Sustainability criteria

Definition of sustainability

The term sustainability is on everyone's lips and unfortunately sometimes seems a little worn out, because it is used too often and in too many, sometimes wrong, contexts. The term was first mentioned in writing by Carl von Carlowitz in 1712, referring to forestry. Carl von Carlowitz stated in his writings that the demand for wood could no longer be met if more trees were felled each year than grew back.

The definition of the term has changed since then: "sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (Definition from UN Brundtland Commission 1987 report).

This report emphasises the interplay and interaction of the dimensions: Economy, Environment and Society. In other words, economic, ecological and social processes that influence each other and should not be considered in isolation from each other. Moreover, material and immaterial needs are dependent on economic well-being and solidarity. Likewise, the effects of modern trade must be calculated in a forward-looking manner so that future generations can also meet their needs.

From this, the three-dimensional concept was developed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Three dimensions

The three dimensions are often depicted as three circles with the intersections: fair, livable and viable.

Economic dimension

The economic dimension combines financial as well as efficiency aspects. Often criticised, this dimension is the basis of all strategic and responsible action and is therefore essential. For only if something is financially sustainable in the long term is sustainable action guaranteed in the future.

Example: A producer manufactures articles under ecological conditions and pays his employees above-average wages. This makes the articles almost prohibitively expensive to sell. The economic dimension is missing here.

Ecological dimension

The ecological dimension essentially means environmental protection, the preservation of ecosystems, clean air and much more. The focus is on biodiversity and on protecting humans, animals and plants.

Example: A producer creates jobs under fair conditions and generates high profits, but the production processes emit high CO2 emissions. The ecological dimension is missing here.

Social dimension

The social dimension focuses on people and the effects of their actions. It aims to reconcile the concerns of all people and prevent one society from being exploited in favour of another.

Example: The production of organic cotton makes ecological sense, but is not socially acceptable if the farmers who plant this cotton are not paid fairly. Thus, the social dimension is missing.

In our view, sustainable action as well as sustainable trade require a long-term structural change in the economy and society with the fundamental goal of preserving the given resources while taking into account economic performance and social components.

Made in ...

Products with the note "Made in ... " originate, as noted, e.g. from Switzerland or the EU. At least 60% of the production costs and essential production steps take place in the country listed. This labelling also serves as a quality seal for consumers and increases the transparency of the actual production locations and allows conclusions to be drawn about their production circumstances. If production does not take place in Switzerland or the surrounding neighbouring countries, this criterion is inevitably linked to the criterion of "social responsibility", as it must be important to us that the production of the articles we offer takes place under fair and social and ecological standards.

This quality seal shows that the jobs and livelihoods within the production site in that country are secured. We consider this criterion to be particularly relevant due to the legally anchored labour, social and environmental requirements in Switzerland and many European countries, the creation and safeguarding of jobs (equivalent to fair trade production in a third world country), the use of local suppliers and the regional value chain. Often the focus is only on "fair trade" produced articles, forgetting that the standards that are legally anchored and implemented in Switzerland and many European countries are being controlled.

Transport routes can be minimised through the targeted use of regional suppliers to the production sites. This regional use leads to securing the location of many small and medium-sized enterprises and results in regional added value. In addition, by involving regional companies and suppliers, the short transport routes are seen as a CO2-saving measure and bring ecological advantages.

This criterion "Made in ..." thus suggests fair prices and fair wages (as well as working conditions) in production - in distribution - all the way to the end customer.

Pollutant-reduced raw materials / organic / production

The criterion "pollutant-reduced raw materials / organic / production" covers articles in the production of which low-pollutant or pollutant-free raw materials and/or production methods are used.

A pollutant-reduced or pollutant-free article can be, for example:

Wood product treated with water-based varnishes or biological oils or waxes.
cotton treated with wax for increased water repellency
Lining or upper material made from R-PET
Use of upcycled materials such as leather from old sofas, tarpaulin from old advertising tarpaulins etc.
Avoidance of plastic parts such as buckles and fasteners
textiles and/or leather dyed with natural plant substances
vegetable-tanned leather
organically produced cotton
and much more

Likewise, producers who, for example, focus on renewable energies, ecological water and wastewater management, reuse of waste materials and cuttings, reproduction of packaging materials, use of non-toxic auxiliaries and production methods, research into new pollutant-reduced materials, etc., make a significant contribution to pollutant reduction.

The criterion lists the corresponding raw materials, certificates or testing bodies, so that the customer can quickly get an overview of which raw materials the article is made of and how the article was produced.

The effects on people and the environment are clearly in focus here.

Saving resources

The criterion "resource-conserving" is extremely relevant, as social consumption is considered one of the biggest consumers of resources. On the one hand within the production of goods and on the other hand through the rapid replacement of these goods, as many fashion items are subject to seasonal conditions. This means that consumers or labels often destroy the products because a new collection has already been launched.

The focus on the resources used is becoming more and more essential and should be the basis of all ecological and economic thinking and action. The articles sold by Traggut, which are labelled with the criterion "resource-friendly", contribute to the reduction of resource consumption in many different ways.

In production, this means an ecological, efficient and responsible use of the raw materials and energy to be used. Renewable raw materials, which are also organically grown, are an important factor in conserving resources. Short or deliberately chosen delivery and transport routes (such as through regional suppliers, sea freight instead of air freight) also have a decisive influence on resource consumption by minimising CO2 emissions.

Producers who, for example, focus on renewable energies, ecological water management, reuse of waste materials and cuttings, reproduction of packaging materials, etc., make a significant contribution to resource conservation.

Handicraft

We consider the criterion of "handicraft" to be a decisive aspect in today's age of digital change and automated processes. Many handicrafts and core competences fall victim to automation and thus lose their individual character, uniqueness and authenticity. In times when the whole world is talking about digitalisation, we at Traggut try to preserve the tried and tested with the articles we offer and to secure jobs in the production facilities. The handicrafts of individual professions, regions or cultures are preserved, promoted and secured instead of being rationalised away by automated processes (which have their justification). In the sense of products made by people for people.

Besides the social component, handicraft also has an ecological component that is often forgotten. This is because production raw materials that are cut by hand make it possible to minimise residual quantities and, if necessary, to reuse them as product details or new products.

For us, handicraft is a quality seal similar to the criterion "Made in ...". For many small businesses, the focus on handicraft means securing their location and results in regional and social added value. In addition, handmade products are often not mass-produced and thus also represent a rarity. Likewise, people with a lower level of education or with mental, psychological or physical impairments find their place in society and can pursue meaningful work and experience recognition and appreciation.

Social responsibility

The criterion "Social Responsibility" stands for socially responsible production conditions and fair trade and is closely related to the criterion "Made in...".

Items that meet this criterion ensure that workers are fairly compensated for the work they do. Fair production thus includes adequate remuneration of staff, a negotiated price that covers production costs and provides a long-term income. It also includes long-term production guarantees. In addition, jobs for women and men are provided in production. No children are involved in the production process.

If production does not take place in Switzerland or surrounding neighbouring countries, where such standards are enshrined in law, this criterion is indicated by the corresponding quality seal or Fairtrade label. Although there are a variety of labels, all of them contain roughly the same or similar defined standards, which are checked at regular intervals in the production facilities:

Wages
Social security
Job satisfaction
Facility - Safety
Hygiene
Working hours
Satisfaction with management
Grievance procedures
Environment

Verification of standards determines whether they are met at the production site and whether the impact on the environment is minimised. There are Fairtrade labels that work with buyers and suppliers to achieve improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains.

The criterion "social responsibility" can also refer directly to a raw material that has been awarded a Fairtrade label and thus meets the social and ecological standards. In this way, suppliers are also included in fair trade and guarantee socially responsible cooperation and a holistic approach to fair trade.

But we can also speak of social responsibility when socially disadvantaged, physically, mentally or psychologically impaired people are involved in the manufacturing of products. This work also takes place at fair wages, offers the employees a perspective or even the possibility to regain a foothold in the labour market.

CO2 saving

When it comes to the criterion "CO2-saving", one thinks first of all of transport. Due to shorter and consciously chosen transport routes, a production can be considered CO2-reducing. As an example: the emission by sea freight is 35 grams per 1,000 kilometres, in contrast to air freight, which is 1,000 grams per kilogram of goods per 1,000 kilometres.

But in addition to transport, a product can also have a low-carbon production. The current public debate on climate protection has given new impetus to the corresponding political activities. The declared long-term goal is to achieve the greatest possible CO₂-neutrality. It is therefore to be expected that there will be significantly stricter legal requirements for greenhouse gas emissions from industry in the future. Producers who, for example, focus on renewable energies, ecological water management, reuse of waste materials and cuttings, reproduction of packaging materials, etc., make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.

Vegan

The criterion "vegan" means products that are completely free of all animal products. In their development and production, foods such as meat, fish, gelatine, egg, milk products and honey, but also beeswax, leather, wool and silk are dispensed with.

Veganism is both a conviction and a philosophy of life. Living vegan leads to a change of all habits. Motives to live vegan can be ethical, humanitarian, ecological, spiritual or physical.

The transparency of the labelling of such products thus leads to a facilitated and positive shopping experience.

Plastic-free

"Plastic-free" products are self-explanatory and made without any plastic parts. These are often found in buttons, buckles, closures, stoppers, etc. Alternative materials are used.

Due to the high amount of plastic waste worldwide, especially in the ocean, it makes sense in the long term to use alternative materials in production and to focus on plastic-free articles.

The transparency of the labelling of such products thus leads to a facilitated and positive shopping experience.

Upcycling

In the case of "upcycling" products, waste products or (apparently) useless materials are transformed into new products. Not to be confused with the term "recycling", in which the same product is produced. For example, discarded glass is turned into bottles etc. again.

The recycling or reuse of existing material reduces the use of new raw materials and thus saves resources. However, this saving of resources does not only happen in the new production of articles, but also in their disposal. Often articles that consist of several raw materials, such as a leather sofa, are not recycled by type, as this would be too costly. But if the leather is reused to make a new article, resources can be saved in its production on the one hand, and on the other hand the remaining materials can be disposed of correctly.

Due to the depletion of natural resources and social change, upcycling is gaining more and more importance and acceptance and is slowly losing its often prejudiced eco-touch. Increasingly, you can now find appealing, designed, useful and sensible items on sales platforms, where the product, the design or the functionality are in the foreground and not the reused material. This contributes to equality with non-upcycled items.

The criterion "upcycled" thus combines products that are mostly made of upcycled material. The transparency of the labelling of such products thus leads to an easier and positive shopping experience.