New Year, new life… or better, new brands! 2023 seems like the right time for you to meet Save the Duck, an Italian outerwear brand founded in 2012 that focuses heavily on sustainability. According to its latest Sustainability Report, Save the Duck “…take[s] care of the environment and all its inhabitants, promoting a transparent business model that manages natural resources responsibly.”
How does it do it? How true is this affirmation? Let’s find it out!
Società Benefit and B Corporation
Save The Duck is a Società Benefit and a certified B Corporation, which by itself says A LOT. For starters, to become a Società Benefit, the company had to revise its by-laws to combine profit with the aim of generating positive impacts on society and the biosphere. On its part, as a B Corp, activities and overall impacts are thoroughly assessed through the international standard “B Impact Assessment,” developed by B Lab (if this is the first time you have heard about B Corps and B Lab, this The Pomelade’s article is highly recommended). Save The Duck’s full B Impact Report is available here.
Governance
In terms of governance, Save The Duck is well ahead of its competitors as it not only has a Code of Ethics (which to this day many fashion brands still do not have) but also a set of other documents that function as the backbone for its business, namely:
- Diversity and Inclusion Policy: guides the company’s staff in the daily integration of principles of fairness and respect for the human person).
- Code of Interdependence: guides supply chain partners in their development towards environmental and social responsibility, respect for the law, and business ethics.
- Responsible Design Guidelines: provides suggestions and design strategies concerning the main issues of innovation, sustainability, and product circularity.
- Ethical Marketing Procedure: defines the company’s marketing and communication processes following its core values.
Animals
The brand’s name is quite self-explanatory so the fact that Save the Duck respects animals may seem a bit obvious. Indeed, it was born to safeguard geese, and thanks to its commitment and dedication it’s estimated to have “saved” more than 29 million geese over the years since the brand was founded!
The real question is, how does it do it? Easy, the brand only sells 100% animal cruelty-free products. According to its last Sustainability Report, “each garment is made from raw materials and accessories that do not impact animal welfare and come from responsible supply chains.”
Environment
Although protecting animal welfare is a key ingredient in Save the Duck’s business model, it’s not the only thing it cares about. The brand is also highly conscious of its impact on the environment and people in general. So much so that every year it donates 1% of its turnover to companies that take care of the planet like Save the Children, Cometa, Theodora, Save the dogs, Peta and WWF.
Here are some other milestones Save the Duck has achieved and some others it’s currently working on:
- Achieved:
- Over the last few years, the brand has been committed to reducing its emissions. In 2021 it became Carbon Neutral (by offsetting its emissions through the purchase of carbon credits with environmental and social value) and is now on track to reaching its “Net Zero” target by 2030.
- Integration of environmental criteria into its product design process to minimize environmental impact.
- 100% of its stores are built according to eco-design guidelines.
- 100% of its shopping bags are made of sustainable materials.
- 50% of garments with more than 40% (by weight) of recycled fabrics, padding, and accessories.
- Ongoing:
- 100% Better Cotton Initiative certified cotton by 2025.
- ESG Ratings on 100% of resellers/distributors by 2030.
- Raise awareness among final consumers about the possibility of extending the life of jackets.
- 100% of Suppliers participating in the ZDHC (Zero Discharge Hazardous Chemicals) program by 2030.
- 100% perfluorinated chemicals (PFC)-free fabrics by 2025.
Materials
For Save The Duck luxury it’s all about quality and connection with nature. Having a Material Selection Standard and a Responsible Design Guideline means that nothing is left to chance in the creation process of its products. According to its latest Sustainability Report, its “stylists and designers carefully select materials based on technical characteristics, functionality, durability, color, and finish. They always keep an eye on innovation and take into account production process flows.”
Choice of materials
By now you may know that creating a sustainable garment starts with the choice of materials. Low environmental impact, having certifications, and recyclability are some basic preconditions for a sustainable garment. Save the Duck knows the importance of this first step and mainly uses the following materials to make its garments:
- Synthetic fiber fabrics, such as polyamide and polyester, for outer fabrics and linings.
- Plastic and metal for zippers.
- Cotton fiber fabrics for the athleisure line of garments.
- PLUMTECH® and RECYCLED PLUMTECH® for padding. PLUMTECH® is the brand name for the 100% polyester padding used for Save The Duck garments. It is Bluesign® certified and guarantees thermal protection that recreates the softness of real down. RECYCLED PLUMTECH® paddings are made of 100% recycled polyester from PET bottles.
What is more, in 2021, almost all the raw materials used in Save the Duck’s products were certified:
- 94% of the garments were made from materials certified according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®.
- 57% of the garments were made from Bluesign® approved certified materials.
- 30% of the garments were made from materials certified according to the Global Recycle Standard (GRS).
- 1% of the garments had Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) and/or Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) certification.
- 31% of the fabrics the brand uses in its collections are controlled according to ZDHC MRSL (Zero Discharge Hazardous Chemicals Manufacturer Restricted Substances List), an initiative that aims to limit and replace the use of hazardous and polluting chemicals within textile supply chains.
Waste
Waste is one of the fashion industry’s most serious problems and the entire value chain of the garment should be taken into consideration to solve it. Save the Duck is optimizing the stages from design to production to generate as minimal waste as possible.
The brand’s latest Sustainability Report explains that “the process of making [their] garments starts with an in-depth study of market needs and trends, in terms of style and aesthetics.” Save the Duck chooses minimalist designs, and uncomplicated production processes, and makes durable garments.
Final Thoughts: How sustainable is Save the Duck?
The moment of truth has arrived…
Save the Duck’s strength in terms of sustainability is animal care, but that does not mean that it is the only one. Its use of eco-friendly and recycled materials as well as its policies to minimize textile waste, reduce the use of hazardous chemicals and improve recycling (among others), show how far ahead of its competitors it is. Besides, the fact that Save the Duck is a Società Benefit and a B Corp speaks for itself, not just anyone can be both!
However, the brand is not greenwashing-free. As said before, the RECYCLED PLUMTECH® paddings are made of 100% recycled polyester from PET bottles. Yes, recycled polyester is a more sustainable choice than its virgin counterpart, yet, there is a (dangerous) tendency to equate “recycled” with “sustainable.” Downcycling bottles into clothes sentences them to “death” because once a bottle is made into clothing, the material can no longer be recycled, meaning it must be thrown away. Making clothes from bottles is a one-way ticket to landfills, incineration or dumping in nature (learn more about downcycling bottles into clothes here).
Of course, there is still much to be done, but that doesn’t mean we can’t applaud the great strides that are being made by Save the Duck. This, especially considering that the industry’s vast majority is choosing to stand still.
Have you heard of Save the Duck before? Do you like it? Let us know in the comments below!
