How is New Zealand Natural Clothing Sustainable?
Posted by Team NZNC on 1st Aug 2022
In 2019, the Hawaiian snail and the Bahama nuthatch were declared extinct. Malaysia lost its last Sumatran rhino in November of that year, leading to its regional extinction.
New Zealand’s wetlands have been reduced to around 10% of their original extent, with ongoing losses threatening these important ecosystems. Climate change has also had a devastating impact on the Great Barrier Reef, with one study reporting an 89% decline in new coral recruitment following severe bleaching events.
In 2020, global temperatures were forecast to rise between 0.99°C and 1.23°C above pre-industrial levels. The world is facing significant environmental challenges, and everyone needs to do their bit.
This blog is about what sustainability means, what we as a company are doing to make a positive impact, what we have tried to do and why some of those efforts haven’t worked yet.
What are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint?
What is sustainability?
Sustainability is about maintaining an ecological balance by not depleting natural resources.
Environmental sustainability is a core focus for us as a clothing company because the reality is that the fashion industry is one of the biggest threats to our environment.
We’re talking about protecting environmental resources for future generations, which means we must consider:
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Using more renewable resources
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Protecting our local ecosystems
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Minimising pollution
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Making environmental welfare a priority
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Considering the long-term consequences of our decisions
Sustainability matters for so many reasons, but one of the most important is environmental quality. Good environmental quality provides benefits such as:
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Clean air
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Natural resources
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A non-toxic environment
All things that we want for ourselves, our families and future generations.
Being sustainable can start small. In your daily life, you could commit to any of the following practices and make a positive change:
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Stop buying single-use plastic bags
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Start using refill shops
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Opt for more environmentally friendly options, such as bamboo toothbrushes
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Plan your meals to minimise food waste
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Choose to walk rather than drive when you can
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Take your reusable coffee cup when ordering takeaway coffee
As a business, we are always considering our impact on the environment and taking steps, where feasible, to be as sustainable as we can.
How is New Zealand Natural Clothing Sustainable?
Both of our directors come from rural backgrounds and were brought up with woollen garments and a non-extravagant approach to fashion and functionality. This has become a cornerstone of the brand.
It’s really essential to be mindful of the consequences of our actions, which is why we are doing what we can.
Natural fibres can be less damaging to the environment, particularly when responsibly sourced and produced. Possum fibre is especially relevant here in New Zealand. The possum is an introduced pest, and controlling its population helps protect and restore our native ecosystems. You can read more about this here.
Natural fibres also fit the sustainability brief because they are durable. If you invest in a selection of quality natural fibre garments and care for them properly, they can last for many years, whereas cheaper synthetic garments aren’t always as reliable, and you may end up buying more and more.
Natural fibres can also require fewer chemical treatments in some stages of production. We vet our manufacturers carefully to ensure they take all necessary measures to reduce waste wherever possible.
The Wop Wops Wetland is a really special project of ours. It’s a self-funded wetland that we support. Predominantly acting as a conservation area for native eels, it is also a hub for learning, and we encourage people to visit whenever they like!
The Wop Wops is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the ecosystem and the local land. Over the years, we have upgraded it, so it’s a really lovely place to spend time relaxing and learning!
Our goals for the Wop Wops are;
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To create a sanctuary for the New Zealand native longfin eel
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To raise awareness about the problem of wetland habitat loss in New Zealand
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To provide visitors with an interesting and beautiful place to relax and explore
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To introduce people to the history of the site and the surrounding area
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To celebrate the diversity of cultures, ecosystems and heritage in and around Norsewood
In-store, we are striving to use plastic packaging that can be recycled. We haven’t yet found an alternative that offers the level of protection our knitwear needs, but we are always on the lookout for more sustainable options.
We also have some smashing paper bags in-store, which are recyclable and boast our fantastic fern logo. These are part of an initiative to reduce our plastic waste.
Functional fashion that isn’t extravagant is what drives us. Supporting the local ecosystem is one of our top priorities because we want our children’s children’s children to inherit a better Earth than we have today.
What could we do better for sustainability?
There is always more to be done, and over the years we have tried different ways to reduce our environmental footprint, but sometimes things just don’t work out.
For example, the plastic hooks we use for our socks. We tried cardboard hooks, but they just didn’t have the durability we needed to display our products properly, and they quickly detracted from their presentation.
Vertical displays work much better for our customers, and we have to keep our customers happy!
Knitwear can be particularly vulnerable to insect damage, especially during storage. Wool contains lanolin, a natural oil, although it is primarily the wool fibres that attract clothes moths and other fabric pests. The garment bags help protect the wool from insects during storage.
We trialled cornstarch shipping bags, but in warmer weather, they started to smell and decompose. There were also supply issues, which delayed products being distributed.
Ridding the world of plastic seems an insurmountable task because so many people rely on it in manufacturing, production and retail. It’s important to focus on taking steps towards a more sustainable business or home rather than setting an ultimate end date.
Every thoughtful decision can make a positive impact on our environment, and if everyone does a little something, soon we will all be moving in the same direction.
New Zealand Natural Clothing works hard to contribute to our local ecosystem, and this plays a large role in our decision-making. We can always do more, and we will continue working to do more for future generations.
Please do visit The Wop Wops to learn more about our conservation efforts and enjoy a lovely day out!
Here is our Givealittle page: https://givealittle.co.nz/org/thewopwops
Run by the Kui Kui Charitable Trust.