To help go green, we’ve gone blue
From fleeces to facemasks, every item we produce is the result of a complex process that will likely involve fabrics, dyes, and chemicals with eye-wateringly long names such as Polytetrafluoroethylene or Kappatex R98.
We promise not to turn this into a chemistry lesson…
But we do want to explain the lengths we go to in order to ensure our suppliers run responsible workplaces that handle chemicals, waste and employees with respect and safety.
All of this is done with the help of bluesign®.
bluesign® is a certification SYSTEM, also used by the likes of Patagonia, to create a clean and responsible supply chain.
From making sure that resources like water are used carefully to keeping the environment safe from different types of pollution, bluesign® certification is robust and seeks to give consumers the confidence that their garments are safe - both for the people who make them and for those who end up wearing them.
The bluesign® team collaborates with factories, including the ones we work with, guiding them to transition away from dangerous chemicals and to implement essential safety measures like effective ventilation systems.
bluesign® also sets strict rules for controlling pollution in water and air emanating from these factories. This combined effort helps protect workers in potentially hazardous environments and ensures a cleaner environment for everyone.
The suppliers align with the highest safety and environmental standards by following these standards.
This is a really important part of bluesign® for us.
Looking after our wider family
Our partnership with bluesign® is just part of our insistence on a deep knowledge of our suppliers and our supplier’s suppliers.
From weaving houses to dying factories, every place that has a role in making your Dope and MONTEC gear is found, inspected, and tested by us.
As far as possible, we make sure that the fabrics we use are bluesign® APPROVED - we’re at 92% so far.
This is distinguished from a bluesign® PRODUCT, which by definition is a finished product where a minimum of 90% of fabrics and 30% of components (including accessories and packaging) comply with bluesign® CRITERIA.
This means that the entire product, not just one or some of its materials, has been produced with minimal environmental impact and maximum safety for both consumers and workers. Two-thirds of all of our Fall/Winter 2023 collection will have this coveted bluesign® PRODUCT label. And we’re up to 93% bluesign® PRODUCT when we look at our main items (jackets and pants).
Going blue takes time
These figures are pretty strong, but our journey with bluesign® is gradual. Back in 2020/21, we didn't have any products involved. The following year, we started our cooperative journey by becoming a bluesign® SYSTEM PARTNER - and we know that is a continuous path to improvement as we seek to have 100% of our materials and 100% of our products bluesign® APPROVED.
All that said, usually getting just one product bluesign® APPROVED takes 5-6 years on average. But our agile approach and putting bluesign® as a central pivot in our supply chain means we’ve managed to accomplish this feat in just two years.
We hope it assures our customers that we are working hard through every step of the supply chain to ensure the production of your gear does as little harm as possible – to people and the planet.
Our unwavering dedication to going blue is a big part of going green.
