How to reduce your carbon footprint without increasing the price of your collection?

One of the main questions when discussing sustainability in the apparel manufacturing industry is how to make processes more sustainable without increasing prices. Therefore, an important task is to find ways your brand can start its transformation towards sustainability in an affordable way. 

But, Is this realistically achievable? And the answer is yes. Many companies are already working to develop processes that use fewer resources and generate less waste, among other initiatives, and we are one of them.

The fashion industry’s environmental footprint

Everything related to climate change is urgent, and one of the first actions to do is to calculate your brand’s carbon footprint. 

According to the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, in 2019, the fashion industry was responsible for generating 8 – 10% of global carbon emissions. As the report described it, this would be the volume of emissions that produce Russia to compare. 

The Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, signed in 2018, and the Fashion Pact, signed in 2019, are two examples of these commitments. Among the many agreements stated, it is the commitment for the industry to reach a 30% GHG emission reduction by 2030 and a commitment to analyze and establish a decarbonization pathway.

Even though many of the most well-known fashion brands and suppliers signed both agreements, recent reports show that efforts to reduce emissions are not enough. The industry still has a long way to achieve the goal, and time is running out.

Brands need to be aware of how urgent it is to take action to fight climate change. And this will come when we can change the mindset that where sustainability equals a reduction in profit or no profit at all. It is possible to manufacture more sustainable products and reduce the carbon footprint without involving a higher price for customers. And one of the key points to make it is to have the right partner. 

What strategies do you have to reduce the carbon footprint of your fashion brand?

There are many strategies that can be developed, such as:

The adoption of new technologies such as low-carbon technology, automation, virtualization, and smart infrastructure has a direct impact on the reduction of the energy usage of a company, which leads to fewer emissions released in the atmosphere. 

By improving energy efficiency, companies can reduce the amount of energy that is being used in different processes. Changing to renewable energy sources

Improving processes. Many of the green gases are released during energy-intense processes used in clothing manufacturing. Hence, rethinking the way those processes are created to find more sustainable alternatives is key in order to reduce carbon emissions

Constant training. Educate, train and involve employees so they can get to know the new processes, generate less waste, and even support them to adopt greener commutes to work. For companies, it is highly important that climate action is seen as a common goal.

Offsetting – compensate emissions. Compensation is another mechanism used by companies. Through this process, companies invest in projects that prevent or reduce the release of Greenhouse Gas into the atmosphere. In this way, companies are offsetting the emissions released in their production stages.

Southern Textile Network has the right formula for your brand

At STN, we are committed to the transformation of the industry into a more sustainable one. We help our clients to become a more environmental-friendly brand by delivering garments that are both sustainably made and affordable.

We are working with third-party companies to measure our water and carbon footprint yearly. These processes go hand in hand with the design of actions to mitigate and compensate for the carbon footprint and reduce waste generation. As for energy efficiency, we have implemented measurement systems and are conducting training programs for our workers to improve the energy efficiency in our operations. 

Moreover, all these actions will not result in higher costs for our clients. We understand our partners’ needs and we design and manufacture our products without compromising quality or sacrificing sustainability efforts.

Are you looking for the most reputable apparel companies in Peru? Let us tell you more about our efforts. At Southern Textile Network we are proud to be part of the top Peruvian apparel manufacturers that are leading sustainability initiatives.

Whether you are looking to produce premium polo shirts, premium golf apparel, premium Pima cotton tee shirts, performance polo shirts, high-end polo shirts, or cotton apparel, we will offer you a verified and certified platform that respects and promotes social and environmental matters.

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