Our commitment

A new world is emerging

To us, fashion is more than just looking good. It’s about doing good. Our mission is to challenge the status quo, both in the fashion industry and in people’s minds. To take action. In fact, it’s been our agenda since 1969, so we have a pretty solid idea of what it takes.

We want to make people aware. To inspire people to make responsible choices that will force he clothing industry to change. Having had sustainability at the core of our business since the start, we have the framework, the knowledge, and the determination to continue to show the way in sustainable clothing.

Respect for people

One of our core values is respect. Respect for the planet and all its citizens. This has pretty much been the core of our business since we started over 50 years ago – guiding our struggle for fair conditions and a responsible use of resources in a small-minded, conservative industry. We know what it takes to fight against traditions, structures and exploitation. But we also know that change is possible.

At KnowledgeCotton Apparel, we acknowledge the responsibility we have towards people. Not only the people in our direct vicinity, but also those working in our supply chain in various countries. We do not own our own production facilities, but still take the responsibility for the various people whose lives we are affecting.

There are a lot of women working in the textile business. It is important that they receive the same treatment and salary as men. Several of our suppliers have educational programs helping socially vulnerable women and other arrangements that improve their lives. To ensure social responsibility, in addition to our own visits, we rely on third-party certification. Social
compliance is a part of GOTS that each production step in the chain must comply with.

As a Scandinavian brand, we truly believe in the ideals of equality, justice and respect. We carry with us an understanding of the need for balance in life, and appreciate the importance of human values such as family, friendship and love. We believe that cooperation is the key to success. Because we all share a common responsibility for the future.

Waste is a treasure

Did you know that we have consumed more resources in the last 50 years than in all of history?

More than 8.3 billion tons of plastic has been produced since the industrial production began in the 1950’s. Only 9% has been recycled, the rest sit in landfills, pollute our oceans or have been burned. It’s not only a disaster for the environment, but an awful waste of Earth’s limited resources.

A rapidly growing world population puts enormous pressure on our natural resources. The transition to a circular economy is crucial in order to save the climate and reduce overuse of the Earth’s resources.

Every year we consume billions of tons of natural resources and sooner or later they simply run out. Water, air, oil, natural gas, coal and minerals are considered the six most important resources that humanity currently cannot survive without.

Our seventh resource is recycling. By recycling, we can protect our important natural resources. Reuse and recycling reduce the impact on the environment and climate while improving people’s living conditions and providing new livelihoods. Already today, the world saves over 770 million tons of CO2 emissions every year by recycling, and it is constantly increasing.

To be successful, we need to re-evaluate our view of waste. Many organizations and individuals show the way through creativity and innovation. We want to be one of them. We already take care of our waste and consider it an important resource in a circular system. The whole idea is to think again about what we throw away. We think resource, not waste.

Sharing Knowledge

By sharing knowledge, we believe we can inspire people to make better, more informed choices. Facing the great environmental challenges of our time, good choices are needed in this world. We are therefore joining forces and support people who share our visions for a better tomorrow – our friends of knowledge.

In our communication, we tell and teach about what we do and the impacts and benefits of using sustainable materials. We share this knowledge with our colleagues, partners and you. We think it is of great importance to educate, motivate and cooperate with our customers by means of knowledge sharing and academy training.

It is when we meet with our customers and consumers that we can really communicate and get our message out there. Academy talks, events and presentations with our customers are important opportunities for this.

We also invest time in knowledge sharing at different schools and universities. We are invited to give presentations and do interviews or assist with paper writing. We believe it is vital for the future generations to learn about sustainability and how to run a business based on a sustainable model.

Initiatives that share our goal of promoting sustainability should be part of our universe. This is why we sponsor carefully selected events and awards. We also enter into cooperations with partners and friends of knowledge, who have stories to tell and that are a good fit for us.