The cornerstone of i-merino’s ability to produce premium quality merino fabric with minimal environmental impact is our Sustainable Farming System (SFS).
The SFS provides i-merino growers with the practices and the benchmarks they need to farm in a manner deemed to be sustainable by government agricultural departments, research universities and non-government industry organizations.
We have developed and run two-day SFS workshops to help Australian merino farmers make whatever adjustments are necessary to grow wool to the i-merino standard, and provide on-going support to keep them informed of the latest developments.
Implementing these standards takes time and money, and i-merino doesn’t expect woolgrowers to wear this cost. We are committed to paying farmers a “fair price” for growing their wool within the limitations of their environment and technology because sustaining farming communities is every bit as important as preserving the land they work.
This philosophy also applies to the rest of our production chain. We work closely with all our partners to discover the true cost of production and reward them appropriately for delivering premium i-merino fabric to the customer with minimal environmental impact.
i-merino does not operate with partners who insist on cutting prices, because if the price is cut it means something or someone gets short-changed and generally it’s the environment or the most vulnerable members of the workforce.
When consumers buy a garment made from i-merino fabric we guarantee that they will receive a quality item and that all elements of the chain that produced it have been paid a fair price for their valued contribution.
This is a just way to do business, and it’s intelligent too, because it means the i-merino process is sustainable in the broadest sense.
Our Sustainable Farming System and our Fair Price for Farmers help explain why i-merino is the most sustainable performance activewear on the planet.
The European Union (EU) Ecolabel
i-merino is the first merino production chain in the world to be awarded the EU Ecolabel recognizing our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the fiber production process.
The EU Ecolabel restricts the use of toxic chemicals across the entire production chain and guarantees that the entire production process has complied with EU water pollution standards.
The EU Ecolabel is one of highest level of textile certifications recognized in the EU.
Over and above the chemical residue limit requirements of the Ecolabel, i-merino has identified several areas to improve the wool growing environment including soil acidity, salinity, ground water levels, erosion, animal welfare, staff training and natural vegetation. We also specify recommended handling and holding periods for chemicals. Read more (PDF 1) - Read more (PDF 2)
Details the criteria regarding the use of pesticides and emissions from the scouring process. Read more
Provides guidance regarding the use of shrink-resistant or anti-felt finishes including oxidizing treatments, treatments with resin, and combined treatments. Read more
Sets requirements for the biodegradability of substances used during the mechanical processes of fiber production and for the content of aromatic compounds in mineral oils. Read more
Specifies limitations on the use of dyes and finishing products. Read more
Regulations regarding the color fastness standard required depending on the use for which the fabric is intended. Read more
Sets limits on the dimensional changes permissible during washing and drying for knitted products, terry toweling, knitted underwear, curtains and upholstery, bed linen and other woven and knitted products. Read more
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