materials guide

at the heart of the fibres

Textile fibres are used in most of our products, so it is only natural that our initiatives to improve our environmental impact should focus on fibres. Our first step is to increase the percentage and use of more sustainable fibres.

Read more in our materials guide.

Materials that we currently rate as more environmentally sustainable and the percentage we purchased of each fibre in 2019:

 

 

cotton

Many of the biggest sustainability challenges in the textile industry are related to the production of textile materials – especially cotton, where water consumption, pesticides, fertilisers and social conditions create complex sustainability problems. Gina Tricot believes in sustainable cotton, cultivated without the use of pesticides and/or fertilisers. That is why we work continuously to increase our use of certified organic cotton in our garments. To ensure that all cotton really is organic, we only use organic cotton certified by GOTS or OCS.

By 2020, 100 % of the cotton we use should be more sustainable. We have already reached 94 % and are confident that we can reach the target by 2020. The cotton types that we regard as more sustainable are: organic cotton, recycled cotton, and Better Cotton (Better Cotton Initiative).

Together with some of the world’s leading users and buyers of cotton, we are part of BCI (Better Cotton Initiative). BCI is not an eco-label or certification; it is training based on best practice for more sustainable agriculture. Within the framework of BCI, farmers are trained in more sustainable methods that include everything from water use to fertilisers and insect control. This enables the harvest to continue during the transition period, to ensure that the grower family’s children can go to school.

viscose

Viscose is a customer favourite, but this fibre can have a negative impact on the environment. Viscose is made from wood pulp (cellulose fibres). Conventional viscose has a negative environmental impact associated with deforestation and high water and chemical use. With this in mind, fibre purchasing is very important. We are committed to offering our customers sustainable garments in materials they love, so we have set a target: by 2020, 100 % of all regenerated cellulose fibres should be from more sustainable sources. By this we mean that the wood used to produce the wood pulp will come from FSC-certified forests, will make minimal use of chemicals, and will use water efficiently through recycling. At present, 89 % of our products are produced from more sustainable, regenerated cellulose fibres.

polyester

Polyester is a very versatile fibre that is used in all our product categories. It is made from non-renewable oil, but it is possible to recycle polyester. One of the biggest challenges that we are currently working on is how to switch from using regular polyester to using recycled polyester in our products. We need to make the same journey for recycled polyester that we have made so successfully for more sustainable cotton and regenerated cellulose fibres.

natural fibres from the animal kingdom

We love animals and were among the first fashion companies to ban mohair when images released in 2018 showed the brutality of the production process. This led to reactions worldwide and Gina Tricot immediately banned mohair in its products. We will always refrain from any activities associated with cruelty to animals.

We also have clear rules and bans regarding many other animal-based materials and fabrics, including cashmere and angora hair. Gina Tricot has signed the Swedish Trade Federation’s animal welfare policy and we require all our partners in the supply chain to comply with this policy. We do not yet have full traceability when it comes to our animal-based materials, but we are working hard to improve our purchasing process.

Gina Tricot requires all partners working with animals under human control to respect the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) animal welfare policy.

transparency is the key

One of the challenges facing the textile industry is to achieve a higher level of transparency from suppliers and production units. Consumers are very interested in all aspects of sustainability, so of course we wish to supply our customers with complete information about the origin of our products.

In 2018, as part of our work to achieve greater transparency, we started publishing information about our suppliers and product origins for our denim products. The plan for 2019 is to publish the same information for all our products.

We also strive to have a long-term relationship, frequent communication, and on-site visits with all our suppliers to avoid subcontractors or zero-tolerance problems.

See the list of suppliers we work with here. 

Tier 1: Production units related to final products
This list includes all production units that are active for Gina Tricot, and which provide sewing, cutting, garment washing, placement printing, embroidery, garment finishing, and packing. So-called vertical suppliers – which provide both processes related to final products and Tier 2 processes such as dyeing and washing/finishing internally – are listed in Tier 1. This list is updated twice each year. The latest update is always available on this page. Last updated: August 2022

Tier 2: Production units related to raw materials and accessories
This list includes all production units that are active for Gina Tricot, and which manufacture fabrics and yarns; these units also provide dyeing, washing/finishing, all-over printing, and accessories.  This list is updated twice each year. The latest update is always available on this page. Last updated: August 2022