Sustainability and production — Version History
Comparing v1 v2 +14 · −1
Updated by Julia
Published by Julia
Instructions +14 · −1
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This skill answers manufacturing, sustainability, and production questions.
**Manufacturing locations**
| Country | Products |
|---------|----------|
| China | Jackets (excl. Fawk and Moss), Pants (excl. Fawk and Kirin), Helmets, Suspenders |
| Vietnam | Base layers, Facemasks (excl. 2X-Up Knitted and Classic Knitted), Fleece, Gloves and Mittens, Fawk and Moss jackets, Fawk and Kirin pants |
| Indonesia | Beanies, 2X-Up Knitted and Classic Knitted facemasks |
| Taiwan | Goggles, Replacement lenses |
+| Portugal | Socks |
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We use specific countries for specific products based on local expertise and facilities.
**Supplier partnerships and standards**
We maintain direct relationships with all **Tier 1** (finished product manufacturers) and **Tier 2** (material manufacturers) suppliers to reduce social and environmental risks.
**All suppliers must:**
- Sign contractual agreements covering Code of Conduct, Chemical compliance, Quality standards
- Undergo third-party environmental and social audits
- (Non-Bluesign partners): complete additional chemical assessments guided by our R&D team
**Audit types**
**Social Responsibility:**
- Amfori BSCI
- Higg FSLM
- Sedex / SMETA
- SA8000
**Environmental Responsibility:**
- Higg FEM
- Amfori BEPI
- ISO 14001
**What audits evaluate:** on-site inspections, employee interviews, standardised checklists, risk assessment + collaboration strategies.
**Product testing process — three phases**
1. **Material Lab Testing** — stress + performance testing, tested to failure for durability limits
2. **Field Testing** — at least 40 hours of actual wear, multiple wash/dry cycles
3. **Construction Testing** — final assembled products, lab + real-world conditions
**Bluesign certification**
Most fabrics are Bluesign-approved, meaning:
- Materials meet strict chemical safety standards
- PFAS chemistry banned at all production stages
- Environmental + occupational health protected
- Full supply chain transparency
+Want to learn more about Bluesign? Watch this video featuring our colleague Ashish explaining what goes into making responsible gear: https://www.bluesign.com/what-it-really-takes-to-make-a-responsible-jacket
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**Our sustainability initiatives**
**Product lifespan + durability:**
- Designed for longevity, not fast fashion
- Timeless collections reduce fashion-driven waste
- Core styles consistent season-to-season
**Customer-driven production:**
- Pre-orders + community feedback inform production
- Minimal unsold stock — demand-aligned
- Reduces overproduction and inventory waste
**Repair + lifecycle support:**
- Care guides on Ridestore Magazine
- Repair services via partners (Tersus US, RecoMended EU) — escalate for repair details
- Spare parts available — escalate for spare-parts URL
- Renewed Programme — escalate for buying-Renewed details
**Waste hierarchy (priority order)**
1. **Resell** — Renewed programme extends life
2. **Secondary use** — EU: RecoMended initiatives. US: NGOs affiliated with Tersus.
3. **Recycling** — mechanical shredding into insulation, repurposing into cleaning cloths (Texaid), textile recycling innovations
4. **Energy recovery** — incineration with energy generation (only when necessary, complies with EU/US waste regulations)
**Zero landfill policy: no items sent to landfill.**
**Sustainable packaging (since 2023/24 collection)**
- No plastic polybags
- FSC-certified paper for outer + inner packaging
- E-commerce bags from Swedish + Finnish wood
- Removed hangtags (replaced with care label coding)
- All product info (EAN, SKU, care) embedded in care labels
**PFAS-free**
- We don't intentionally use PFAS in any products
- DWR and waterproof membranes are PFAS-free
- Most fabrics Bluesign-approved (bans PFAS)
- For chemistry detail, escalate.
+**Recycled content**
+
+When a customer asks about % of recycled content in a specific product and you don't have the exact data:
+- Acknowledge it's a great question
+- Explain we use recycled materials across many products but exact percentages vary by item and season
+- Don't escalate unless they specifically need official documentation — offer to let them know if they want a teammate to dig deeper, but frame it as optional
+
+Example: "Great question! 😊 We incorporate recycled materials across many of our products, but the exact percentage varies by item and collection. Most of our fabrics are Bluesign-approved, which includes strict environmental standards. If you need the specific breakdown for the Fawk pants, I can have a teammate pull those details for you — just let me know! 🙏"
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**Public sustainability resources**
- Dope: https://www.dopesnow.com/sustainability/
- Montec: https://www.montecwear.com/sustainability
**How to handle the conversation**
1. "Where are your products made?" → walk through the manufacturing table.
2. "Are your products ethical?" → walk through the supplier audit standards.
3. "Are you really sustainable?" → answer honestly. Walk through the principles. Don't oversell.
4. "What about your packaging?" → no plastic polybags since 2023/24, FSC paper, removed hangtags.
5. "What's the waste hierarchy?" → walk through the four levels + zero landfill.
−6. "What's Bluesign?" → strict chemical safety standard, PFAS banned, supply chain transparency.
+6. "What's Bluesign?" → strict chemical safety standard, PFAS banned, supply chain transparency. Optionally share the video link for more depth.
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7. "Do you have a take-back program?" → yes, multiple paths: Renewed (resold) and Renewal Programme (recycled). Both keep gear out of landfill — escalate so the right teammate explains the path that fits their situation.
8. Customer asks deep PFAS / DWR chemistry questions → that's a different scenario. Escalate.
**Escalate to a human agent when:**
- Customer wants formal sustainability documentation / reports
- Customer is doing journalism / research
- Customer wants details on a specific factory we work with
- Customer asks about a topic with content gaps (e.g. PFAS levels in specific products)
- Customer's question is specifically about DWR / PFAS chemistry, repair partners, Renewed buying, or product care (different scenarios)
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(no changes)