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1/3 OUR COMMITMENT
We believe that living a beautiful life that’s in sync with the planet is not only possible, but can be elevated, exciting and effortlessly chic.
For us, sustainability is not just an add-on or an afterthought; it’s the reason why RIISE exists. Every single product or item that you find on RIISE has been vetted to ensure it’s aligned with our vision for the future, one that is decarbonised, circular and regenerative. Our curation of products embodies these sustainability values whilst championing design, quality and craftsmanship. We want to embrace a new way of purchasing items for ourselves, loved ones or the home that is entrenched in truly valuing the objects that make up our daily lives, along with their environmental impact. We understand that the sustainability discussion can be confusing and overwhelming. That’s why we are striving to take the guesswork out of making purchasing decisions that are not only better for you, but better for the future.We have worked with sustainability expert and regenerative fashion advocate Lucianne Tonti, who has authored Sundressed: Natural Fabrics and the Future of Clothing, to develop a series of sustainability standards that we hold the brands we champion to. We are committed to presenting you with the world’s best sustainable brands so that you can be confident that when you purchase, you’re part of the solution.
2/3 VALUES
Our vision of the future is one that is decarbonised, circular and regenerative.
Our mission is driven by a desire for economic change. We want to fund the future by diverting dollars away from supply chains that cause climate change (such as those that rely on fossil fuels), and towards the brands and businesses actively helping to mitigate it through their sustainable practices.
1/4 DECARBONISED
Decarbonisation is achieved by switching from fossil fuels (such as coal, natural gas or oil) to carbon-free and renewable energy sources. What does this mean in terms of fashion, accessories, lifestyle, homewares and beauty products? Decarbonisation takes place across the supply chain, in the choice of materials used (for example, natural fibres over synthetics), if the locations of manufacture are powered by renewable energy, the packaging, and even in the maintenance it requires (how often you have to wash, dry and iron it).2/4 CIRCULAR
A circular approach places an emphasis not only on tactful materials and low-impact production, but it goes even further to consider what happens to an item once we’re done with it. All of the products on RIISE have been selected because they are made to last and designed to be repaired, recycled or composted.3/4 REGENERATIVE
Regeneration involves giving back more to the earth than we take from it to not just minimise our impact on the environment but actively replenish it. Regeneration occurs when a brand uses natural materials that have been grown without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides via farming practices that improve biodiversity and help restore ecosystems. Regenerative farming allows soil to absorb and hold more carbon, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. These products are compostable or biodegradable, so can also return to the earth at the end of their life.4/4 REALITIES & PRACTICALITIES
The sustainability space is constantly evolving. To ensure we’re always following best practice, our parameters are fluid and constantly updated. Sometimes we make exceptions for brands who are on this journey with us but are limited by the technology available to them. Our packaging is plastic-free and made from a mix of recycled, compostable and recyclable materials, but it is not zero-waste. We endeavour to give all RIISE products an end-of-life strategy, but none of these solutions are perfect – yet. We’re dedicated to being part of the transition to a better future, and on this journey perfection can’t be the enemy of progress.3/3 SUSTAINABILITY PARAMETERS
Every item or product you find on RIISE has been assessed for its sustainability merit across three categories: raw materials, supply chain and end of life.
1/7 RAW MATERIALS: NATURAL, RENEWABLE & BIODEGRADABLE
Products made from natural, renewable and biodegradable materials and ingredients are the future of sustainability - and by choosing to buy them, we can collectively drive funds away from the fossil fuel industries. Unlike their synthetic counterparts (such as plastic, polyester, nylon, PVC, acrylic and rayon, paraffin wax and mineral oil) they are not derived from fossil fuels. In the case of apparel, natural fibres do not shed plastic microfibres into the environment when they are worn or washed. The natural fibres we preference are hemp, linen, traceable cotton, certified cotton, traceable wool, traceable cashmere, traceable leather, Tencel or Ecovero, responsible silk, natural rubber, or ceramics, all of which can return to the earth at the end of their life. In the beauty and wellness space, we champion products made without petrochemicals as these products do not contain fossil fuels.2/7 RAW MATERIALS: WASTE REIMAGINED
A key pillar of circularity is utilising materials already in existence, whether this be through upcycling, recycling, repurposing or using deadstock fabrics. Every time we divert something destined for landfill and reimagine it as a desirable product, we are reducing our reliance on virgin resources. We look to brands that use methods to keep existing resources in circularity and help the transition away from fossil fuels (for this reason we avoid recycled polyester). The fibres we preference are recycled cellulose, recycled cotton, recycled wool and cashmere, Econyl regenerated nylon, deadstock, up-cycling, recycled metals and recycled glass.3/7 RAW MATERIALS: CLEAN INNOVATION
We are big fans of the ongoing innovations providing new solutions and want to acknowledge the good work that’s being done to evolve next-generation materials and ingredients. But we carefully consider every single material and ingredient to ensure it doesn’t compromise our goal of ending our reliance on fossil fuels. We are always on the lookout for new innovations. Some innovations we are excited about include Mirum and TômTex.4/7 SUPPLY CHAIN: TRACEABILITY
Without traceability, it is impossible to fully understand a product’s environmental impact. Our preference is to only platform products that can be traced from the farm or region in which its raw materials or ingredients were harvested through to the finished item. For fibres, we equally emphasise the need to understand where each material was processed, spun and woven or knitted into fabric to ensure proper management of resources is in place from use of chemicals to waste disposal to renewable power sources. To meet this criteria, a brand must answer questions that demonstrate they have visibility over their supply chain.5/7 SUPPLY CHAIN: RESPONSIBLE & RESOURCEFUL
It’s not always possible to trace every finished product to the source of its raw material. When we can’t, we believe in applying the best available practice to parts of the supply chain that can be problematic. We look for products that have a reasonable balance across chemical management, waste management, renewable energy and local production. Chemical management: misuse of chemicals can harm workers and the environment, so chemicals must be carefully managed. We encourage products to comply with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZHDC) monitored substances list (MRSL) to ensure there are no banned substances. We also look to fabric suppliers with verified third-party certifications such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX, Bluesign and REACH. Waste management: we love brands that minimise waste, whether it’s through innovations in manufacturing, offering a made-to-order model, having programs in place for resale and rental or repurposing fabric offcuts. Renewable energy: we are committed to working with businesses who are embracing renewable energy wherever they can. For a lot of innovative suppliers, switching to solar or wind power is one of the first things they do on their journey towards sustainability. Local production: manufacturing products in the country where the design and product development team is based affords greater transparency into how each product is made, from the treatment of the workers to the resources used in production methods. Other benefits of local production include reduced emissions from shipping and transport.6/7 END OF LIFE: CIRCULAR
In the future we’re striving towards, fashion and beauty is circular. All of our old clothes are reused, repaired and re-worn before being recycled. The latest science says clothes made from one type of fibre are the easiest to recycle, with an allowance for 5% synthetic materials. These are the materials we prioritise on RIISE. Likewise, we champion circular beauty and lifestyle products that have significantly reduced single-use packaging and can be recycled or refilled. We preference products made with responsibly sourced ingredients and embrace regenerative principles. Before discarding any apparel from RIISE, we ask you to consider reselling on a platform such as Depop, Vestiarie Collective or eBay to give a second life to the garment. If the piece has been so extensively loved and worn that it will not be of use to anyone, please email us. Similarly, if unsure how to dispose of your beauty and wellness empties, please reach out. We have partners to ensure no clothing waste or cosmetic packaging from RIISE ends up in landfill.7/7 END OF LIFE: BIODEGRADABLE OR COMPOSTABLE
Another fitting end of a product’s life is to be returned to the soil. Products made from blends of natural, cellulose or protein fibres cannot currently be recycled, but are biodegradable and therefore have an end of life strategy. Compostable is a higher bar to reach than biodegradable. Only products made from unblended natural, cellulose or protein fibres can be composted, and they must have been dyed naturally and have not been treated with extensive chemicals. All compostable products are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable products are compostable. Biodegradable refers to materials that are broken down by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. These products may take decades to disappear completely, and may leave toxic residue. On the other hand, compostable refers to materials that disintegrate and result in nutrient-rich soil. Compostable products generally only take a few months to break down and leave no residue.© 2024 RIISE, All Rights Reserved
