2020-2021 Q3 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

We talk a lot about sustainability; but what does it really mean?

For us here at globetrottersiraconlineusa we define it as the processes and actions we take to avoid the depletion of natural resources, in order to keep an ecological balance and allow good quality of life for all who inhabit our planet.
When measuring our impact and looking for opportunities to do better we focus on three sustainability pillars: people, planet and prosperity.
Sustainability is a lifelong journey, and our ultimate goal is to be able to create from a place where all life forms and future generations can flourish, and ecosystems can recover and become resilient. But just like you, we’re only human, so we focus on consistent progress, rather than perfection. We want you to trust that what you buy makes a difference, so this quarterly report is proof of our commitment to being transparent and accountable.

You will find facts and info about all areas of our business below, however we’re super excited to share the serious progress we’ve made this quarter across all sustainability pillars.

We hit a major milestone when it comes to the pillar of people, by manufacturing our first ever collection here in Australia!

A significant climate action goal for us was making the switch from air freight to road freight as a standard option for delivery of your treasures within Australia – and we can’t wait for you to read about the impact on our planet below! And when it comes to profit, this quarter with the launch of our globetrottersiraconlineusa X Rainforest Rescue ‘It’s In In Our Hands’ charity tee through our giving back program, together we have planted 383 trees.

So, cosy up and get stuck into this quarters must-read...

Beneath Our Sun: First ever Australian Made Collection

This quarter we launched our first made in Australia collection. We are extremely excited to be supporting local makers and hope to have seasonal collections made in Australia going forward.
Our “Homegrown” tee was knitted and manufactured in Melbourne. With a mill established in the early 90’s ABMT are a vertical operation combining fabric knitting and garment manufacturing. This efficient centralised system offers quick response to market as well as minimising fabric waste and ensuring quality control.
The organic cotton was grown and processed into yarn in India. Growing organic cotton in Australia is unfortunately uneconomical. We are currently exploring Australian grown cotton practices as this would be the ultimate sustainable tee dream.
ABMT are pioneers of ethical and sustainable manufacturing here in Australia. Their facility is predominantly solar powered and their 5 stage on site water treatment plant allows for up to 85% of water to be reused through the manufacturing cycle or by a 3rd party program for agriculture and industry.
Their fabrics are Australian certified organic and manufacturing is Ethical Clothing Australia certified. Their strong ethos for transparency, ethical and environmental responsibility and quality are inspirational.

ABMT production manager interview
What is your name?
Parveen Abusalam

What is your job role at ABMT?
Production manager

How long have you worked in the fashion industry?
25 years

What inspired you to work in the fashion industry?
The love of fashion, meeting new people, travel

What do you like about working at ABMT?
The people I work with are extremely nice and have a good work life balance

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Like going for long walks, catching up with friends

Our woven collection was crafted by Lux Design Group in Melbourne. With a longstanding relationship with Ethical Clothing Australia certified manufacturers their community values are very much in alignment. They offer strong attention to detail and were able to skilfully navigate our complex designs and border placements. We were delighted with the quality and look forward a blossoming relationship. The fabric for this collection was woven and printed in China as we were unable to source within Australia.
We trust that through supporting the industry here we can help facilitate its growth and expansion. With a very limited woven apparel textile industry increased demand will drive innovation and technology. Economies of scale will support accessibility of price point necessary to compete in the global market.

Lux Design production manager interview -
What is your name?
Ba Phan

What is your job role?
Production manager

How long have you worked in the fashion industry?
I have worked in the fashion since 1998, so for 23 years

What inspired you to work in the fashion industry?
My first job in Melbourne was in the fashion industry and I have worked in the same industry ever since. My family also worked in this industry so growing up, I had a lot of experience in this area.

What do you like about working at Lux?
Lux has a diverse range of styles that would be appealing to customers. Some styles are new and different, which I prefer.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
My hobby is gardening. On the weekends I tend to my plants and flowers both indoors and outdoors.

99% of the fibres used this quarter were sustainable

By using sustainable fibres in place of generic fibres we have reduced our impact by:

The process of mechanically recycling nylon unfortunately requires more water than generic fossil fuel-based nylon however the reduction in greenhouse gasses, eco-toxicity and resource depletion off-sets this.

Reference: Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Higg Material Sustainability Index.

We have not included our sustainable cotton corduroy and denim collections as BCI cotton reporting is not available on the Higg MSI tool at this stage. We will look to review this once this data is available.

We have saved the following plastic bags from landfill by introducing compostable packaging:

This quarter we launched our latest charitable tee “It’s in your hands”. The profits made from the sale of the tee will support the restoration of the Daintree Rainforest through a joint project of Rainforest Rescue together with Eastern Yalanji Traditional Owners and their representative corporation, Jabalbina, Greenfleet, and the Queensland Trust for Nature with the goal to plant ONE MILLION RAINFOREST TREES within 5-10 years.

This incredible project will provide habitat, sustain ecosystems and sequester carbon.

To date we have raised $3,833.22

This quarter we introduced a standard domestic freight option for our online customers. We pride ourselves on our service and ensure customers receive their treasures in a timely manner. After reporting on our carbon emissions for the last few quarters we realise that the express service is significantly contributing to our carbon footprint. We hope you will support us and opt for standard freight shipping and look forward to reporting on the reduction in carbon emissions in the next quarter.