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As part of the H&M Group, we share its goals and ambitions to be a leader of environmental, sustainable and ethical change in the fashion industry. Not just in terms of the garments we make but how we operate as a business.
Our journey to responsible merch begins with replacing 'minimum order quantity' to a situation where demand leads supply. Your designs live online until one of your fans makes a purchase, only then will we print the merch. You don't need to hold stock, there's zero waste from overproduction, and no startup costs.
DTG Printing is essentially a big inkjet printer for garments. It's a process that's perfect for custom merch as it's capable of producing intricate, detailed designs to a really high quality. It can be standardised, which lets us use different local production partners close to your fans, without compromising quality. The colour matching is controllable, and it uses water-based inks, which are less harmful to our environment.
CO2 savings
water savings
energy savings
waste from over production
Source: ir.kornit.com
Our production partners and their businesses have been selected very carefully, as part of the H&M Group's work towards responsible fashion. As well as the quality of their output, we examine how they use energy and where it comes from, also their overall sustainability and ethical credentials. These progressive partners share our view that everything we do together should have a positive impact on our world.
We work with leading supply chain partners across the world, each thoroughly vetted by H&M Group, using decades of experience. Our criteria for partnerships include:
Making things to order is great. Making things to order with production partners that are close to your customers is even better. As part of the H&M Group, we can tap into its global production network and use tech to get your merch made locally to each of your fans. This means lower emissions plus quicker production and fulfilment for your fans too. A win-win for the planet and people.
Your merch will be shipped in fully-recyclable and reusable packaging that's been developed by the H&M Group. Plastic-free without compromising on the protection of its contents, the packaging comes in four sizes to reduce waste and is FSC C117673-certified. To date, 90 million of these packages have been sent, which is a huge step towards a completely plastic-free delivery system.
As a part of CREATOR STUDIO, you'll be using True Blanks - our own blanks label, made with 100% organic cotton and recycled polyester. The collection sits in the cross-section of heritage merch and the fashion world, relevant yet timeless. The entire production chain is controlled by us, so we can monitor and control every stage to secure the quality of each garment. In the future we hope to be able to share with you the environmental impact of the production of your piece of merch.
True Blanks garments are made with 100% organic cotton, made possible thanks to the ongoing work of the H&M Group to push the industry towards circularity and responsible production. Organic production uses less water, less energy and produces considerably less harmful emissions and pollutants than 'fast fibre farming'.
All the polyester we use is recycled and made of PET derived from recycled post-use plastic bottles. It has the same properties as conventional virgin polyester and is strong, durable and moisture resistant. Choosing recycled polyester means a 20% saving on water consumption compared to virgin polyester, 30% less carbon emissions, and energy savings of up to 45%.
Merch isn't just a canvas for creativity, it's a chance for your fans to add their narratives to your pieces. Regardless of how responsibly our merch is made, if it gathers dust in your closet it's all for nothing. We believe in buying consciously, asking if you really need something before you add to basket. We want you to fall in love with a garment and its creative message, and then wear it to threads. Because usership is the real sustainable thinking.
We encourage the proper recycling of garments regardless of whether they're connected to CREATOR STUDIO or not. H&M Group has invested heavily in the systems needed to make the most of a garment that is handed in to one of its stores at the end of its life. If we can renew it and give it a new life, we will.
water savings
less pollution
energy usage
fewer greenhouse gasses
Source: theecohub.com
CO2 savings
water savings
energy savings
Plastic-free packaging and labels (FSC C117673) in four sizes to reduce waste. Developed inhouse by the H&M Group.
renewable energy used during production
added protection without using plastic
packaging and label can be fully recycled
CONTROL UNION
Our suppliers and the garments they produce are certified by Control Union Certifications. It specialises in the sustainability of industrial supply chains that go into many areas, one of which is fashion and textiles.
OCS 100 CERTIFICATION
The Organic Content Standard (OCS) applies to a product with 95-100% organic material. During the certification process, our suppliers are examined to make sure the cotton they source, use and work with is organic.
ORGANIC BLENDED
The OSC Blended Standard applies to products that have between 5-100% organic material. It secures the quality and confirms the percentage of organic material being used during the production of a garment made from a blended textile.
FSC MIX A certification from the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council), products with this certification are made using a mix of materials from FSC-certified forests, recycled materials and/or other FSC controlled woods.
© CREATOR STUDIO 2022
Part of H&M Group