Environmental Approach
What is Lüks commitment to the environment?
As standard all of our cotton is OEKO Tex Standard 100 certified. This means that there are no toxic of hazardous chemicals in them.
Increasingly and wherever possible we use 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. We have also started to introduce linen mixes into our product range which helps to reduce the amount of water and land each product takes to produce.
As we work with small family businesses it is not always possible (affordable) for them to pay the annual GOTS certification fee of circa $6K despite the fact that they may be using organic processes. We don't want money to preclude us working with them. Increasingly we are seeing these small ateliers form co-operatives with their yarn suppliers and dye houses to share that financial burden and allow a more ubiquitous use of GOTS cotton...it is an ongoing process.
Certifications for OEKO TEX and GOTS are held by our ateliers and their dye houses.
The dyes uses in the yarns are reactive which requires a lower setting temperature and less mordants than normal dyes. the effluence (water and dye) created after the dyeing process can also be recycled and re-used.
In addition to minimising our carbon footprint by bulk ordering from our ateliers, we also reduce the use of paper by managing returns online through our automated e-commerce platform. Our packaging is made from recycled and recyclable materials.
Our E-commerce shipping boxes are made from a minimum of 75% recycled material and our shipping bags are carbon negative, biodegradable and compostable. that’s because they don't contain any polyethylene, the plastic that most poly mailers are made from. it’s made from corn starch and a blend of two bioplastics, PLA and PBAT, and printed with non-toxic ink.
Where necessary we use paper tape that can be recycled along with our shipping boxes
Product packaging is kept to a minimum and consists of 100% recycled kraft card and cotton bias tape. Where wrapping of products is required we used either acid free tissue paper or, more recently we have started using a carbon negative biodegradable, non-toxic storage bag that dissolves in boiling water. in seconds.
Where we use cotton bias tape (for our blanket and hand towel pakaging) we also use small velcro dots which can be removed so the tape can be reused, recycled r composted.
To further offset our brand impact we work with GetMads making monthly contributions to directly support vetted and verified climate and socially conscious projects (as per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) that fuel positive environmental change, while maximising social impact.
The reality is that everything we do has an impact and we are not perfect, rather constantly evolving to make better choices as our small business grows. One of the things that we are most proud of is our 20 year repair or replace guarantee which, we hope goes someway to encouraging our customers to love and care for our products so they can last a lifetime rather than a season or two.