![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/5dd6c1825adda9.45525831.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"41962981\\"")
We don\u2019t like taking life too seriously at Goathouse, but if there is one thing we are serious about, it is our sourcing.<\/p>We don\u2019t like taking life too seriously at Goathouse, but if there is one thing we are serious about, it is our sourcing.<\/p>
With increasing concern about climate change and fashion being one of the top five most polluting industries in the world, things need to be done differently - and fast. At Goathouse, we have put responsible sourcing at the heart of our business and we\u2019re proud of the steps we are taking to be a sustainable company.<\/p>
But what exactly does that mean?<\/p>
We choose our suppliers after a lot of research. We need our products to be of a high quality but have to ensure that creating them has the lowest possible impact on the environment. We want to ensure people are treated fairly throughout the supply chain, and we want to work with suppliers who are at the forefront of making fashion more sustainable.This way, we can reduce waste, use natural materials and avoid polluting the environment, and encourage reuse and recycling.<\/p>
Our products are made from certified organic cotton <\/strong>- this is better for the producers and the ecosystem in which it is produced, encouraging biodiversity. Every part of the cotton plant is used - fibres for our shirts and bags, seeds for feeding cows and oil for use in food products.<\/p><\/li> Renewable energy is used throughout our supply chain -<\/strong> Energy such as solar and wind power is affordable, reliable and our suppliers are actively investing in it.<\/p><\/li> Harnessing new technology to reduce waste<\/strong> - Our products are only made after they have been ordered so there is no waste. We don\u2019t have a long complex supply chain. Our suppliers use technology to ensure equipment is turned on only when it is needed, and to improve various aspects of t-shirt printing.<\/p><\/li> Using water wisely<\/strong> - The organic cotton for our products is grown in North India, where monsoons supply almost all the water needed. Where our fabrics are dyed, the water is recovered, cleaned and recirculated then used again. At the end, the water coming out of the filters and going back round to be reused again is literally clean enough to drink - and yes, our supplier has done just that to prove the point!<\/p><\/li> Plastic-free packaging<\/strong> - Some estimate that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. So we don\u2019t use any plastic packaging. Our products come in rip and splash-proof paper mailer bags which can be reused or recycled. They look fantastic too so you might just want to colour in the pictures when you get them \u2026<\/p><\/li> New life for old products<\/strong> - Our t-shirts can be returned when they are worn out, and then recycled and new products made from the material recovered - our suppliers won the Queen\u2019s Award for Innovation for their work on making the first circular economy for fashion.<\/p><\/li> Ethical<\/strong> sourcing<\/strong> - Our material suppliers have GOTS<\/a><\/u> (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification which means our supply chain is audited to ensure safe, positive and fair working conditions and pay. All of our products are GOTS compliant and our supply chain is SA8000<\/a><\/u> (Social Accountability Audit) certified. The factories where our products are made are powered by renewable energy.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> For many years, the fashion industry has been using up raw materials, and producing goods as cheaply as possible to meet growing customer demand. Every year some 100 billion new items of clothing are produced while a significant amount of clothing is burned, or buried in a landfill. The world now buys more clothing than ever before and world population is projected to reach 9.8bn by 2050, and 11.2bn by 2100 so demand is expected to grow. Fashion products have generally become both cheaper and more disposable, with clothes often discarded after a few wears.<\/p> And all this has a very real impact on the environment, including:<\/p> Depletion of, and competition for, natural resources such as water and land;<\/p><\/li> Global warming caused by the use of non-renewable energies to manufacture and by emissions generated by transporting raw materials and goods through supply and distribution chains backwards and forwards across the world;<\/p><\/li> Increased textile waste in landfills; and<\/p><\/li> Wastewater from dyes seeping into the surrounding environment causing damage to ecosystems.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> In the end, it is up to all of us to make changes in how we shop for and consume products but at Goathouse, we are determined to give people the choice of buying quality products which have been produced in a responsible, sustainable way.<\/p> You can read the full story of our supply chain, including the sustainability certification on our journey page<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/5dd64d5e732448.83381460.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"41943943\\"")
And why is all this so important?<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/5dd64e55d21903.47084089.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"41944013\\"")
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