SUSTAINABLE JOURNEY
Hello Stranger Kidswear is a locally owned New Zealand family business based in beautiful Mount Maunganui. We are passionate about our future and the future of our children and believe in good quality products with a more conscious approach. While we recognise that we are not perfect, we are committed to moving towards a more sustainable fashion industry with less impact on our planet, nature and people. By reducing our environmental impact and choosing lower impact materials and processes through our supply chain and in our warehouse we aim to create a more conscious brand and uphold responsibility towards nature and people.
OUR SUSTAINABLE JOURNEY
PROJECT PLANET A
In 2019 Hello Stranger started Project Planet A. A project based around sustainability and reducing our environmental impact because there is no Planet B.
PACKAGING AND WAREHOUSE HQ
Hello Stranger started the process to move from plastic courier satchels in 2018 to using 100% compostable courier bags supplied by New Zealand based suppliers. Home compostable satchels means a reduction in CO2 emissions reducing the impact on the environment.
In 2020 Hello Stranger made the move to using 100% compostable garment bags that are tied with fabric cut offs for transport. This meant a huge reduction in plastic waste. The Hello Stranger warehouse and storage also uses cardboard boxes to hold each style, which can be recycled once the boxes start to break down.
MATERIALS
Organic Cotton
In 2019 Hello Stranger launched their first Classics Tees Collection. A basics range cut from GOTS certified organic cotton from our certified supplier in India. Organic cotton is more sustainable. While conventional cotton used chemicals and pesticides which strip the soil, organic farming has a restorative effect. Organic cotton uses lower carbon due to lesser fuel and energy consumption as well as removal of excessive chemicals and pesticides. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain.
Since using GOTS organic cotton for the Classics Tee range, Hello Stranger now produces their cotton range in the Core Collection from GOTS certified organic cotton.
Recycled Polyester
Polyester is the fibre Hello Stranger uses for their Board Short range. Making the shift from virgin polyester to recycled polyester is part of Project Planet A and reducing their environmental impact.
LESS WASTE
In 2019 Hello Stranger made the decision to reduce dead stock by reducing the number of garments made each season. By reducing over production of products , Hello Stranger aims to eliminate waste and wasted materials. By upcycling fabric cutoffs for other products, and to tie garments for transport instead of the use of plastic bags.
THE FUTURE
PACKAGING AND WAREHOUSE HQ
Hello Stranger will move to use Paper Tape on all direct to consumer orders packaged in cardboard boxes, reducing the use of plastic tape. We will also be researching a NZ based supplier for the supply of recycled cardboard packaging and compostable courier labels.
MATERIALS
In 2021 Hello Stranger is currently in the process of their GOTS certification completing their initial audit. All GOTS certified companies will have their own (not supplier) licence number and be certified to use the GOTS logo. The GOTS logo can only be applied to the final product if all stages comply with the GOTS criteria. Therefore all processors, manufacturers, and traders of textiles need to be certified.
Hello Stranger will move to Econyl® Lycra for girls swimwear. Econyl® Lycra is made from recovering fishing nets and other nylon waste from the oceans.
LESS WASTE
Hello Stranger will continue to look at ways to upcycle and reduce waste from production.
