At Herdy we are always thinking about how to do the right thing, including how we source the raw materials in our products, such as organic cotton. Whether this means working with British artisans in our Herdycountry range, paying Lake District farmers a fair price for their wool in our Herdysleep mattresses, or using 100% pure GOTS certified organic cotton in our new T-Shirt range. Doing the right thing is a core aspect of Herdy, it’s what makes us smile.
The clothing and fashion industry increasingly faces pressing questions about sustainable raw materials, fair treatment of workers in developing countries, and the environmental burden created by modern clothing manufacturing.
When we design new clothing ranges, we face these pressing questions head-on and feel a sense of responsibility to do the right thing. That’s why we teamed up with a textiles manufacturer who is fully Garments Without Guilt certified
To be Garments Without Guilt certified, factories must be:
Here at Herdy we’ve gone even further.
Yes.
Organic cotton is grown in ways that reduce the burden on our environment, helps maintain soil fertility, encourages greater bio diversity, and uses much less water.
The main benefit, however, is that the crops aren’t treated with pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and Genetically Modified Organisms, as they harm farmers, workers, customers, and wildlife eco-systems.
Conventionally-grown cotton uses more insecticides than any other crop in the world, using up to an estimated 25% of the world’s insecticides annually and more than 10% of the world’s pesticides.
Pesticides poison farmers all over the world, and factory workers breathe in their fumes during the manufacturing process. According to the World Health Organization up to 20,000 deaths each year are caused by pesticide poisoning. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also found that pesticides kill at least 67 million birds annually in the U.S.
Pesticides and insecticides mix into run-off water after heavy rain, contaminating lakes, rivers, and waterways. Pesticide residue has been increasingly discovered in foods, farm animals, and even breast milk.
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is an independently certified, worldwide textile processing standard for organic fibres throughout the entire textile supply chain. It covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading, and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70% certified organic natural fibres.
In order for products to be labelled as GOTS certified “organic” they must be made with a minimum of 95% certified fibres.
GOTS certification requires that, throughout the entire harvesting and production chain, the three stringent criteria of Environmental, Technical Quality & Human Toxicity, and Social are met. The entire criteria that must be met for certification is extensive. But to give you an idea of the sort of stringent standards that need to be met, here’s a small sample:
At Herdy we take our environmental responsibilities seriously, we’re always looking at ways to improve our supply chain, the raw materials we use, and the way we package products, to ensure our collective burden on the environment is minimised as much as possible.
That’s why we look to work with like-minded suppliers, partners, and manufacturers. Developing high-quality, beautiful garments and clothes that are organic, ethical, and eco-friendly also ensures our products have as long a life as possible.
So when you buy a piece of clothing from herdy, you enable us and our manufacturers to continue producing GOTS certified organic cotton products, which are better for the environment, healthier for farmers and workers, longer lasting, and nicer to wear for you and your flock.
