But what is it actually, this sustainability that is talked about so much?
"Sustainability is a principle of action for the use of resources, in which a lasting satisfaction of needs is to be guaranteed by preserving the natural regenerative capacity of the systems involved (especially living beings and ecosystems)."
Consuming sustainably means buying less and higher quality products that last longer and pollute the environment less and avoid packaging. Sustainability not only stands for a high quality of materials and fabrics, but also for environmental protection and social justice, or should we say social responsibility.
Sustainable shopping means taking action against environmental pollution and the exploitation of humans and nature, so that in the long term the natural balance is preserved as far as possible and none of the parties involved have to suffer from the consequences of our actions.
Berlin Underwear is uncompromisingly sustainable and fair. We do not take the easy path, but rather the one that we believe is the right one. That's why we can stand behind what we do 100%.
Organic underwear for women
Our studio is located in the middle of Berlin. For us it is important to produce locally, to strengthen the local economy and to keep transport routes short. We want to preserve the craft in Germany, secure jobs and meet our ecological and social responsibility. Not somewhere where it's cheap, but here.
We produce in Berlin because there is only one reason to produce abroad, namely: to pay LOW as possible. Many do this in order to remain competitive, but we believe that there are still enough people like us who would like to pay a few euros more so that nobody has to suffer from the consequences of a production chain that is too cheap and the money can continue to circulate in the local economy.
We want to act in such a way that we use all resources as sparingly as possible and use the techniques or materials that have the least negative impact on our environment.
Our sustainable underwear is characterized by environmentally friendly and energy-saving production, natural materials, the shortest possible transport routes from the field to the shop counter and CO2-neutral shipping. Our studio is equipped with energy-saving devices and lighting in such a way that the entire production, the web shop and the studio kitchen with an electric grill together get by with less than 30 € electricity per month. We are amazed ourselves!
Underwear lies directly on the skin and this is one of the reasons why it is important that it consists of natural and breathable materials, because the skin absorbs all substances with which it comes into contact. That is why we produce our sustainable underwear from cotton or modal. All of our fabrics are produced fairly and as closely as possible and are free of harmful substances according to the Ökotex 1000 or GOTS standard, so that neither our customers nor our employees come into contact with toxic chemicals.
Most of our cotton comes from controlled organic agriculture (GOTS-certified), where no harmful herbicides, pesticides or genetic engineering are used. Wastewater is not polluted with pollutants and no toxic chemicals are used in further processing.
Modal (GOTS-certified) is also used in our sustainable underwear. Modal is hard-wearing and long-lasting, is made from renewable, sustainably regionally grown beech wood and is completely biodegradable.
We like to work in a team with our now 11 employees and pay wages for which we would also work ourselves. Not because it is well received, but because we want it, because we see it as our responsibility. By the way, we exceed all the usual standards in the fashion sector with regard to sustainability. In the end we pay 100 times more wages than NIKE in Bangladesh and we all pay our taxes in Germany.
We obtain our raw materials from small companies in Germany and the EU. Their owners or representatives like to visit us in the studio or at home and present us their new fabrics. Cotton from Greece and Turkey, processed in Germany and the Netherlands. Polyamide fabrics from Spain for swimwear, elastic cuffs and bra straps.
The shortest possible transport routes should not unnecessarily pollute the environment. In times when even the freshly frozen bread rolls from Vietnam come to the bakery around the corner, that's a matter close to our hearts.
In order to avoid unnecessary plastic waste, we only use packaging and shipping materials made from recycled cardboard and recycled paper, which doesn't look as shiny but feels good. We have also asked the manufacturers of our bra straps, for example, to refrain from any unnecessary outer packaging and to simply put the straps in bundles in the box. This makes unpacking more fun.
Berlin Underwear does not have "fair trade," fair wear "or comparable certifications, as these associations check the following standards: no slave labor / forced labor, no discrimination of workers, no child labor, workers have the right to strike and assembly, wages from them the employee can live (legal minimum wage India 10.7 cents / hour), a maximum of 10h / day and one day off per week, legal employment contracts Standards are simply not or barely adhered to.
Most of the time, subcontractors also produce there in Europe, so that in the end one cannot know what the conditions or the low wages of the workers actually are. Fairetrade stands for 25% higher wages, a fair $ 1.25 instead of $ 1.00 per day. This is so far below our standards that we don't want to present ourselves with these labels.
Good quality and a clear conscience. Sustainable underwear from Berlin Underwear
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