Resources
How do you use our natural resources?
Responsibly and respectfully.
We are committed to the responsible use of natural resources. One of these resources is water. Most of our textiles are made from cotton – and cotton farming needs a lot of water. Another important resource is wood. As well as using wood to build our furniture, we also use paper for our catalogues and mailings.
Is there a way of farming cotton that conserves natural resources and is kind to the environment?
Yes. Organic cotton and our “Cotton made in Africa” initiative are two examples.
bonprix has been a keen supporter of the “Cotton made in Africa” (CmiA) initiative for a number of years now. At every stage, from planting to harvesting and even marketing, the payback for the people involved and the planet is substantial. The CmiA initiative facilitates cotton cultivation with social and environmental added value. Local farmers are given training on different pesticides, and cotton is harvested by hand instead of using machinery. Unlike conventional cotton farming, CmiA cotton is grown exclusively using rainfed cultivation methods. This saves over 2000 litres of water for every kilo of cotton harvested.
Organic cotton is another natural energy saver. It is grown without any synthetic fertilisers or chemical pesticides, which massively reduces the amount of carbon dioxide produced. The carbon footprint for an organic cotton T-shirt is much smaller than for a comparable top made with conventional cotton.
That’s why we continue to increase the percentage of our clothes made either with organic cotton or through the Cotton made in Africa scheme.
Is there a way of producing timber that conserves natural resources and is kind to the environment?
Yes. And we’re using more and more of this wood.
Wood is another important natural resource for us. We not only use wood to build our furniture, but also for paper for our catalogues and in our offices. Most of the paper we use is recycled. And over 60% of our wood products are FSC® certified and come from responsibly farmed, sustainable sources. Over half of all the paper we use for catalogues will be FSC® certified by 2020. Meaning more pine trees, spruces and oaks can be grown sustainably in the future.
