Denim brand G-Star Raw has developed Cradle to Cradle gold level certified jeans. To develop sustainable denim, G-Star partnered suppliers Dystar, Artistic Milliners and Saitex, evaluating the entire design process to identify opportunities to reduce environmental impact.
The result is a denim fabric made from 100 per cent organic cotton, grown without any synthetic fertilizers or toxic pesticides, and the cleanest indigo-dyeing process to-date. The process uses 70 per cent less chemicals, no salts and produces no salt by-product during the reduction or dye process, consequently saving water and leaving clean, recyclable water effluent.
To further enhance product sustainability, G-Star removed all components that could not be easily recycled — such as rivets and zippers — replacing them with eco-finished metal buttons. Additionally, the brand will ensure all labeling and carton packaging are responsibly sourced.
G-Star Raw takes responsibility to lead by example in promoting sustainable denim innovation. G-Star also worked with Saitex to develop new washing techniques that ensure 98 per cent of the water used can be recycled and reused, with the remaining two per cent evaporating, leaving no water left behind to be wasted or released into the environment. The new denim fabric and its revolutionary indigo process will become an open source for the rest of the industry to use.
