Compostable packaging

Compostable packaging is made from plant-based or fossil fuel materials and can break down at the end of its life,
providing the earth with useful nutrients. However, that doesn’t mean you can dispose of your compostable
packaging wherever you like. As the name suggests, it has to be disposed of correctly and be added to your
composting bin. Be careful—while all compostable packaging is also biodegradable, the contrary is not necessarily
true, so always check the instructions on how to dispose of the packaging correctly. Unfortunately, brands will often
try to greenwash here, even going so far as to use the word compostable when they really mean biodegradable. If the
brand doesn’t provide specific instructions on the disposal of their packaging, chances are it’s not as simple as it
seems.

The good news is some fashion brands have started looking at compostable packaging: New-Zealand-based Maggie
Marilyn, for example, packages her garments using ComPlast, a cassava-based compostable bag. The brand goes
even further by using compostable bags to ship wholesale items. The bags are made by The Better Packaging
Company from cornstarch and synthetic polymers.

German brand LANIUS, as well as Los Angeles-based Reformation, have also been using compostable
bags. Finisterre is also a great example, with marine safe garment bags and mailbags made from unbleached kraft
pulp, both of which are compostable.

Recycled packaging
We’re also seeing a lot of brands, ethical or not, saying they use cardboards, recycled or recyclable packaging when
shipping online orders. One label to look out for here is the Forest Stewardship Council—while it’s not quite as good
as compostable and biodegradable options, it ensures that the cardboard used comes from responsibly managed
forests.

LANIUS, a Good On You staff favourite, for example, offers the possibility to choose an already used carton as a
shipping option for your order. All packaging materials they use, from cardboard to stickers, are also carefully
selected.

Reformation is also paving the way for other sustainable brands: it uses plastic-free and 100% recycled paper
products, as well as recycled paper hangers.

Another of our faves, Whimsy + Row, sends out products in 100% recycled and recyclable boxes that are pretty
enough to reuse, too!

Fashion For Good has also launched a pilot in partnership with Adidas, C&A, Kering, Otto Group and PVH Corp.,
“The Circular Polybag Pilot”, to reduce the use and impact of polybags in the fashion industry. The pilot is currently
looking at a solution to manufacture recycled polybag, using a high percentage of post-consumer polybag waste.

Eco garment bags

With the positive attributes of plastic : strength, transparency and durability, but degrading to leave no harmful substances at all within 12
months,
Eco Garment Bags offer a unique, eco-friendly packaging solution to fashion’s polybag problem.

It is 98% clear / transparent, non-toxic, biodegradable, compostable, safe for marine life and fully dissolves in hot water from 66°C.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHAs are polyesters produced in nature by numerous microorganisms, including through bacterial fermentation of sugars 

There are five key material choices to look at when considering polybags – or equivalent packaging.
These are LDPE (Polyethylene), recycled LDPE, bio-based LDPE, compostable plastic blends, paper and
polyvinylalcohol (PVA). Each of these materials comes with specific trade-offs and their own unique
qualities. The environmental impact of these materials differs, with recycled and bio-based LDPE being
the lowest in greenhouse gas emissions, whilst materials such as PVA and paper fare less well.
Compostable plastics are more difficult to assess due to the blends of bio-based and petroleum-based
plastics used – but are generally quite good – more so if they have a high bio-based content.

Most plastic hangers are not made of one type of plastic, but a mix of different plastics. Which makes it
hard to recycle them. You can find ways to reuse them, but the truth is that a good amount of them will
inevitably end up in landfills or in our oceans.

Wooden hangrs made from sustainably sourced woods

Hangers from recycled materials

Sustainable hangers from marine plastic,ocean plastic and post consumer plastic