10 ecological actions that make a difference within our company!
Every day our commitment to being responsible, environmentally friendly and doing good inspires us to find innovative ways to do business. As a company that markets eco-friendly clothing for men and women, it is clear that our philosophy must be reflected in our practices.
Honestly, it's not always easy, because in addition to being socially responsible, we also have to remain competitive and profitable.
Message Factory wants to bring quality, sustainability and humanity to the fashion industry. As a Quebec ethical fashion brand, we integrate sustainable practices into everything we do, from sourcing eco-friendly or recycled fabrics to “upcycling” some of our products.
Here are 10 of the actions we take that make a difference to the environmental impact of our company.
1. To reduce greenhouse gases; we manufacture locally and ensure we are as close as possible to the end consumer.
2. We screen print with water-based ink. Our messages are printed locally in Montreal using water-based inks that have been tested and formulated to be Non-Phthalates (inks or compounds that do not contain PVC resins or phthalate-based plasticizers). These inks are also Oeko-Tex 100 compliant and do not contain any chemicals that may cause cancer or be harmful to reproduction.
3. Out of social responsibility, the organic or recycled fabrics we use to make our Quebec clothing are grown without pesticides or herbicides and 75% are certified according to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Ecological and organic fabrics decompose naturally over time, while synthetic fibers only become permanent waste, in addition to releasing toxic gases into the air when they decompose. Most of our ecological fabrics are knitted and dyed here, using a process (Oeko-tex Standard 100) that is harmless to health and the environment.
4. For some of our products like women's leggings, we use recycled materials such as polyester which is made from plastic water bottles. This material is ultra absorbent, it wicks away moisture to keep you dry and is durable and resistant to abrasions.
5. As part of our upcycling project, we manufacture unique products in Quebec, underwear and fashion accessories from raw materials that come from fabric scraps.
6. For the purchase of clothing on our online store , we use reusable shipping material for subsequent use. The envelopes we use are made of 100% recycled materials. They have two self-adhesive strips for multiple uses and are ultimately recyclable. The same goes for the boxes we use for shipping our larger packages to our network of retailers , they come from a recycled box distribution company, they are used several times and then they are recycled.
7. For our new collections, we print our catalogs on Enviro100 paper which contains 100% post-consumer recycled material. We make sure to reduce the quantity to a minimum and use electronic files as much as possible. Our marketing tools are produced to be as sustainable and reusable as possible. Our invoices are all electronic.
8. We use bulk biodegradable cleaning products for the maintenance of the premises and our clothing store located in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. We compost all organic waste.
9. Our employees adhere to our philosophy! Every day, we sort waste, recycle paper and cardboard. Our employees have dishes, utensils and cups for their meals. We encourage the use of reusable or recyclable containers for our corporate events.
10. Finally, in this era of "fast fashion", we NEVER throw away clothes. We have clearance sales, sample sales and we maintain an online clearance section and a clearance section at our store to liquidate our excess inventory. Afterwards, our unsold or defective products are donated to social causes to help people in need.
