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Environment

As environmental awareness and sustainability become increasingly important, the textile industry has a crucial role to play. At Fidu Brands, we strive to incorporate this awareness into all of our processes and procedures, and to promote sustainability throughout the entire value chain. But what steps do we take to achieve this goal?

Our approach is multifaceted and encompasses various aspects such as the selection of raw materials, working with certified factories, and collaborating with non-profit organizations. The journey towards eco-friendly textile production entails decisions that have both environmental and social impacts. At Fidu Brands, we are committed to consciously designing every step of this journey and driving change.

In the following sections, we will explain the different facets of our environmentally conscious actions at Fidu Brands. We will provide insights into the world of sustainable materials, clarify how working with suppliers can lead to real change, and describe how we consistently apply green practices to our everyday office life.

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Environmental awareness & responsibility

To make the textile business more sustainable, environmentally friendly and fairer, it is essential to have knowledge and awareness as a basis. However, concrete action is also needed to move things in the right direction. To contribute to this cause, we have identified three areas that require constant improvement: more sustainable products, environmental protection, and social responsibility.

Sustainable products

Our goal is to create products that people will love to wear for a long time. Achieving this involves ensuring that they are comfortable and that the materials used are durable. We also aim to use environmentally friendly materials and increase the use of ecologically grown or recycled materials. When designing a product, we consider its potential for reuse and recyclability, and aim to create materials that can be easily recycled. We avoid mixed fibers made from synthetic and natural fibers, which are difficult to recycle and often end up being incinerated. Instead, we opt for pure synthetic or organic materials, which offer more reuse options. Our products are made using the following sustainable materials.

ORGANIC COTTON
The most popular natural fibre

Cotton is one of the most widely used natural fibers, constituting approximately 45% of the world's textile raw materials. It is a cellulose-based fiber that comes in different grades. Cotton is a popular choice due to its soft texture, abundance and versatility. It has excellent moisture absorption, good tear resistance and is lightweight, making it comfortable to wear. In addition, the market offers organic cotton as a sustainable option, which requires less use of chemicals during cultivation and reduces water consumption in production.

RECYCLED POLYESTER
A true all-rounder

Polyester is a synthetic fiber that can be modified to have different properties depending on its intended use. Polyester variants offer several advantages, including high tear resistance, quick drying, soft feel, and good dyeability. It is often blended with cotton in fabrics as their functional properties complement each other. In addition, polyester is easy to maintain and doesn't wrinkle easily. Recycled polyester is made by melting down plastic waste, such as PET bottles.

Environmental protection

Manufacturing products inevitably results in environmental pollution, and it's important that everyone is aware of this fact. However, we can still strive to minimize these burdens as much as possible. One way we can do this is by starting with packaging - minimalist packaging made from recycled materials can significantly reduce plastic waste without sacrificing the quality of the end product.

After production and packaging, the next step is shipping, which generates CO2 emissions. To address this, we do our best to control shipping, avoid unnecessary shipments, and use environmentally friendly shipping methods. We also make sure to source materials from areas close to production and use digital communication channels to minimize the need for sample deliveries.

When our products are on sale, we want to provide our customers with the best possible experience while also minimizing CO2 emissions. To do this, we encourage conscious and careful ordering to avoid unnecessary shipping. We're constantly working on improving our product information and fits, and we strive to work efficiently with our production partners to minimize emissions throughout the supply chain.

Social responsibility

It's important to consider social issues alongside environmental concerns. While there is a positive shift towards eco-friendly products, we can't ignore the potential costs that may arise from more expensive materials and manufacturing processes. We should never compromise the well-being of workers or those affected by waste. We prioritize creating fair and supportive work environments for our production employees, and we strive to partner with independent social organizations that specialize in specific areas to achieve sustainable results.

PROTECT BIODIVERSITY
Cooperation with the Senckenberg Institute

The Senckenberg Nature Research Society has been dedicated to preserving biodiversity for over two centuries. To further raise awareness of this crucial issue, we have created a collection that showcases both endangered animals and their prehistoric ancestors, the dinosaurs. We have used only organically grown fabrics for this collection. A portion of the income generated from the sales of these products will be donated to the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung.

PLASTIC FISHER
Financial support of the organization

Every year, between 8 and 12 million tons of plastic make their way into the oceans, a significant portion of which originates from the rivers of Asia. To tackle this problem, the Plastic Fisher Organization has come up with a simple technology that enables the removal of plastic waste from rivers. This technology can easily be built and operated by local communities, creating sustainable job opportunities. Once collected, the plastic waste is sorted, dried, and prepared for recycling. We have been partnering with and supporting the Plastic Fisher Organization since April 1st, 2022. Their strong presence in our production countries, Vietnam and India, is of particular significance to us.

Our production sites

With a wide range of international partners and operate in a global network that spans China, India, Pakistan, Italy, Turkey, and Germany. Our aim is to ensure resource-efficient and fair production, which requires strong partnerships throughout the value chain. We believe that selecting the right partner is more important than the production site location. Therefore, we have a rigorous selection process that considers product quality, personal relationships, and local working conditions. Unfortunately, many Asian production countries face negative stereotypes. However, our experience and visits to numerous factories have shown us that committed factories in such areas work diligently to refute these stereotypes. We place great value on the transparency of our partners' raw material sources, which is not a given for all producers. This becomes particularly challenging when using blank goods that are purchased from wholesalers in Germany. In countries with large raw material cultivation areas, the entire supply chain is often located in one country, making it easier to trace the origin of the materials. Certain countries have developed real expertise in specific textile areas, thanks to their infrastructure, resources, and experts, which ensures an efficient process and high-quality results. Our goal is to promote environmentally friendly and resource-efficient processes along the supply chain and keep delivery routes for individual production materials short so that we only import finished products. In addition to our own impressions, the production facilities have internationally recognized certifications that confirm safe working conditions and good social interaction.

Ensuring organic cultivation, using high-quality materials, providing good working conditions, and offering fair payment to workers are all factors that affect the price of a product - and this is important and right. We take all of these aspects seriously, and despite these conditions, we strive to provide our customers with a reasonable price. Ultimately, the end consumer has the power to decide which products will be successful in the market by choosing what to purchase. As a result, customers play a crucial role in the product life cycle and can significantly contribute to promoting a more sustainable textile industry. The increase in online consumption and the associated CO2 emissions from deliveries and returns are also concerning. However, reducing these emissions would benefit everyone.

VIETNAM
State of the art headwear

We are proud to have a long-standing partnership with our headwear production facility located in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, which is known for its high-quality production and expertise. The showroom features products from well-known brands worldwide. The manufacturer is one of the top players in the headwear industry, and we value the good exchange and transparency of working conditions. The facility holds international certificates, and we are happy to use sustainable raw materials like organic cotton or recycled chemical fibers, which complement the high-quality workmanship and durable materials used in the production.

PAKISTAN
Creation with enthusiasm

Our outerwear products are developed in partnership with our production partner based in Pakistan. He is highly passionate about the sports industry, specifically football and cricket, and this is reflected in his unwavering dedication to sportswear and techwear. With his expertise, we are able to work on technically demanding new developments together. The supplier particularly excels in the production of outerwear, where the functionality and durability of the textile play a crucial role. They have meticulous quality assurance procedures in place across all production stages.

CHINA
Unlimited possibilities

China is a great destination for textile production. Our headwear producer specializes in creating sustainable beanies with original finishes. Our socks are mainly manufactured by our partner in Shandong, China, which is known for its top-notch textile industry. They use modern knitting machines that allow us to produce socks in different gauges and material compositions. We offer a wide range of styles from finer business socks and comfortable sports socks to special winter qualities and elaborate knitted patterns. All of our raw materials are sustainably sourced and verified by our partner using certificates such as ÖKO TEX and Global Recycling Standard.

Transforming the textile industry into a sustainable one requires a broad and comprehensive perspective. At Fidu Brands, we view this challenge as not only an obligation but also an opportunity. Our history is characterized by innovation, vision, and a profound respect for our planet. We believe that every action we take today will yield a positive impact tomorrow.