Sustainable Products

We are committed to low impact materials to reduce the environmental impact of our products - saving water and energy, and conserving resources that threaten ocean health.

All Piping Hot products are made with low impact materials. We have eliminated virgin polyester from our supply chain and prioritise recycled materials to reduce waste and tackle plastic pollution.

Our approach is science-based and design led. We design with circularity in mind. Creating a global solution for clean oceans is at the forefront of our decision making.

 

Low Impact Materials

We have developed innovative fabrics that feel good and are better for our oceans.

Every Piping Hot product is made with one of the below low impact materials.

Our material selections are based on a thorough analysis of water intake, energy use and waste output. We reference global industry data and Life Cycle Analysis metho in our assessment. This considers the full life cycle impact of a material.

  • Piping Hot’s recycled polyester is as durable as virgin polyester but emits far less greenhouse gases, and conserves more water and energy, making it better for the earth and the ocean.

    Utilising 62% less energy, 99% less water and expelling 35% less waste than conventional polyester, recycled polyester is our preferred choice for Piping Hot swimwear and fleece products.

  • It takes an estimated 10,000 litres of water to produce just 1 kilo of conventional cotton.

    We use a recycled cotton blend to make our T-shirts and sweats. By sourcing recycled cotton Piping Hot can conserve water and prevent waste from going to landfill. No water is used in the recycling process which saves water commonly used in conventional cotton production.

    Piping Hot’s recycled cotton is made by collecting discarded and surplus cotton and yarn from the fabric mill. The reclaimed fibres are mechanically chopped into fine, short fibres and spun with cotton to create a yarn.

  • More than 150 million trees are logged every year and turned into cellulosic fabric such as viscose.

    Piping Hot is committed to protecting ancient and endangered forests. To ensure we are sourcing responsibly harvested trees, we have partnered with Canopy. Canopy is a non-profit organisation that works with industry to conserve forests and transform unsustainable forest product supply chains.

    All of our viscose is sourced from CanopyStyle Audited low-risk suppliers including Lenzing™ Eco-Vero™.

    We are continually improving our sourcing with our main focus to transition to low impact viscose fibres.

    We have a forest protection policy and support industry action through our partnership with Canopy Planet.

  • Buying a linen shirt rather than a cotton shirt will save 19.5 litres of water, a compelling factor in our decision to use linen in our products.

    European flax farmers apply water efficiency techniques in their farming method, which means they save even more water. We have traced our linen supply chain to flax farms in Europe. Our linen is sourced by the Vanneste family business through their partnerships with French, Belgian and Dutch suppliers.

  • We’re proud members of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). We partner with BCI to improve cotton farming globally. Taking a holistic approach to producing cotton in a sustainable way, BCI Farmers produce cotton in a way that cares for the environment, minimising the negative effects of fertilisers and pesticides, and caring for water, soil health and natural habitats. BCI Farmers also commit to decent work principles - conditions that support workers’ safety and wellbeing.

    Better Cotton is sourced via a system of mass balance and is not physically traceable to end products.

  • The dyeing and finishing of textiles accounts for 17-20% of all industrial water usage. By reducing dye and wash treatments we can significantly lower our water use in the production process.

    All Piping Hot garments are OEKO-TEX certified and are free from known harmful chemicals.

    Our dye facilities recycle up to 80% of the water used in the dyeing process.

  • In a commitment to circularity we prioritise mono-materiality of fibres.

    By avoiding the use of blended fibres we better enable recycling of garments at their end of life and can contribute to reducing textile waste.

  • Piping Hot swing tags are made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified 100% recycled paper.

    Our parcel packaging is biodegradable and compostable.

Piping Hot Footwear

We prioritise recycled materials to reduce waste and conserve resources. Our footwear is made with recycled materials reclaimed from the manufacturing process. All Piping Hot soles are made with 25% recycled content.

BLOOM™ is a material made using renewable waste algae. By removing algae from waterways, BLOOM™ reduces water pollution.

All Piping Hot soles are made with 5% BLOOM™, a material that transforms waste algae from water pollution into new materials, replacing portions of fossil fuel-based materials in consumer products like shoes.

  • BLOOM™ materials are the result of repurposing waste algae into useful materials, preventing it from decomposing and releasing harmful greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and resulting in cleaner air. Piping Hot soles are made with 5% BLOOM™.

  • We prioritise recycled materials to reduce waste and conserve resources.

    All Piping Hot footwear soles contain a minimum 25% recycled materials reclaimed from the manufacturing process.

  • We can tackle single use plastic waste by recycling PET bottles into recycled sherpa.

    Piping Hot sherpa boots are made with recycled polyester made from post-consumer plastic waste.

Certifications and Memberships

We rely on third-party standards and certifications to be sure that our sustainable claims have been independently verified. This provides integrity and accountability to our customers.⁠

Here are some of our current certifications.

Piping Hot invests in the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) to improve cotton farming globally. BCI trains farmers to use water efficiently, care for soil health and natural habitats, reduce use of the most harmful chemicals and respoect workers’ rights and wellbeing.

 Transparency

We believe transparency is an essential element for sustainability. At Piping Hot we know who made our clothes. We are proud to have 100% transparency of our entire supply chain from Tier 1 through to Tier 4. We have published our garment factory suppliers on a third-party database called Open Supply Hub.
We are always looking to improve and manage risks, but knowing where we stand gives us the ability to continuously progress our impact.

 

Ethical Production

We support the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact. We publish an annual Communication on Progress, reporting on the actions we are taking to continually improve on Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption and the integration of the Ten Principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. You can read our 2021 report here.