SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT
At Down by Nature we believe strongly in looking after the environment. Nature is our deep passion and our grounding force. As such, we want to do everything we can to protect Mother Earth and preserve and improve her for generations to come.
Please understand, we are a fledgling company so we are a little limited in how sustainable our product can be as we start out. We are doing the best we can and will improve as we go, as soon as we can. Profits will go into being able to provide a more sustainable product as we go.
Please see below for what we are doing so far.
Tshirts
We use AS Colour Tshirts as our bases.
We use the Organic Staple Tee wherever possible. So all WHITE, BLACK, GREY MARLE and NATURAL styles are Organic Cotton.
We predominantly use the above base colours for that reason and because we believe in simplicity of aesthetic. When it is another colour we use the Staple Tee or Staple Marle Tee.
All AS Colour organic products are GOTS certified and they are members of the BCI (Better Cotton Initative). They believe in taking their time and only producing premium apparel that stands the test of time.
AS Colour continuously develop their Responsible Sourcing Strategy. Since 2020 they've employed an Ethical Sourcing specialist to shape their strategy. This helps train and guide the company through complex issues and most importantly to drive the momentum of their mission.
The AS Colour code of conduct defines labour standards that aim to achieve safe, fair, legal and humane working conditions for everyone working in their supply chain. Working with great people means caring for their well-being. They care how they do business, who they do business with, and how their people are treated.
The below guide provides further information about AS Colour’s Socially Responsible practices.
PACKAGING
We believe strongly in not using plastics and supporting the innovations of compostable products.
We are aiming to provide a Mailer that is fully compostable without you needing to remove any labels or stickers.
So far, our Mailers are fully home compostable (see below), but the white shipping and name labels are only compostable commercially. If you remove these labels you can put them in the bin knowing they will compost in landfill.
NOTE: If you find any Australia Post stickers, for example Express Post tape, added to our Mailer satchel please remove them before composting.
MAILER
We use the comPOST Pack - a certified home compostable, fully biodegradable mailing satchel partly made from plants.
They behave just like a plastic satchel except when they are left in nature! In a home compost they will biodegrade in 3-6 months and can also be commercially composted. Find out how.
They meet a number of stringent tests for Compostability. The Australasian Standard, AS5810, is one of the toughest to achieve (they even check to make sure the products are non-toxic to worms!).
Certification: AS 5810 Home Compostable | OK Home Compost | Seedling AS 4736
LABELS
The white labels on the Mailers are comPOSTlabels: certified industrially compostable and as well as being compostable, the adhesive is also carefully formulated to include a high percentage of renewable materials.
Certification: Commercially Compostable EN13432
We are working to source labels that are Home Compostable.
STICKER
The blue Down by Nature brand Sticker on the mailer is made from FSC-certified paper and printed with soy-based inks, and are 100% Home Compostable. More info here.
PRINTED EPHEMERA
THANK YOU CARDS & SWING TAGS
Our Thank you cards and Swing tags are printed with eco conscious toners on EcoStar 100% Recycled stock by a printers who also use green energy to power their factory.
EcoStar 100% Recycled Uncoated is the Lamborghini of recycled papers with outstanding environmental credentials. Made with 100% recycled post-consumer waste, EcoStar paper is made carbon neutral.
WRAPPING
TISSUE PAPER
Currently we can only use regular tissue paper, but will move to compostable tissue as soon as possible.
STICKER
The sticker adhered to the tissue paper is printed with eco conscious toners on EcoStar 100% Recycled stock by a printers who also use green energy to power their factory.
EcoStar 100% Recycled Uncoated is the Lamborghini of recycled papers with outstanding environmental credentials. Made with 100% recycled post-consumer waste, EcoStar is paper made carbon neutral.
We will move to a compostable sticker for this usage as soon as possible.