SUSTAINABILITY
OUR FABRICS
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T-SHIRTS
Our T-shirts are manufactured in Turkey and are made from GOTS Certified 100% Organic Cotton. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres. Benefits of Organic Cotton– Production requires 62% less energy than conventional cotton and 91% less water. No chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used in the production of organic cotton which prevents water contamination and protects local habitats and farmers.
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HEAVY JERSEY
Our Heavy jersey is manufactured in Turkey and are made from GOTS Certified 100% Organic Cotton. The Global OrganicTextile Standard (GOTS) is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres. Benefits of Organic Cotton – Production requires 62% less energy than conventional cotton and 91% less water. No chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used in the production of organic cotton which prevents water contamination and protects local habitats and farmers.
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NYLONS
Nylons are manufactured in China and are made from GRS Certified recycled PET Nylon. The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is a voluntary product standard for tracking and verifying the content of recycled materials in a final product. Benefits of recycled nylon – production requires fewer resources than virgin fibres (water, energy, fossil fuel) and diverts plastic waste from landfill and oceans, most commonly water bottles and fishing nets.
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FLEECE
Our Fleece styles are manufactured in China and are made from GRS Certified recycled PET Polyester. The Global Recycled Standard is a voluntary product standard for tracking and verifying the content of recycled materials in a final product. Benefits of recycled polyester – production requires fewer resources than virgin fibres and reduces emissions by up to 55%.
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DENIM
Our Denim is milled in Turkey using a blend of organic and recycled cotton fibres, which allows us to produce a fabric that is both environmentally responsible and highly durable. By combining these responsible materials, we reduce the reliance on conventional cotton farming and minimize environmental impact.
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ORGANIC WOVEN COTTON
Our woven cotton is primarily produced from organic fibres, ensuring a more sustainable and eco-friendly material source. By working closely with our trusted factories and mills, we craft a diverse selection of fabrics including twills, drills, ripstop, poplin, and linen styles. These fabrics are thoughtfully designed to be seasonally appropriate, combining durability with comfort.
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ECOVERO
ECOVERO is a sustainable viscose fibre derived from certified renewable wood sources. It offers a soft, lightweight feel with excellent draping, making it ideal for eco-conscious clothing. Compared to conventional viscose, its production reduces water impact and emissions by up to 50%.
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NATURAL FIBRES
Natural fibres such as wool are more sustainable as they come from renewable resources such as plants and animals, which can be replenished naturally. They typically require less energy to produce compared to synthetic fibres and have a lower environmental impact during manufacturing. Additionally, natural fibres are biodegradable, meaning they break down naturally without harming the environment.
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BCI COTTON
BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) promotes sustainable and ethical farming practices. BCI cotton farmers use less water, reduce the use of harmful chemicals, and improve soil health, which helps protect the environment. Additionally, BCI supports fair working conditions and helps farmers earn a better income, contributing to more responsible and sustainable cotton production worldwide.
Factories
It’s important to us that the factories we work with are audited regularly and align with our ethical and environmental standards. Audits cover working conditions, staff wages, welfare standards and health & safety. The audits are undertaken by accredited bodies such as SEDEX and enable us to gain a greater understanding of the social and environmental performances of our supply chain.
We are working closely with our suppliers on transparency, to enable us to fully map our supply chain. Part of our sustainability journey is to reduce our transport emissions, by bringing production closer to home it decreases our reliance of sea and air freight which reduces our carbon footprint. Since setting this goal, 85% of our production is now manufactured within Europe.
Certification
Our fabrics are sent off and tested by accredited labs to ensure that there no harmful chemicals present that are harmful to humans or the environment.
Packaging
To ensure our packaging doesn’t contribute to landfills, all our orders are packaged using recyclable cardboard boxes or paper bags, our paper bags are sourced sustainably from a carbon neutral supplier.
We use biodegradable garment bags where possible (which is approximately 95% of our production) and have removed any plastics from our garment swing tags.
To help offset our carbon footprint for the orders we send out, the DPD service we use is carbon neutral. They also use renewable energy for over 60% of their energy outputs and have an electric fleet delivering in some areas.
FAQs
How does Parlez approach sustainability and responsible production?
We approach sustainability as an ongoing commitment to making better choices about how our clothing is designed, made and delivered.
Since 2023, the fabrics used across Parlez have been made from recycled, organic, natural and more environmentally conscious materials, with fabrics certified and tested throughout the production process. This includes GOTS-certified organic cotton in our T-shirts and heavy jersey, and GRS-certified recycled materials across products such as nylon and fleece.
We also consider where and how our products are manufactured, the standards of the factories we work with, packaging and the longevity of the clothing we make. We know there is always more that can be done, so rather than treating sustainability as a finished goal, we continue to look for ways to reduce our impact and improve how Parlez products are made.
How does Parlez try to reduce waste and overproduction?
We try to reduce waste by making considered choices throughout the life of a Parlez product, from the materials we use and the quantities we produce to how each order is packaged and delivered.
Where possible, we use organic and recycled materials, including GOTS-certified organic cotton and GRS-certified recycled fabrics, helping to reduce our reliance on virgin resources.
We also work to avoid unnecessary overproduction by carefully planning the quantities we manufacture, rather than producing excessive stock that may never be worn.
Packaging is another important part of this. We have worked to remove unnecessary plastics and use recyclable or biodegradable packaging wherever possible, including recyclable cardboard boxes and paper packaging. Our aim is simple: reduce unnecessary waste while continuing to make clothing that's designed to be worn and enjoyed for as long as possible.
What is Parlez doing to reduce the environmental impact of its packaging?
We’re working to reduce unnecessary packaging and remove plastics wherever possible. All Parlez orders are packaged using recyclable cardboard boxes or paper bags, with our paper bags sourced from a carbon-neutral supplier.
We also use biodegradable garment bags wherever possible, currently covering approximately 95% of our production, and we’ve removed plastic from our garment swing tags. We’ll continue looking for ways to reduce the amount of packaging we use and improve the materials it’s made from.
What sustainable materials does Parlez use?
We use a range of organic, recycled and more responsible materials across our collections. These include GOTS-certified organic cotton, GRS-certified recycled nylon and polyester, organic and recycled cotton blends, ECOVERO™ viscose and natural fibres such as wool.
The exact material varies by product, so you'll always find the specific fabric composition on the individual product page.
What is Parlez doing to reduce the impact of transporting its clothing?
One way we're working to reduce transport emissions is by bringing more of our production closer to home, reducing our reliance on long-distance sea and air freight.
Roughly 85% of Parlez production is now manufactured within Europe. We continue to work with our suppliers to understand where improvements can be made throughout our supply chain.
Is Parlez clothing made from organic cotton?
Many of our cotton products are made using organic cotton. Our T-shirts and heavy jersey products are manufactured in Turkey using GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton, while organic cotton is also used across a range of our woven fabrics.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) provides independently recognised standards for textiles made using organic fibres.
Does Parlez use recycled materials?
Yes. We use recycled materials across a number of Parlez products, particularly our nylon and fleece styles.
Our recycled nylon is made using GRS-certified recycled PET nylon, while our fleece uses GRS-certified recycled PET polyester. The Global Recycled Standard helps verify recycled content through the supply chain.
Does Parlez support environmental organisations?
Yes. Supporting environmental organisations has been an important part of our sustainability journey. Parlez has worked with 1% for the Planet, committing 1% of annual sales to organisations working to protect the environment, with a particular focus on our oceans and marine ecosystems. Through this work, we supported organisations including the Marine Conservation Society, Surfers Against Sewage and Ghost Fishing UK.
