Our approach

We want to be clear about what sits behind our clothing. Verdant Threads creates the artwork and selects garments from a specialist clothing manufacturer with independently certified materials and published social and environmental standards. The certifications described below relate to the supplied garments and fibres; they should not be read as certifications held directly by Verdant Threads or as applying automatically to every decoration process.

Materials

The garments we select use certified organic, recycled or regenerative cellulosic fibres. Our core T-shirts and sweatshirts use organic cotton, while recycled fibres are used where stated on the individual product page.

Organic cotton is grown without genetically modified seed or hazardous agricultural chemicals. Recycled cotton, polyester and nylon can also give pre-consumer and post-consumer textile waste another useful life.

Independent standards

GOTS — The Global Organic Textile Standard covers organic fibres and includes environmental, social and traceability requirements throughout textile processing. Applicable garments are individually labelled.

GRS — The Global Recycled Standard verifies recycled content and includes requirements covering traceability, environmental practices, social criteria and chemical restrictions.

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 — This standard tests textiles for substances that may be harmful to human health. Applicable supplied garments are certified to this standard.

Certification coverage varies by garment. Please check the product description and garment label for information about the item you are buying.

People and working conditions

Our garment manufacturing partner has worked with the Fair Wear Foundation since 2012. Its programme includes independent factory assessments, corrective-action plans, training, worker committees and access to complaints channels. These measures belong to the garment manufacturer's supply chain and are not presented as a separate Verdant Threads certification.

Lower-impact production

The garment manufacturer measures environmental impact across its value chain, publishes product life-cycle information for a growing proportion of its range and has a stated goal to reduce relative carbon emissions across its value chain by 30% by 2030. Its work includes factory carbon audits, improvement plans, renewable-energy projects and more efficient production.

These are the manufacturer's targets and reported actions. Verdant Threads does not add them to our own footprint or claim them as reductions achieved directly by us.

Our responsibility

Choosing a better blank garment is only part of the picture. We are responsible for the designs and products we offer, the information we publish and the partners we choose. We aim to:

• describe materials and certification coverage accurately;

• avoid broad or unsupported environmental claims;

• select garments designed for repeated wear;

• give clear care guidance to help clothing last longer; and

• review our products and suppliers as better evidence becomes available.

Care for longer wear

The most useful garment is one that is worn often and cared for well. Follow the care label, wash only when needed, use a lower-temperature cycle where appropriate, avoid unnecessary tumble drying and repair or pass on wearable clothing rather than discarding it.

Our commitment

Sustainability is a process of making better-informed choices and being honest about their limits. We will update this page as our materials, printing, packaging and fulfilment practices develop.