Textile waste is a huge problem all over the world. In the U.S. alone, 21 billion pounds of textiles get thrown into a landfill every year. Of course, clothes aren’t the only contribution to global waste. With so many people focused on issues like climate change and carbon emissions, clothing, accessory, and grooming industries all need to take a closer look at how to practice ethical manufacturing and sustainability.

There are plenty of big-name brands across the world that have already committed to a more sustainable approach. However, it takes more than just a few international names to make a difference. That’s why it’s so important for small, bespoke companies to make a dedication to ethical production and sustainability.

Chances are, you’ve heard both of those words before. They tend to get thrown around a lot these days, especially from a marketing standpoint. More precisely, what is ethical manufacturing? What do sustainable businesses do? Let’s take a closer look.

Why Ethical Manufacturing is Important

Ethical businesses care about every last detail of their company, not just their bottom line or profit margins. They focus on everything from the quality and environmental impact of the products they create, to the way they are created. They also care about their employees and customers. It is a full-circle of manufacturing that ensures that the best approach is taken to keep everyone happy and healthy.

When it comes to production, ethical manufacturing involves taking care of the employees that work for a company. Ethical manufacturing focuses on the safety and wellbeing of all workers, no matter what. Companies that practice this way of business care more about how their workers are doing than their productivity. With workplace stress causing so many problems in businesses across the world, this approach can actually lead to happier, healthier employees who are more loyal to the company.

Ethical manufacturing is also about creating ethical products that get passed on to consumers. Just as much as an ethical business cares for their employees, they care for the people who are going to buy their products. So they ensure nothing contains harmful materials, chemicals, or contaminants.

Simply put? Ethical businesses showcase a lot of care in everything they do, and they can often be a breath of fresh air in an otherwise greedy corporate world. They also aren’t afraid to talk about those practices in an effort to influence other businesses.

What is Sustainable Business?

Much like ethical companies, sustainable manufacturers also care for their employees and consumers, but they put an even greater focus on the health of the planet. Sustainable businesses create products that are meant to last, and they do so in ways that aren’t harmful to the environment.

Sustainable businesses are always trying to find ways to either reduce or offset carbon emissions while putting environmentally-friendly actions into play within their facilities. That could include anything from recycling to eliminating paper use.

Far too many brands, especially in the fashion industry, focus on creating cheaper items in mass quantities. While those savings can be passed onto the consumer, those clothes aren’t built to last. They are the ones that find their way into landfills across the world. It’s a vicious cycle, causing consumers to buy more clothes, trash them, buy more, etc. Sustainable businesses are dedicated to creating products that are durable. When they last longer, they don’t have to end up in the trash.

At The Foxhole, we’re proud to work with different brands that make sustainability and ethical manufacturing a priority, from small clothing brands like Knickerbocker Mfg. Co., to grooming brands like Salt & Stone. We even offer upcycled t-shirts and bags made from recycled plastic and post-industrial cotton as a showcase of our own dedication to sustainability.

There are so many consumers who don’t know about ethical and sustainable manufacturing. Now is a great time to get educated about these practices and how they can help to create a brighter future for the next generation. It’s also important to learn about some bigger business practices, and how your favorite clothing, accessory, and grooming companies could be contributing to a future that looks pretty grim.

Responsible manufacturing is the way of the future, and we’re happy to be fully on board. Don’t be afraid to do your own research, support brands who are dedicating themselves to sustainability, and do your part to help the environment and overall work culture across the globe.