Sustainable Styles at S&S

Cotton that is both sourced by farmers using sustainable farming methods and manufactured using sustainable practices. BCI cotton is grown using less water, less fertilizer and fewer pesticides, while also improving the lives of farmers by increasing cotton crop yields.

Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third­-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming.

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new products. This process involves collecting, sorting, and processing materials such as paper, plastic, glass, and metal. The materials are then broken down and reformed into new products, reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

• Recycled polyester (rPET): A preferred synthetic fabric that can be made from post-consumer plastic like water bottles as well as unusable manufacturing waste and polyester garments.

• Recycled Canvas: Recycled canvas is simply canvas that has been made from recycled materials, typically cotton or polyester. The process involves collecting unused fabrics from factories and textile mills. Threads are deconstructed from the fabric pieces and spun into yarn and then woven into Recycled Canvas fabric.

• Recycled Cotton: Typically made by mechanically shredding cotton fabric back down to fibers and then re-spinning into yarn for use, recycled cotton (or reclaimed or regenerated cotton) uses less water and chemicals than standard cotton because it skips the cotton growing process.

• Post-Consumer Recycled Content: Post-consumer recycled content, often referred to as PCR, is material that is made from the items that consumers recycle every day, like aluminum, cardboard boxes, paper, and plastic bottles. These materials are typically collected by local recycling programs and shipped to recycling facilities to be sorted into bales, based on the material. The bales are then purchased and melted (or ground) into small pellets and molded into new items. The new PCR plastic material can then be used for a variety of finished products.

• Pre-Consumer Recycled Content: Pre-Consumer refers to waste generated from the manufacturing process that led to the creation of the source material. For example, when plastic is blown into bottles, scrap (often referred to as “pinch-off”) is left behind that doesn’t make it into the final bottles.

A renewable resource is a resource that can be replenished naturally over time.

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• Hemp: The fiber of the cannabis plant, extracted from the stem and used to make rope, strong fabrics, fiberboard, and paper. Along with bamboo, hemp is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth.

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• Cork: Cork is harvested from a specific layer of bark, usually on the cork oak tree. This layer, called the phellem layer, is composed of a water-repelling material that has unique characteristics: it is impermeable, buoyant, elastic, and fire-retardant. Cork is considered to be a renewable or sustainable material because the harvesting of cork doesn’t require the cutting down of any trees; instead, the trees grow until they’re about 25 years old (when their trunks are wide enough, at about 24 inches), and then the cork is stripped from the tree trunks every nine years.

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• Lyocell: Fiber produced from cellulose from eucalyptus tree pulp. Eucalyptus is fast-growing and requires little to no chemicals or irrigation. It can grow on land no longer capable of growing food. The fabrication process requires no toxic chemicals and other agents used in the process are recyclable and create limited emissions. The textile is breathable, easy to dye, and can be mixed with other fabrics for different hand feels.

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• Bamboo: Bamboo is a giant woody grass that grows chiefly in the tropics, where it is widely cultivated. It is also the hollow jointed stem of the bamboo plant, used as a cane or to make furniture and implements.

The bluesign® technologies group is involved at every step in the supply chain—from chemical formulation to finished product—to keep chemicals of concern out of the process. The group works with factories and brands to impact the following areas: resource use, occupational health and safety, water and air emissions, and consumer safety.

Ensures that textiles labeled "organic" meet strict criteria. Certification traces organic fiber, as well as social and environmental practices, from manufacturing to packaging to the finished product. GOTS also prohibits the use of heavy metals, genetically modified substances, toxins and carcinogens.

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled Content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. The goal of the GRS is to increase use of Recycled materials in products and reduce/eliminate the harm caused by its production.

The Organic Content Standard (OCS) is an international, voluntary standard that provides chain of custody verification for materials originating on a farm certified to recognized national organic standards. The standard is used to verify organically grown raw materials from the farm to the final product.

Climate Positive/Carbon Negative means that a company goes beyond achieving net zero carbon emissions to create an environmental benefit by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Net zero means that any carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from the company’s activities is balanced by an equivalent amount being removed. Net Zero involves reducing a company’s absolute emissions across the whole supply chain with active changes to the way a business operates.

Carbon Neutral means companies measure the amount of carbon they release and offset that with a reduction in emissions or a removal of carbon. This can include buying carbon credits to make up the difference. Carbon neutral can cover a defined part of business operations and typically accounts for CO2 emissions, but not other greenhouse gases.

Cotton that is both sourced by farmers using sustainable farming methods and manufactured using sustainable practices. BCI cotton is grown using less water, less fertilizer and fewer pesticides, while also improving the lives of farmers by increasing cotton crop yields.

The bluesign® technologies group is involved at every step in the supply chain—from chemical formulation to finished product—to keep chemicals of concern out of the process. The group works with factories and brands to impact the following areas: resource use, occupational health and safety, water and air emissions, and consumer safety.

The circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. There are two main cycles – the technical cycle and the biological cycle. In the technical cycle, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes such as reuse, repair, remanufacture and recycling. In the biological cycle, the nutrients from biodegradable materials are returned to the Earth to regenerate nature.

The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard provides the framework to assess the safety, circularity and responsibility of materials and products across five categories of sustainability performance: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air & Climate Protection, Water & Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness. It is a solidified investment towards a circular business model/economy.

Ensures that textiles labeled "organic" meet strict criteria. Certification traces organic fiber, as well as social and environmental practices, from manufacturing to packaging to the finished product. GOTS also prohibits the use of heavy metals, genetically modified substances, toxins and carcinogens.

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled Content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. The goal of the GRS is to increase use of recycled materials in products and reduce/eliminate the harm caused by its production.

OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON certification offers verification from farm to product. Products bearing this label have been manufactured without the use of GMOs and tested for pesticides and other harmful substances.

If a textile article carries the STANDARD 100 label, you can be certain that every component of this article, i.e. every thread, button and other accessories, has been tested for harmful substances and that the article therefore is harmless for human health.

OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN is a traceable product label for all kinds of textiles and leather products that have been manufactured in environmentally friendly facilities under safe and socially responsible working conditions. The MADE IN GREEN label also reassures consumers that the textile or leather product is made of materials that have been tested for harmful substances.

The HIGG Index is an apparel and footwear industry self-assessment standard for assessing environmental and social sustainability throughout the supply chain. It enables brands, retailers, and facilities of all sizes – at every stage in their sustainability journey – to accurately measure and score a company or product's sustainability performance. The HIGG Index measures environmental (energy/greenhouse gas emissions; water; wastewater/effluent; air emissions; waste; and chemicals management) and social impacts across the life cycle of an apparel and footwear product.

A green building certification program used worldwide that creates standards for developing high performance, sustainable buildings. LEED includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods which aims to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.

The manufacturing process utilizes sources of renewable energy to power their operations such as solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric,
waste-to-energy, etc.

The SMETA audit helps businesses understand and improve working conditions, health and safety standards, environmental performance, and ethics within their own operations or at supplier sites. When a company undergoes an SMETA audit, an approved auditor assesses these aspects and provides a Corrective Action Plan to enhance performance in these areas.

Cotton that is both sourced by farmers using sustainable farming methods and manufactured using sustainable practices. BCI cotton is grown using less water, less fertilizer and fewer pesticides, while also improving the lives of farmers by increasing cotton crop yields.

The bluesign® technologies group is involved at every step in the supply chain—from chemical formulation to finished product—to keep chemicals of concern out of the process. The group works with factories and brands to impact the following areas: resource use, occupational health and safety, water and air emissions, and consumer safety.

The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard provides the framework to assess the safety, circularity and responsibility of materials and products across five categories of sustainability performance: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air & Climate Protection, Water & Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness. It is a solidified investment towards a circular business model/economy.

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled Content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. The goal of the GRS is to increase use of recycled materials in products and reduce/eliminate the harm caused by its production.

The HIGG Index is an apparel and footwear industry self-assessment standard for assessing environmental and social sustainability throughout the supply chain. It enables brands, retailers, and facilities of all sizes – at every stage in their sustainability journey – to accurately measure and score a company or product's sustainability performance. The HIGG Index measures environmental (energy/greenhouse gas emissions; water; wastewater/effluent; air emissions; waste; and chemicals management) and social impacts across the life cycle of an apparel and footwear product.

Better Work – a collaboration between the United Nation’s International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group – is a comprehensive program bringing together all levels of the garment industry to improve working conditions and respect of labor rights for workers and boost the competitiveness of apparel businesses.

The Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) has been at the forefront of combating forced labor through the application of advanced due diligence standards, programs and tools in the global supply chains of its members. In order to accelerate change, this due diligence must be harmonized across multiple industries that share recruitment supply chains to drive labor market transformation through collective action. To catalyze this, the Responsible Labor Initiative (RLI) was launched in 2017. The RLI is a multi-industry, multi-stakeholder initiative focused on ensuring that the rights of workers vulnerable to forced labor in global supply chains are consistently respected and promoted.

Many of our brands have partnered with the Fair Labor Association to ensure their labor rights commitments are meeting the highest international standards for global supply chains. The FLA provides targeted guidance for companies working to achieve FLA Accreditation and ongoing training for accredited companies.

The Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production or more commonly known as WRAP, focuses on promoting safe, lawful, humane, and ethical manufacturing around the world through a comprehensive audit and certification program. WRAP works with facilities at the ground level to bolster their compliance standing and support the long-term success of their businesses, while protecting the liberties of workers and safeguarding our environment. When you purchase from any of our WRAP certified brands, that certification affirms that a production unit consistently abides by all applicable laws and best practices, and their independent, third-party approach promotes accountability, transparency, and objectivity throughout the process.

OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN is a traceable product label for all kinds of textiles and leather products that have been manufactured in environmentally friendly facilities under safe and socially responsible working conditions. The MADE IN GREEN label also reassures consumers that the textile or leather product is made of materials that have been tested for harmful substances.

The SMETA audit helps businesses understand and improve working conditions, health and safety standards, environmental performance, and ethics within their own operations or at supplier sites. When a company undergoes an SMETA audit, an approved auditor assesses these aspects and provides a Corrective Action Plan to enhance performance in these areas.

Companies and brands that are members of 1% for the Planet have committed to donating 1% of annual sales to nonprofit partners in support of environmental solutions.

The B-Rad Foundation exists to support youth and their communities. We foster individual empowerment through environmental stewardship, health, and adventure programs. We believe in the next generation's responsibility to embody these principles and are resolved to make a positive and lasting impact within our communities and for our planet.

Founded in October 2003 to help military children and disabled/wounded veterans. Our organization is working daily to assist our U.S. military service connected fallen and/or disabled veterans and their families through hardships they face after losing their loved one or after their loved one is unable to provide financially as they once did prior to their disability. Our programs provide emotional, educational, financial, health & well-being, morale and children’s enrichment assistance.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) offers medical humanitarian assistance to people based solely on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation. Our teams of doctors, nurses, logisticians, and other frontline workers are often among the first on the scene when peoples’ lives are upended by conflict, disease outbreaks, or natural or human-made disasters.

Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military & veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital. These homes are located at military and VA medical centers around the world.

FUNDEMAS is an alliance of organizations committed to the sustainable development of El Salvador in economic, social and environmental areas. This alliance is made up of small, medium and large companies, unions, foundations, universities and business leaders.

FUNDAHRSE is a non-profit, apolitical, non-religious organization whose main objective is the promotion of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), understood as a continuous commitment of companies to contribute to sustainable economic development, improving the quality of life of their employees and their families, as well as the local community and society in general.

At Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), we believe that everyone deserves to move through the world safely and confidently—to live the life they want to live. Our passionate community employs innovative practices to create life-changing partnerships. And, we advocate for the policy reforms that change how the world views blindness and disability. Because when everyone is empowered to participate, our communities are stronger. With world-class client services and a robust network of instructors, puppy raisers, donors, and volunteers, we prepare highly qualified guide dogs and K9 Buddy dogs, provide guide dog readiness skills, and offer youth programs to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired. GDB not only improves mobility for our clients, we further inclusion.

For every eligible piece of Hanes apparel you purchase for embellishment, the school of your choice will receive a cash rebate of $0.10

HERproject stands with women as they take greater control of their lives, ensuring that they can make and act on choices they value. We firmly believe that women in global supply chains have the potential to be powerful agents for positive change in workplaces and in society. HERproject works to unlock that potential. Our ambition is for employment and empowerment to go hand-in-hand for women workers, with an empowered female workforce seen as a driver for business success.

Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. Powered by a dedicated volunteer workforce, this network delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time.

Threads of Change Berks is a 100% volunteer run organization founded by a group of foster parents. We aspire to make a difference in the lives of Foster Children and Foster Parents.

Since 2004, Vail Veterans Program has transformed the lives of military injured and their families through innovative programs that build confidence and life-long relationships. Programs range from the adventurous to the connective, including summer and winter therapeutic recreational programming, caregiver-specific wellness events, and empowerment training. Vail Veterans Program participants include United States military personnel who have been severely injured while serving our country. Most veterans who participate in our programs come directly from: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD; Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX, and the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, CA. Vail Veterans Program events are provided to military injured and their families entirely free of charge.

The Trevor Project is an American nonprofit organization founded in 1998. Focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, they offer a toll-free telephone number where confidential assistance is provided by trained counselors. The stated goals of the project are to provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for youth (defined by the organization as people under 25), as well as to offer guidance and resources to parents and educators in order to foster safe, accepting, and inclusive environments for all youth, at home, schools and colleges.

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world.

#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.