SUSTAINABILITY
Here at SNDYS we recognise that we have a responsibility to look after the world that we live in, and protect those in it. This is at the forefront of all our decision making and we are committed to continually improving our practices and production. We understand that this is something that cannot change overnight and that we still have a long way to go, but we are committed to taking our time to learn, research and value progress over perfection. We have split our efforts into 2 streams; For the People and For the Planet.
For the People:
Community
Each month we will be partnering with a different charity, shining a light on issues and causes that are close to our heart. To find more about this month's charity, check it out here
We have also partnered with Thread Together, donating clothing to those who need it most, while also extending the life-cycle of our garments. If you are interested in seeing more of what they do, feel free to check out their website here.
We were saddened by the flood and bushfire disasters in Australia. Seeing everyday Australians losing their loved ones, their homes, their jobs, their belongings have broken our hearts and we have felt stirred to do something. Believing in the power of community, we have organised raffles to support those in need. This has seen our customers come out in full support, raising over $8,000. We also donated clothing to various charities during these events, knowing the power that clothes have and the dignity they can restore when so much has already been taken. This is something we will continue to do as a brand, when our community needs us the most.
Diversity
The SNDYS girl comes in all different shapes and sizes, as such we want our brand to reflect this diversity. This is why, as of September 2023, we have expanded our size range, ensuring that all collections now come in sizes XXS-4XL. Representation also matters in the content we produce and advertise and so we are continually trying to showcase this diversity on all our platforms.
For the Planet:
Sustainable Materials
The fabrics we use matter and we want to make sure we are making products that are good for the environment. We are trying to incorporate more natural fibres into our collections, but this is something we are still working on.
Did you know that roughly 260,000 tonnes of fashion end up in landfill in Australia per year according to the Australian Fashion Council? This is a scary and worrying fact. We don’t want to be part of the problem, we want to be part of the solution. There are two ways we are trying to battle this statistic. First, we encourage our customers who receive faulty items to send them to a seamstress, covering the cost to repair. Secondly, we have collaborated with our factories to operate on a demand model of purchasing, using a 4-6 lead week time . This limits the amount of deadstock we generate and ensures we don’t overproduce, only making the amount of stock we actually want.
To contribute to a more sustainable future, we hold biannual sample sales featuring products that are either samples or have small faults. These sales not only offer our customers exclusive access to unique items at a reduced price but also help us significantly cut down on landfill contributions. By giving these products a second chance, we promote responsible consumption and support our mission of creating a more sustainable fashion industry.
Sustainable Packaging
Plastic waste is such a problem in the fashion industry and we recognise that we need to do better to ensure that we look after our planet. To ensure that your garments are received in perfect condition, they need to be protected and that's something we won't compromise on. In 2022, we begun transitioning to 100% compostable poly bags and mailer bags. We are now transitioning to 100% compostable packaging with ziplocks - a great way to keep your new goodies safe, whilst looking out for the wellbeing of the environment! So go ahead, chuck em in your compost and feel good knowing that you are also helping out our planet! We have also moved to swings tags that are made from 100% recycled paper and swing tags strings that are made from recycled materials.
We are also looking at ways to minimise the use of plastic in the transport component of our operations. Speaking with our factories to come up with more environmentally friendly options, this has seen a removal of over 25% of our plastic use. Using fabric deadstock and cardboard instead of plastic has helped us on this journey.
Transport
This past year we have also reduced our shipping operations from our factories to our warehouse, ensuring that we ship more economically and less frequently. This helps us to reduce our emissions output.