habitat for threatened species. We operate a largely virtual office with core office functions within a 6 Star Green Star Certified office building in central Brisbane.
Savanna Fire Management Cape York, Australia
One of the projects Carbonhalo and its partner's support help protect the native lands in North Queensland. Strategic fire management minimises the risk of potentially devastating forest fires whilst providing employment and support for local communities. https://www.carbonhalo.com/savanna-fire-management/
Paroo River North Native Forest Regeneration, Australia
One of the projects Carbonhalo and its partners support includes the regeneration of 38,000 ha of native forest near Cunnamulla SW QLD. The project also aims to increase biodiversity within the region providing opportunities for the local indigenous community who have native title interests.
B Corp Certified
Pangolin Associates is a founding Australian member of B Corp. B Corp is a global, voluntary initiative that rigorously assesses social and environmental practices to promote higher standards of accountability and transparency. We take pride in helping other businesses succeed in the environmental component of B Corp for both initial certifications and higher scores on reassessments.
Business Member of 1% for the Planet
This is a global entity that exists to ensure our planet and future generations thrive. To date, 1% for the Planet has directed hundreds of millions of dollars to non profit organisations globally. These funds come from individuals and businesses that, like Pangolin, donate 1% of gross sales to support environmental organisations. Through 1% for the Planet Pangolin supports Bush Heritage Australia, Greenfleet Australia, African Pangolin Working Group, Climate Council of Australia, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network, and HalfCut. As always, we also commit to ongoing environmental stewardship through our everyday actions and business practices.
Reduce paper
We actively discourage paper consumption. We use online systems and deliver documents and reports in PDF format. We use iPads for one on one presentations instead of paper based reports, or more energy intensive laptops. For larger presentations we request no printing of notes, rather emailed upon request. When we must print, we use duplex printers and paper with a high recycled content. We choose Climate Active-certified carbon neutral paper. We also recycle all toner cartridges and wasted paper. We request that clients, partners and suppliers scan and email communications in lieu of faxing or posting. We do not list a fax number to further discourage paper use.
Reduce energy consumption
All office equipment is turned off when not in use. We have installed 120 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at our Adelaide location, along with energy efficient lighting, and energy monitoring of the HVAC system. Our Sydney office has LED lighting with motion sensors. We are a participating member of CitySwitch Green Office, a program designed to lower energy consumption in commercial buildings. We encourage work from home to reduce our transport footprint and resources used. Most of our team, and all four directors, have invested in solar power at home, as well as energy efficient appliances and lighting.
Valuing our Textile Resources
We aim to demonstrate the value of our textile resources at all stages of their life - down to every last fibre. Our fabric comes from a wide variety of sources. Wherever possible we use remnants and offcuts from commercial practices and hobby sewers, sample books of discontinued fabric from wholesalers / retailers and deadstock and end of roll fabrics; anything that would generally be classified as waste. If we do purchase new fabrics we only buy 100% natural fabrics, or recycled fabrics, from small Australian businesses with strong environmental policies. During our sewing process we keep and reuse the smallest strips of left over fabric . Anything that is to small to reuse is recycled as fill for other products. Via our take-back scheme we reward our customers (via discount vouchers) for seeing the inherent value in our textile resources. Products that are returned to us are sorted in to 3 categories: - items that are in excellent second hand condition are rehomed by our second hand market place - items that still have some useable fabric will have that fabric reused and the remainder recycled as fill for other products - items that are unusable are recycled as fill for other products
Carbon Neutral and Plastic Free Shipping
We ship via carbon neutral carriers. We use compostable or recycled/recyclable packaging. Our shipping labels and tape are compostable. All our promotional material is printed on recycled paper or card. We are trialing a postage paid return system for all our packaging and promotional material so that we can reuse materials if appropriate.
Supporting Recycling Initiatives
We proudly support leading recycling initiatives such as Clean Up Australia and the Australian Organics Recycling Association, all working to serve a united goal of creating a better, greener and more sustainable future for humanity.
200 Trees Planted in Green Partnership with Carbon Neutral
Paul’s Rubbish Removal Sydney in green partnership with Carbon Neutral has planted 200 trees, helping to reverse the impact of deforestation, restore ecosystems and improve biodiversity.
Committed to Partnership
Partner with our customers and brand on their journey towards sustainable pathways. Our commitment to our customers, brands and the creative community to support their journey through and experience of education and information remains our priority.
Mondays are meat-free
Equality has committed to a meat-free Monday, and regularly shares tasty plant-based recipes in our quarterly wellness newsletter. This also ties in with our meeting-free Mondays to have a clear day to start the week!
Electronic Document Signing
We have implemented secure state of the art software to have legally binding documents signed electronically. This saves an enormous amount of paper (up to 300 pages per contract/lease), and also significantly reduces petrol consumption because it means that documents are sent electronically rather than hand delivered to clients for signing.
We advocate for Energy Efficient Property Upgrades
We advocate for our vendors, landlords (and tenants) to make environmentally friendly upgrades to reduce resource consumption and waste, decrease carbon emissions and energy consumption, recycle rainwater and make the house more appealing and valuable. By fostering a culture of sustainable building practices, energy-efficient technologies, and the use of eco-friendly natural materials, we aim to create awareness and a positive environmental impact that extends beyond our property portfolio to create properties that prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability.. Examples include but are not limited to replacing broken appliances with a higher energy star rating model, installing more energy efficient lighting, more effective window furnishings such as blinds or curtains to better insulate the property, and water-saving fixtures. This can significantly reduce energy and water consumption. With the implementation of 'Minimum Standards' from March 2021, there is onus on all Landlords to ensure compliance of their investment property - we ensure properties under our management meet these Minimum Standards and encourage landlord's to choose the most energy efficient options to do so.
We Green Properties
Schickerling provides an in-house landscaping and garden maintenance service that focuses on promoting the greening of the properties we sell and manage. We actively encourage landlords to provide a maintained garden area for tenant's to enjoy, and encourage the harvesting of rainwater to support gardens. Through sustainable landscaping practices, including native plantings and water-efficient irrigation systems, we enhance biodiversity and create environmentally friendly outdoor spaces that benefit both residents and the surrounding ecosystem. This adds value to the property from a valuation perspective and makes it more appealing and enjoyable to tenants. Furthermore, it increases the tree canopy cover and is a driver to create a cooler, more climate resilient community with a lower carbon footprint. Trees and vegetation is critically important to both mental and physical health as cool and green environments encourage people to recreate and socialise outdoors. As the climate changes and we experience hotter, drier and more extreme weather conditions, our community will be more impacted by heat stress and flood risk. Healthy urban gardens are one of the most effective ways to mitigate urban heat and improve health outcomes in the community. We provide sustainable gardening and landscaping techniques that slow future warming by reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon storage in soil and plants. Water is critical to creating and maintaining much needed green, cool, and climate-adapted gardens, and we aim to help increase the amount of rain-water collected for garden use.
We provide a Hard Rubbish Removal & Recycling Service
We offer a Hard Waste Removal Service to our clients. Any components of hard waste that can be recycled or upcycled, we ensure get taken to the local transfer station, metal recyclers or to a community group to avoid landfill.
We are advocates to Local & State Government
Jodie Schickerling, Director and Officer In Effective Control is an active participant at local government level. Jodie is part of the Moonee Valley City Council Community Advisory Group providing recommendations to Council on 'How can Council achieve biodiversity in open spaces'. Jodie participates in community events such as 'National Tree Day Planting Event' to support the Victorian Government's 'More Trees For a Greener West' Program which will see more trees planted in Melbourne’s west. The program aims to plant trees in urban areas with the lowest tree canopy cover. This is a low-cost option to help address problems of the urban heat island effect as part of cooling and greening Melbourne.
We are active members In Community Environment Groups
Jodie Schickerling, Director and Officer In Effective Control is a member and active volunteer of Moonee Valley Sustainability (MVS). She was elected to the committee on 29/08/2023. MVS is a collective of local volunteers, supporters, and community groups in Moonee Valley who promote, support, enable and advocate for sustainable living in the local community. MVS grow community capacity to prevent further climate impacts and build climate resilience through education, campaigns, events, innovative projects, research and enabling community connection. MVS constructively engages in and encourages evidence-based action on climate change and sustainable living, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and resource use. Successful sustainable living is about growing food and making products the community needs, to nurture a local, sharing, and circular economy in Moonee Valley.
Commitment to a Climate Positive Workforce
Through our partnership with Ecologi, Glass PR funds reforestation, renewable energy, and restoring habitats around the globe. Our goal is to offset 50 Tonnes C02 by 2025. Project insights are available here - https://ecologi.com/glasspr
Use green hosting for neture.org
One of the best ways to reduce your website's carbon emissions is to use a green hosting provider that is verified by the Green Web Foundation (GSF). neture.org's web hosting provider, Serversaurus, was chosen due to their commitment to carbon neutral web hosting and a fossil fuel free internet. Serversaurus offset the emissions generated by their hosting and other services. They are also a verified green host by the Green Web Foundation. "Verified green hosting providers are organisations that can demonstrate they are taking steps to avoid, reduce or offset the greenhouse gas emissions caused by using electricity to provide their services. They provide evidence to us to show that they do this on a yearly basis, or better." Green Web Foundation, Get Verified. neture.org also offers services to help you move your site to green web hosting, see the Products section of our profile. For more on green hosting generally visit Sustainable Web Design
Working hard to be waste free in Auckland and Beyond!
At BBB we are starting our sustainability journey off with a bang by doing everything we can to reduce waste. All our Auckland stores are now “waste free” (more than 90% of our waste is diverted from landfill). We are currently using our Auckland stores as a model to ensure proper waste management and reduction strategies are created, so we can implement them across the country in the near future. Here at BB&B we know that reducing waste is key to being more sustainable. That is why we ensure all our products are made to last and with the utmost care. We are also working with our brilliant manufacturers to start reducing our packaging, so customers can take less plastic home. As our drivers deliver stock to our Auckland stores, they also pick up our carefully separated packaging waste. These drivers then transport the separated bubble wrap, pallet wrap, soft plastics, paper, cardboard, polystyrenes, and general waste back to our distribution center in Auckland for recycling, reuse, and disposal. At the Distribution center, we bail our cardboard, pallet wrap, and soft plastics so they can be sent to Oji Fibre and Future post for recycling. The cardboard we don’t bail gets shredded and used as a bubble wrap substitute that customers can recycle at home. We also use re-use the old bubble wrap to wrap products for our webstore. Our polystyrene is delivered to Expol to be turned into green beans. When customers order products online they can feel assured that we are using compostable courier bags and many other recyclable/ re-used protective materials, to ensure their items arrive safely without increasing our waste footprint by much. We are very proud of what we’ve achieved at BB&B, but we know our journey has just begun. Our next steps are to bring these systems to all our other stores to ensure BB&B is as green as can be.
Climate Active | Certified Carbon Neutral Organisation
In 2016 we made the decision to take our sustainability commitment to the next level. We recognised that while we were doing real and impactful work to maintain and improve the sustainability of our fisheries, we were simultaneously consuming a large amount of diesel fuel; in the ballpark of 9 million litres. Something had to be done, and so we took the next step in our sustainability journey. We're proud to say that since 2016, we've been certified as 'Climate Active' (carbon neutral) as an organisation, and for the wild capture fish and prawn products we catch and sell, all the way from ocean to plate. Carbon neutrality, or having no carbon footprint, refers to achieving a net zero carbon emission by balancing the amount of carbon released from our business, with an equivalent amount sequestered, or offset. We are also committed to transitioning to 100% renewable energy across our Australian offices by 2025.
Fantastic's Sustainable Working Group
At Fantastic Furniture, we’re committed to doing more when it comes to Sustainability. Which is why we have a dedicated Sustainability Working Group, ‘The Thoughtful Bunch’, which includes Senior Leaders who represent the wider business to ensure we are moving closer to and reaching our overall sustainable goals set with APCO.
Pacific Reef Fisheries gains ASC Certification
Pacific Reef Fisheries gained ASC certification for the Alva Beach Facility in 2018 for both its Black Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon) and Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) production. ASC certification is the highest global standard for responsible aquaculture and provides products that have no environmental or social impacts. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is an independent, international non-profit organisation that manages the world’s leading certification for responsible and sustainable aquaculture. ASC works with seafood processors, conservation groups, retail and food services, scientists and aquaculture producers to ensure sustainable aquaculture practices now and in the future. ASC also safeguards that the social rights and safety of those who work at an aquaculture facility and live in the local communities are protected.
Accelerating Action
It’s time to make a real impact. Our integrated approach to problem solving combines science, strategy and storytelling, backed by creative and tech capabilities as we work together, turning ideas and opportunities into action.
Demonstrating our commitment to becoming a more sustainable business
As a core requirement, BekaertDeslee will develop a solid business statement, demonstrating our support to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) 12 and 13. SDG 12 ensures a sustainable consumption and production pattern, while SDG 13 implores urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Our mission statement will be the result of a strategic thinking exercise where we will reflect on our company's mission and what our role is in addressing the warming of the planet and the decline of natural habitats. As far as the advanced requirement of this promise is concerned, we already report on an annual basis since 2018. We measure, record and communicate our progress towards sustainability and continuously update our management approach. These reports can even be found on this website, click below to read them!
We develop and manage the strictest standards in the industry.
These standards include hundreds of requirements covering the potential impacts of aquaculture – including water quality, responsible sourcing of feed, disease prevention, animal welfare, the fair treatment and pay of workers and maintaining positive relationships with neighbouring communities. To become ASC certified, a farm is assessed by an independent organisation against every single requirement in the relevant standard. If it passes the audit, seafood from the farm can be sold with the ASC logo, which allows consumers to reward these responsible farmers by purchasing their products.
