Sustainability

When it comes to our production—from garment to packaging—our team at Unified People is committed to reducing our impact. Every decision is made with intention, and we vow to carefully consider each partner, product, and launch to ensure the most responsible path possible. Here’s what we’re doing to address our sustainability as an apparel brand.

ETHICAL & LOCAL PRODUCTION

We strive to work with local production partners, where possible, in order to reduce emissions and lower our carbon footprint. All of our apparel products are knit, cut, sewn, and dyed in Los Angeles, CA with a partner that values sustainable & ethical production. Our search for a viable local headwear manufacturer continues. For our first collection, we have partnered with a vetted ethical manufacturer in China who provides fair living wages and ample employment benefits for their employees. Our goal is to transition all of our headwear production to Los Angeles by the end of 2022.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

We opt for natural & sustainable materials, where possible, and we will continue to educate ourselves on new eco-innovations that arise. All of our apparel is made from 100% GOTS Certified Organic Cotton that is grown and spun in Tamil Nadu, India. GOTS is the most stringent organic-textile certification in the world, and the finished product is a super high-quality fabric—without all the toxic chemicals that pollute our soil, our water, and our planet. All of our apparel is vegan and is not made using animal products. Our search for a viable sustainable headwear fabric continues. For our first collection, we have opted for organic cotton, wool, acrylic and cotton. While we recognize that exclusively non-synthetic and organic materials are the best option for our planet, we have yet to find an eco-friendly headwear fabric that meets our standards of durability. Our goal is to transition all of our headwear to 100% organic or recycled materials by the end of 2022.

ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING

In our commitment to keep excessive waste out of our landfills, Unified People is proud to offer 100% compostable packaging for all of our apparel products. Made from a combination of corn-based biopolymers, our compostable mailer composts in 6 months (180 days) and is certified for both home and commercial compost. We are also proud to use 100% compostable tissue paper and stamps; both of which are made from acid-free, FSC Certified paper and soy-based inks, which are much more sustainable than traditional petroleum inks. Our packaging tape is also made from FSC Certified recycled paper and is water-activated, which is a much more biodegradable option than glossy/wax-coated paper. All shipping boxes are made from 100% recycled cardboard. At this time, in order to protect our garments from damage during the shipping process, we have opted for recycled plastic garment bags. In future collections, we hope to transition to 100% compostable garment bags for all of our apparel products. 

LOW-VOLUME COLLECTIONS

Our team at Unified People believes in the ethos of slow fashion. We create small, highly curated collections in order to prevent over-production and to keep apparel waste out of our landfills. In the future, we hope to facilitate demand-based drops which allow us to create products in line with the desires of our customers. Throughout our journey, we strive to scale in a way that is responsible to our planet.