Design Elements of prAna products
prAna has built a reputation for coupling purpose built designs and contemporary style with an emphasis on a unique color palette and athletic fits. Innovation and the need for versatile product is drawn from our core customers– specifically climbers and yogis – as well as other outdoor athletes. Our love of nature and the preservation to keep it healthy inspires us to create product that reduces environmental harm and supports the people making it.
Environmentally conscious materials
prAna uses the term environmentally conscious for our materials when they have a reduced environmental harm compared to other materials. For example, lower impact might mean less energy to produce a fiber as in recycled polyester and organic cotton reduces the amount of pesticides then regular cotton.
Understanding the full impact of a fiber from its origin, to its processing, to its finishing is a large task. We are committed to understanding the full impact of our products and seeking out solutions that are more sustainable. We see this journey as a never ending learning experience - for what is sustainable today may not be sustainable in the future.
So prAna, with consultation of an environmental textiles firm, created a scorecard for materials that is used by our design and development teams as they create prAna’s newest products to look at how we can improve overall our environmental impact.
More info on envionmentally conscious materials that we have been using:
Organic Cotton
Conventionally grown cotton consumes approximately 25% of the insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides used in the world. Organic production systems on the other hand replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming.
For a good handout on the benefits of organic cotton click here
Hemp
prAna does use the fiber hemp that comes from the Industrial hemp plant. The environmental benefits that are associated with hemp come from the growing attributes of the plant. Industrial hemp is virtually drought resistant, has the ability to grow in various types of conditions, and no herbicides or pesticides are required. Without the need for irrigation, and pesticides or fertilizers, hemp’s impact is very minimal.
Recycled Polyester
Recycled polyester commonly comes from post consumer plastic (PET) water and soda bottles, but also can come from pre-consumer waste. Recycled polyester is a better alternative because it relies on a recycled material meaning you don’t have to factor in all the toxics and energy used in manufacturing the plastic in the first place. So less energy, therefore Greenhouse Gas emissions and water are required to manufacturing compared to virgin materials.
Textile Exchange
Textile Exchange is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization operating internationally committed to the responsible expansion of sustainable textiles across the global textile value chain. PrAna has been an active member since 2001; the organization has become an essential resource as prAna folds more sustainability initiatives into our operations and products.
http://www.textileexchange.org
Fair Labor Association
prAna is a member of the Fair Labor Association (FLA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sweatshop conditions in factories worldwide to bring accountability to our efforts in social responsibility.
Since 1999, the FLA has helped improve the lives of thousands of workers around the globe. By bringing together multiple stakeholders, calling for greater accountability and transparency from manufacturers, factories and others involved in global supply chains, and creating lasting solutions to exploitative labor practices, we are making steady progress toward fulfilling our mission: protecting workers’ rights and improving working conditions worldwide.
With the active involvement of universities, civil society organizations and socially responsible corporations, the FLA has formed a unique and powerful alliance that is effecting positive change around the globe.
prAna was accepted as a member of the Fair labor Association at their board meeting in February of 2010. This is incredibly exciting for us as prAna is able to tap into resources of people who have been working on issues of labor and human rights around the world. The area of social responsibility is incredibly complex and no brand alone and can address problematic issues of lack of law or enforcement or cultural behaviors and practices around the world. So in collaboration with the other FLA constituents prAna will be more successful in our efforts to improve working conditions where our products are made.
Supply Chain Sustainability
Belonging to the FLA is only a part of prAna’s sustainability program. PrAna has begun to screen potential suppliers more thoroughly based on their product capabilities and now with a lens of social and environmental due diligence. We feel that this is one of the best ways that we can improve the sustainability of our supply chain – by working with suppliers who share our values.
In addition prAna monitors our supply chain. We assess factories based on the standards of engagement that we ask each of our supplier’s to adhere to. Based on the assessments we work with the factory and the other brands who share the factory on developing a corrective action plan for sustainable change.
Fair Trade Certified
Fair Trade certification for Apparel and Linens is the first social, economic and environmental standard that directly benefits the farmers who grow the cotton and the workers who sew the garments. It offers companies and consumers an unprecedented opportunity to positively impact the lives of these farmers and workers.
prAna expands Fair Trade Apparel from Prana Living on Vimeo.
Click here to view our Fair Trade Products.
Consistent with the brand’s mission to offer products with “purpose,” prAna has partnered with Fair Trade USA to support and promote the Fair Trade Certified Apparel and Linens pilot. The March 2011 release of prAna’s SOUL T is the first in a line of Fair Trade items to come and puts prAna among just a handful of manufacturers offering Fair Trade Certified apparel in the United States.
Fair Trade Certified is based around the following principles:
• Fair price to farmers for their goods
• Fair labor conditions and wages for farm and factory workers
• Direct market access eliminating unnecessary middlemen
• Democratic and transparent organizations
• Community development
• Environmental sustainability
To learn more about Fair Trade Certified, click here.
TOOLS / LEARN
1. prAna’s Standards of engagement (PDF) – prAna has a set of standards that we ask each supplier that we do business with to adhere to, these outline basic labor rights for our contract facilities.
