Your Sustainable FAQ

To ensure that our products respect environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, our materials selection focuses on sustainable options, and we ensure supply chain transparency, emphasizing fair labor and ethical practices. To measure our efforts, we conduct life-cycle assessment studies that help us assess and develop plans to minimize the overall environmental impact of our products.

We have a sourcing standard that guarantees our materials and components are responsibly sourced. One of our actions is to source cotton from the Better Cotton initiative from 2023. Better Cotton's mission is to help cotton-producing communities survive and prosper while protecting and restoring the environment. We also use Lenzing™ Ecovero fiber, which reduces water use in production by 50%, and all the paper and cardboard used in our product packaging is FSC-labeled and sourced from eco-managed forests.

At Poupette St Barth, we prioritize sustainability in various aspects of our operations. We actively select low-impact materials for the majority of our products, like the Lenzing™ Ecovero fiber used in our viscose, known for its 50% reduction in water usage during production. Our commitment extends to our in-house garment manufacturing, enabling us to uphold energy efficiency throughout the production process. Additionally, we take responsibility for managing our production wastes. Over 70% of our total waste finds its way to recycling, composting, or upcycling avenues, demonstrating our dedication to minimizing environmental impact.

Currently, our plastic buttons are made from 40% post-consumer plastic, holding RCS certification. Additionally, our wholesale poly bags are GRS certified with 50% post consumer plastic. We are actively exploring and developing options to incorporate even more recycled materials into our collection.

Since September 2023, we have been implementing a traceability widget on our site, with our partner Renoon, presenting the carbon footprint for each product. This information can also be accessed via QR codes on our hang tags, which will direct you to our traceability microsite.

We strive to make our packaging materials more sustainable. Our hangtags and shipping boxes are made from FSC paper sourced from eco-managed forests; our polybags are made from at least 50% recycled low-density polyethylene, reducing our reliance on plastic sourced from virgin materials. We have also chosen to reduce single-use waste and encourage reuse by using cotton bags to replace our cloth packaging.

Plastic plays a minimal role in our production process. We always reuse the plastic bags used to transfer our products during the production phase, and for those that end up as waste, we ensure that they are recycled and do not end up in landfill.

We pride ourselves on prioritizing quality over quantity and limiting the number of collections and capsules each year. This deliberate pace allows us to maintain a slow fashion approach and avoid overstocking. Each of our products is handmade, guaranteeing longevity and quality. Our partnership with ThredUP encourages our customers to give a second life to their pre-loved clothes instead of throwing them away.

We actively work to reduce the use of chemicals in all stages of garment production, including printing, for which our local artisans use only certified inks. While this is still a work in progress, we can assure you that no chemicals that could harm your health are present on the finished product you wear.

Although our partners already use certified inks, we are actively engaged in improving our print and dye process. Our goal is to transition to more environmentally friendly alternatives.

As part of our commitment to ethical business practices, we are proud to own production sites that apply fair and rigorous labor standards. Extending this philosophy to our entire supply chain, each year we assess our suppliers against our comprehensive Code of Conduct. This code addresses key issues such as child labor, involuntary labor, racism, discrimination, wages, benefits, working hours and fair treatment. Our suppliers are held to account through rigorous annual assessments. Non-compliance triggers sanctions up to and including immediate removal from our supply chain.

Our support for our local communities extends into our manufacturing process. Through our commitment to using the hand print method for all our prints and partnering with local artisans in Bali, we help preserves local craftsmanship and provides economic opportunities that sustain livelihoods. Our owned manufacturing facilities offers a role in opening new job opportunities for locals .We offer sewing training programs that enhance their technical expertise and empower artisans to progress. The partnerships with local artisans go beyond just production; we support local empowerment, contributing positively to the communities we work with.

Our dedication to transparency is showcased through our Digital Product Passport, a feature introduced in our 2024 collection. With this digital passport, customers can view a comprehensive information of our product’s life journey, from the sourcing of materials to the product end-of-life impact. From product impact’s carbon emissions, water usage, land consumption, and energy utilization, the tool offers a clear understanding of customer’s product of choice’s footprint. We empower our customers to make informed decisions and encourage a more conscious consumption.

By 2025, our aim is for 100% of our materials and components to reflect a more responsible approach. To achieve this goal we are studying our product impact and refining our production processes by establishing a preferable standards for sourcing guidelines. These standards are modeled after Textile Exchange's framework of Preferred Fibers and Materials Definitions, ensuring that our sourcing guidelines prioritize better and more conscious materials.

We curate a unique approach by repurposing our products as part of an exclusive old fabric collection. In instances where items may have defects or remain unsold, we conscientiously manage disposal through a refined waste system that considers the materials' inherent qualities. This process exemplifies our commitment to minimizing environmental impact while embracing a sophisticated and responsible approach to product lifecycle management.

We take pride in the selection of materials used for our garments, using only natural fibers (viscose, cotton and silk) whose impact on the environment is lower than that of synthetic fibers. Our products, made with the utmost precision thanks to the "one person, one garment" system, embody a level of craftsmanship that guarantees lasting quality. This meticulous approach not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of our creations, but also guarantees their longevity, contributing to a timeless and enduring wardrobe.

To ensure that the garments leaving our workshops retain their quality throughout their life, we provide garment care instruction on our care label, and a dedicated webpage about material care instructions to help you maintain your garment for as long as possible.

We are partnering with ThredUp–an online consignment and thrift store based in the US. We provide customers with the opportunity to give their preloved product a second life by selling them to ThredUP. Click here to “Trade In” your Poupette St Barth’s preloved product.

Yes, we actively pursue various eco-friendly and fair trade certifications to underscore our commitment to sustainable practices. These certifications are integral to our responsible sourcing and ethical business conduct.

To promote circularity, Every year, before launching our new collection, we thoroughly assess the traceability of all materials and components, gathering certifications and trace our material to its source. This information is compiled into our Digital Product Passport, accessible to customers on each product page and via QR codes on our product’s hang tags. Additionally, we conduct an annual supplier review, with a focus on sustainability, ensuring strong and professional partnerships.

While we're proud to have brought much of our production in-house, we sometimes work with other partners. Before launching a new collaboration, we make sure that our future partners share our values and commitment to sustainability.