Sustainability

Sustainability can mean something different to each of us.  So when we created eco beach, we took our time to understand what we wanted sustainability to mean to us.  We then put this at the heart of everything we do and everything we sell.   That's why we take our time to find suppliers that feel the same way we do, and we are careful to only offer products that meet our high standards.  As our journey continues, our range of sustainable products grows and we hope you will join us in living a sustainable life.​  So before any product qualifies for eco beach, we check: what is it made of; how was it made; and, is it made to last?

What is it made of? 

For our garment and bag collection, we insist on organic or recycled materials that care for your skin and the environment.

ORGANIC COTTON: Our suppliers are governed by the strictest environmental certifications in the market, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).  The organic cotton is a natural, GMO-free fibre that uses much less water during manufacturing than standard cotton.  It is grown without the use of chemical fertilisers or pesticides and with regular crop rotation to keep soil healthier, more fertile and maintain humidity.   Waste from the cotton ginning process is also recycled for the animal feed industry.  GOTS tracks the entire chain of production from farm to factory: from harvesting of the cotton, weaving of fibres, assembly of items, to the final product.  It certifies that the product is GMO-free, grown without the use of chemicals, processed and dyed without using any toxic substances, and most importantly, is manufactured in compliance with the labour standards of the International Labour Organisation.

RECYCLED COTTON: The cutting of cotton material to make our garments naturally leads to some scrap material.  To ensure this is never wasted, the material is recycled into new cotton thread that is used in the manufacture of our tote bags. Certified to the Global Recycled Standard.

RECYCLED POLYESTER: Some of our hoodies and sweatshirts contain up to 15% recycled polyester which makes the material soft yet strong.  The polyester is made from recycled PET plastic bottles and is sandwiched between layers of cotton so it never comes into direct contact with the skin.  Certified to the Global Recycled Standard.

WATER BASED INKS:  The water-based inks used in our garments are certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and are safe to use on underwear, swimwear and even baby clothes.  The  inks used for printing onto white garments are also certified organic with the Soil Association.  As well as being ecologically sound, our inks are also hard wearing, super-bright and with very high opacity.  They are highly durable to wash, wear and even to dry clean.   These water based inks are softer to the touch and feel like an integral part of the garment material, rather than an add-on, so they don't have a rubbery feel like plastisol inks or transfer printing. 

 

How was it made? 

PETA CERTIFICATION:  All our garments are PETA certified. This means that they do not conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations, or finished products and pledge never to do so. On top of this,  our garments are made from 100% vegan materials so you can be confident that no harm came to anyone during its creation.

FAIR WEAR:  All our garments are certified by the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF), an international organisation that aims to improve workers’ conditions in the textile industry in South Asia.  

 

Is it made to last?

NO MORE FAST FASHION: The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity's carbon emissions, is the second-largest consumer of the world's water supply, and pollutes the oceans with the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles EVERY YEAR.  Plus, up to 85% of textiles go into landfills each year, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes every second.  - Business Insider

It's a no-brainer right? That's why eco beach only stock clothing that uses organic/recycled materials and sustainable manufacturing to create good quality clothing that reduces the impact on the environment from the use of resources like hydrocarbon-based raw materials, electricity and fresh water.

And you get to keep our cool clothes, use them and love them for years, which reduces the amount that ends up in the ground and the sea.

NO MORE SINGLE USE:  We all hear the alarming facts and statistics about plastic and how it is now everywhere in our world; in our streets, our fields, on our beaches, in our seas and even in our food and water.  Maybe one day we will be able to live without it or find ways to dispose of it.  But for now we can all use less of it by using natural materials where we can, buying sturdy, reusable plastic products when there's no alternative, and recycling everything we can.

At eco beach we stock non-plastic products wherever possible, but sometimes there is no non-plastic alternative.  In this case, we make sure are products are made from plastic materials that are recycled, recyclable, and sustainable e.g. bioplastics.   We also package our products with no plastic, so even our clothing bags are plant based and biodegradable.