Materials
We strive to make our fashion collections with a lower environmental impact.
Clothing made of preferred* materials
Responsible fashion begins with the selection of materials for our collections. We carefully monitor the raw materials market and progressively introduce certified and preferred materials into what we offer. We primarily look for fabrics with a lower carbon footprint and for recycled textiles, thus enabling us to meet our SBTi-approved targets.
Our collections include organic fibres, certified recycled materials, as well as licensed cellulose fibres made from wood pulp.
Table showing the main categories of raw materials and materials used in LPP in 2023
Raw material | % of raw materials in relation to the total |
|---|---|
Cotton | 46.27% |
Polyester | 31.84% |
Cellulose fibres | 5.60% |
Other | 16.29% |
Total | 100% |
*Textile Exchange, a non-profit organisation, defines preferred materials as ‘fibres or raw materials for material production that, compared to their conventional counterparts, have a lesser negative impact on the environment, while simultaneously providing greater benefits for the climate, nature, and people through a holistic approach to the production process’.
Source: Preferred Fibers and Materials Definition (textileexchange.org)
Based on this definition, we consider the preferred materials used in our collections to be those that have a lower carbon footprint than their conventional counterparts or are sourced from recycling.
Table of GHG emission factors for sourcing preferred materials compared to their conventional counterparts.
Table of GHG emission factors for sourcing preferred materials compared to their conventional counterparts
Material type | Emission factor for raw material extraction [kg CO2e/kg] |
|---|---|
Conventional polyester | 2.74 |
Recycled polyester | 0.681 |
Repreve TM Polyester | 1.21 |
Conventional cotton | 2.63 |
Organic cotton | 1.00 |
Recycled cotton | 0.355 |
Cotton made in Africa | 1.26 |
Conventional wool | 40.8 |
Recycled wool | 1.88 |
Conventional viscose | 10.3 |
Lenzing Ecovero | 3.18 |
Livaeco TM by Birla | 3.67 |
Conventional lyocell | 8.32 |
Lenzing Tencel Lyocell | 3.16 |
Conventional modal | 12.3 |
Lenzing Modal | 2.84 |
Acetate | 11.7 |
Eastman Naia | 3.06 |
Source: The Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI), Version 3.7 Update (December 2023).
Cotton made in Africa
In 2021, we also joined the group of partners of Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) – a renowned international standard for sustainable production of African cotton. A raw material bearing the CmiA standard is an alternative to conventional cotton; it is grown not only with respect for environmentally friendly principles, but also with appropriate farmer labour standards.During cultivation, the raw material is irrigated exclusively naturally. Compared to the global average, one kilogram of CmiA cotton generates up to 13 percent less greenhouse gas emissions.
The funds obtained from use of CmiA licence we pay for are earmarked for trainings on improving crop quality and environmentally friendly methods of cotton cultivation, improving working conditions for farmers, as well as promoting gender equality in Africa and respect for children’s rights.
Cotton is one of the main raw materials we create LPP collections from — it accounts for approximately 45% of all the raw materials we use. We replace conventional cotton with Cotton made in Africa increasingly often. In the year 2023/2024, its use in the LPP collections increased by more than 300%, year on year.
Canopy
We control our suppliers with regard to the methods of sourcing and using wood pulp materials. This way, we want to completely eliminate the likelihood of using raw materials from endangered forests or illegal logging in the production of our collections.
In 2021, we started our cooperation with Canopy, an international organisation that aims to develop business practices for the sustainable use of forest resources. By joining this initiative, we expressed our commitment to, among other things, supporting the idea of forest protection both as regards our packaging policy and the use of more environmentally friendly cellulose-based materials.
Protecting animal welfare
We have undertaken a number of initiatives in order to have an impact on animal welfare. We entered into an agreement with the Open Cages organization, which involves our permanent commitment to giving up natural furs, and joined the international Fur Free Retailer initiative.
Currently, 100% of the feathers used in our collections comply with Responsible Down Standard, which aims to protect the ducks and geese used in down production.
We also use recycled and virgin cashmere sourced responsibly by The Good Cashmere Standard® (GCS), an independent sustainable cashmere standard developed by Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), which aims to improve the welfare of cashmere goats, farmers’ working conditions and protect the environment.
renounced in 2014
renounced in 2016
Standards used for material certification
We want to be credible, so wherever possible we choose preferred materials that are certified, licensed or provide assurance that they have been created in a more environmentally friendly way.
The standard for organic materials, such as cotton, sets extensive environmental and social criteria.
The standard for fabrics containing recycled fibre, e.g. polyester, based on environmental and social criteria.
The standard for organic materials
The standard for fabrics containing recycled fibre
Discover our reports
Here you will find our latest report and all previous publications. Check LPP's progress, learn about our environmental, social and business results.
