At Wheat, we are committed to sustainability and aspire to integrate it into various aspects of our business. Sustainability can take many forms, but here we consider it as eliminating the use of harmful substances in our products, reducing the environmental impact of our production and ensuring safe and ethical working conditions. Our commitment to sustainability outlines the behaviors, practices and standards we expect from ourselves, but also from our suppliers.
We are actively working on further initiatives to bring greater sustainability and product responsibility into our business. We are also working closely with our suppliers to minimize any unnecessary harm to the environment through sustainable methods of production.
Oeko-Tex Standard 100
With quality and the comfort and safety of children at the forefront of everything we do, we at Wheat are committed to restricting the use of harmful substances in our clothes. Our first big step was sourcing all technical outerwear from our manufacturers that hold the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certificate. We have also taken the initiative to ensure between 90 – 95% of the jersey garments in our main collection are produced from our Oeko-Tex certified manufacturers.
We are constantly looking for ways to further improve our products and eliminate the use of harmful substances. Our long-term ambition is for the entire Wheat collection to be Oeko-Tex certified. This demonstrates our commitment to utilizing environmentally responsible production processes and to protecting the health of our little consumers – children.
What is Oeko-Tex Standard 100?
Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is the world’s leading testing and certification system for raw, semi-finished and finished textile products through all stages of production, as well as non-textile accessories used in the process. The Oeko-Tex system guarantees that textiles which have successfully met the required testing criteria and been issued a certificate, are free from harmful concentrations of substances that are deemed detrimental to health. Certified products can be recognized by the “Confidence in Textiles – tested for harmful substances” label.
The testing process includes testing for legally prohibited and controlled chemicals, as well as other substances that have been scientifically assessed as harmful to health. The testing criteria and limit values are further refined and reassessed annually. The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certificate is therefore valid for 12 months and can thereafter be renewed.
For more information on Oeko-Tex Standard 100, please visit the organization’s website here https://bit.ly/1WvjaMU
Main Collection
We strive to subject all our clothing to the extensive list of Oeko-Tex criteria and that’s why 90 – 95% of the jersey garments in our main collection are produced by our Oeko-Tex certified manufacturers.
Organic Cotton
Cotton is the largest source of raw material in our main collection. The production of cotton material has a significant negative impact on the environment. With our commitment to sustainability, we aim to primarily use organic cotton in our products. Currently, over 95% of our jersey range is produced with organic cotton from suppliers certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and each season we strive to expand the use of organic cotton in our production, currently with a focus on our woven production.
Technical Outerwear
All components used in our technical outerwear from the outer fabric, lining and coating to the non-textile accessories such as buttons, reflexes and zip fasteners, are produced by our Oeko-Tex certified suppliers. Our technical outerwear has an additional coating on the outer layer to maintain the water-repellant qualities of the garments. From 2019 all our technical outerwear will be fluorine (PFC) free.
- Water resistance: 3000-10.000 mm
- Breathability: 3000-8.000 g/m2/24 h
- Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified
Rainwear
Made of 100% Polyurethane (PU).
- Waterproof (WP) up to 8.000 mm
- Welded seams & water repellent zippers to provide protection against adverse weather conditions
- Lightweight & comfortable
- Fluorine (PFC) free
Wool Collection
Merino wool is used in all garments from our wool collection. Not only is merino wool insulating, soft and comfortable for the wearer, it is also sustainable. Merino is a natural, renewable fiber that only requires a blend of fresh air, sunshine, water and grass to grow. Unlike most man-made fibers, it is 100% biodegradable and does not require the use of any chemicals. All our merino wool is mulesing free.
Sustainable Methods of Production
We believe that we have a part to play when it comes to protecting the environment and therefore, at Wheat, we strive to use sustainable methods of production.
One of our largest manufacturers produces 90% of our jersey garments at their “green” factory in Bangladesh. The factory is dedicated to minimizing the environmental impact of their production and ensuring all products are safely and ethically produced. Some of their environmentally-friendly practices include:
- Producing 20% renewable energy
- Recycling water & reducing use of ground water by 40%
- Reduced CO₂ emissions by 50%
The factory has also established a ‘Happy Faces’ project, which among many fantastic initiatives, provides workers with a safe working environment, fair wages, healthcare, childcare and free transportation, and has implemented a women empowerment policy.
The “green” factory in Bangladesh, along with many of our other large manufacturers, are BSCI certified, which is of great importance for us at Wheat.
BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) is an initiative of the Foreign Trade Association, which is designed to improve working conditions for the suppliers of the participating member companies. Suppliers with the BSCI qualification have been audited and upheld the 11 principles in the strict code of conduct. The BSCI platform provides a single point of information for tracking performance results, sharing monitoring activities and suggesting improvements for all suppliers in the network. This provides companies with visibility over their supply chains and production, with minimal effort and cost.
We have a real commitment to enhancing our Corporate Social Responsibility and therefore it is important for us to maintain transparency in our supply chain.