Sustainability
We believe businesses must take the lead on sustainability.
Zusa is made from recycled materials and constructed in factories that set the standard in environmentally conscious production practices. The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, just behind oil. There is no faster way to reverse this damage than for apparel businesses to make their products differently.
We’re on the beginning of our environmental journey, and we’re proud of the strides we have made. However, we know we have so much further to go! With sustainability (and most things in life), we know that progress is better than perfection.
With Zusa, it isn’t just about better apparel quality and comfort. It’s about doing BETTER for the planet. Zusa is high performance and high comfort, but most importantly – it’s high integrity.
93% of the Zusa line is made from recycled materials and our goal is to make that 100% in the years to come. We use recycled plastic for our polyester wherever we can instead of supporting new petroleum production like most brands. Our goal is to source and upcycle our polyester from the 8 million metric tons of plastic that enter our oceans annually. As of August 2022, Zusa has reused over 6 million recycled water bottles to create the custom sustainable clothing and gear available on our site!
Zusa is also incredibly proud to announce that it's officially a certified Carbon-Neutral brand! That means that every product in the Zusa line, from soft custom t-shirts and sustainable snuggly blankets to reusable water bottles and logo-branded duffel bags are produced with zero carbon impact on the planet. By increasing our sustainable practices and purchasing carbon credits that eliminate our emissions, we're working to create the most sustainable corporate gift line possible!
All of the means that each product uses the equivalent of multiple recycled water bottles in it's creation. Here's the amount of plastic you're saving when you buy each product:
By using recycled polyester (rPET), we’re able to deliver the same polyester performance while creating 75% lower CO2 emissions than virgin polyester and keeping that plastic out of our oceans.
The Zusa brand's apparel is sustainably and ethically created in only WRAP-certified factories around the globe. What does that mean?
- Child and involuntary labor are strictly prohibited, as well as harassment, discrimination, and abuse
- Facilities prioritize worker health and safety above all else
- Working hours, compensation, and benefits are regulated to ensure fair, competitive wages. Workers are also allowed to organize for collective bargaining, if desired
- Facilities must comply with local environmental rules and regulations
All Zusa partners go even above and beyond what is required for WRAP certification. For example, the largest supplier of Zusa uses 100% recycled biomass of eucalyptus wood and coffee husks to power its fabric dyeing machines instead of oil.
Even our packaging is made from recycled content to remain environmentally focused. Our boxes, packaging, and poly mailers are made from largely recycled content and are also recyclable after use. They also have dual peel and seal so that you can reclose and reuse the poly mailer again. Going forward, we'll be requiring all recycled material for our packaging materials and shipping pieces per our supplier and vendor's sources!
As a 1% For the Planet member, 1% of Zusa revenue is donated back to environmental nonprofits to create a healthier planet. Because once you know better, you do better.
