Canadian brand Tentree presents a new ecological concept of fashion. For every piece of clothing sold, it plants ten trees. With the click of a button on the brand’s website, consumers get to decide whether the tree will be planted in Madagascar, Senegal, Haiti, Nepal, Cambodia, Indonesia, USA, or Canada.
CEO Derrick Emsley has openly shared Tentree's rapid growth since its inception in 2012. As production increased, product development through spreadsheets and emails ceased to be efficient. Says Emsley, "The pace of growth has been exciting but it has also been an undoubted challenge in terms of volume."
The company's dedication to the environment is evident, as reflected in its name, ten trees are planted for every item they sell. Sustainability is embedded in their culture, but communication and tracking certifications were becoming cumbersome.
Traceable Supply Chain
Emsley has stated that one of the biggest challenges it faces is the traceability of its entire logistics chain. Chain of custody is a big challenge, especially when it comes to sustainable materials, where it states where this product came from, how that organic cotton was grown, and the ability to track it on every single product.
Thanks to new and innovative cloud-based solutions, Tentree is able to provide visibility into its entire product development process. Designers are no longer engaged in some of the more tedious aspects of their work and can focus on being creative. Working with key environmental partners is easier thanks to the digital tracking of certifications. By capturing all the complex steps required to meet their green product standards in a detailed, automated workflow, Tentree can focus on selling more clothes, which means planting more trees.
Pollution
As we all know, the textile industry is highly polluting. According to the United Nations, it generates 10% of carbon emissions and 20% of wastewater.
To manufacture one type of jeans, 3781 liters of water are needed. Another example is that many of the fabrics used to make garments, such as polyester, nylon or acrylic, release particles called microplastics when they are washed. Microplastics often end up in our seas and oceans.
As a sustainable B Corp Brand, Tentree uses t uses sustainable materials for its designs; for example, coconut shells for buttons, cork for patches, natural dyes, hemp, and organic GOTS-certified cotton or linen. In addition, they use recycled polyester as well as recycled wool certified by REPREVE®, the leading, most trusted, branded performance fiber made from recycled materials.
Social Commitment
By combining social and environmental awareness with clothing, this brand enables consumers to have a direct impact on the environment and communities around the world. Ten Tree's success is measured in the number of trees planted.
Since they started the idea in January 2012, they have planted over 6 million trees worldwide. Its designs vary in comfortable clothing for men and women. All of their designs feature trees or nature motifs.
New Circular Solution to Textile Waste
This past August, Tentree launched a new initiative by collaborating with circular solution providers Treet and SuperCircle.
With the goal to reduce landfill waste, the apparel brand has efficiently set up a service through which customers can donate unwanted items that, based on their condition, will either be resold or recycled.
To take part, customers can request a free shipping label on Tentree’s website, enabling them to sustainably dispose of clothing in exchange for credit to be used towards future purchases.