Global Organic Textile Standard
Ensures the organic status of textiles, from harvesting to environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing.
The Journey To Sustainability
First, what is the difference between "conventional" and organic cotton? Imagine a non-genetically modified plant growing in a vast open field, using no pesticides, fertilizers, and so on. That right there is the main difference between organic cotton and conventional cotton.
There is also a difference in the way the cotton is harvested. While conventional cotton harvesting uses machines 100% of the time, organic cotton is very often harvested... by hand!
This would explain why organic cotton represents only 1 to 2% of global cotton production. Growing it takes more time, as does harvesting it. In a way, organic cotton is about going back to our roots, using mainly nature from the start to the end of the production cycle.
While selecting the right materials is crucial, ensuring an eco-friendly production process is equally important. Here's how we handle the printing. --->
Our Products Certifications
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Certifies that no harmful substances are present in the final product.
PETA-Approved Vegan
Guarantees that no animal-derived components are used.
Fair Wear Foundation Membership
Demonstrates a commitment to fair labor practices.
Getting rid of toxic printing techniques
Let's take an example: you found a shirt from a big-brand fast fashion website. On this shirt, there is a cute design of a cat. The price is kind of low—it's a good deal, right? But how was this print put on the shirt in the first place?
Currently, most conventional printing designs from the biggest brands use plastisol inks. These inks contain polyvinyl chloride as well as phthalates. I bet you don't need to Google this to know, just by their name, how toxic and non-eco-friendly these products could be for the environment as well as for your skin once you receive them.
Stitching & Printing with a Green Touch: How We Keep It Eco-Friendly
So, we have the shirts, we have the hoodies—now, how do we put our designs on them while keeping it ecological? As mentioned before, our goal was to be as eco-friendly as possible, from the creation of our designs to delivery at your door.
That is why we partnered with Printful, a well-known print-on-demand company that only uses water-based, non-toxic, vegan ink for their prints and OEKO-TEX® Certified Threads for their embroideries, meaning they are free from harmful substances!
Another great thing about Printful is that they use their own warehouse to produce our designs. This means no back-and-forth between them and a third-party printer, allowing total control over quality and environmental standards while producing on demand only.
Saying no to fast fashion & Overproduction
Imagine if a new design comes out, we get all excited about it and decide to print, in advance, 2,000 shirts with this design on it. But then—surprise! This design is actually ugly. It was only beautiful in our heads. No one bought it. Loss on our side, pollution on the other. What was the point?
That is what print on demand is all about! As an example, you order a product from our store (thank you in advance!). Your order is received by us, then given to our partner, Printful. Only then will Printful create your ordered products, therefore avoiding any risk of overproducing.
Shipping & Packaging: Managing to Keep It Eco-Friendly
I am not lying to you—whether you order online or in person, a plane or a large truck will be involved in the delivery process. There's no way around that for now, and no brand or government has found a solution yet. However, what we can control is how we package those products, and that's where we can make a difference.
Printful—them again—is using post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic and recycled cardboard boxes for packaging. PCR plastics are derived from items like plastic bottles and food containers that consumers recycle daily. Incorporating PCR into packaging reduces the need for virgin materials and lowers energy consumption during production.
Stylish and Sustainable: A Challenge We Embrace
We aim to build a community around this idea, sending the message that style, quality, and sustainability can coexist and that every purchase can matter. We are constantly looking for new options and ideas on how to make WonderLahti more eco-friendly every day, and we will not stop. This is just the beginning of our journey.
