“CHNGE stands among a community of consumers ready to revolutionize commerce. Our work to produce carbon neutral clothing through protecting forests is just one piece of the puzzle. Along with all our other initiatives, we will empower customers to cast a vote with every dollar they spend – a vote for ethics, transparency, and progress. We hope you join the fight for change around the world and share in the responsibility we all have to protect our planet and each other.”
CHNGE is a fashion brand with a difference. In their own words, they “exist to give consumers who care an outlet to make a positive impact in the world through their purchases.” Their unique and bold clothing includes compelling phrases and calls to action such as “system change not climate change” and “save the future”.
Not only their designs, but the way that CHNGE make their clothes demand change in the fashion industry. All garments use 100% organic cotton, they are fully transparent about their factories, they pledge to donate 50% of net profits to organisations creating progressive social and environmental change. And they are 100% carbon neutral – for not only for production but also for the use of their shirts by customers in the washing and drying for their lifetime. A stand out for the fashion industry.
“Most consumers may not realize this, but a large percentage of carbon emissions in fashion come from washing and drying the garment after it’s purchased. It’s similar to the automobile industry: building cars creates a lot of carbon, but driving them creates a whole lot more.”
Manufacturing clothing also contributes to climate change and deforestation because of the:
- Growing of materials
- Energy needed to source materials and power factories
- Shipping and transport through the supply chain
- Sourcing, washing, and dyeing of fabrics
CHNGE offset the full carbon footprint of their products, from the production and transportation through to the use phase, by protecting and facilitating the continued growth of forests at our Tambopata-Bahuaja Biodiversity Reserve project in Peru.
On the powers of forests, CHNGE says, “These hotbeds of biodiversity are one of our greatest assets in the fight against climate change. As a global community we’ve enlisted the most brilliant scientists and environmentalists to find a solution to climate change, all the while the Earth has already had the perfect system for cleansing the air of CO2… photosynthesis. When you purchase one of our products you are supporting the idea that a company should not only be cognisant of the impact it’s having on the world, but take responsibility for it.”
CHNGE is at the forefront of companies recognising and assessing the full scope of the carbon footprint of their products by addressing scope 3 emissions (use of their product by customers). While they cannot have much direct impact on how customers wash and dry their clothing, CHNGE acknowledges this climate impact is within their scope of influence and are taking action to mitigate it.
This work is made possible through our partnership with the organisation Stand for Trees that is dedicated to empowering people to take action to protect forests and combat climate change.
