WORKING TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Fashion is a force for good – delivering confidence, positive vibes and enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people, but it also has a significant impact on the Planet. Universal Store is committed to responsible practices and we want to take action where we can to accelerate our journey towards a sustainable future.
WORKING TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Fashion is a force for good – delivering confidence, positive vibes and enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people, but it also has a significant impact on the Planet. Universal Store is committed to responsible practices and we want to take action where we can to accelerate our journey towards a sustainable future.
OUR JOURNEY SO FAR
We are progressing and accelerating our journey to a sustainable future.
Completed store LED lighting upgrade programme
OUR JOURNEY SO FAR
We are progressing and accelerating our journey to a sustainable future.
OUR TARGETS
Universal Store adopted a set of sustainability targets aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals to provide direction and guidance to our teams and partners.
TREAD LIGHTLY
TRANSPARENCY
CLIMATE ACTION
AMPLIFY OUR
ACTIONS
TREAD LIGHTLY
TRANSPARENCY
CLIMATE ACTION
AMPLIFY OUR
ACTIONS
OUR TARGETS
Universal Store adopted a set of sustainability targets aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals to provide direction and guidance to our teams and partners.
FASHION THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
We are proud to work with many other mindful brands who share our values and work to deliver better outcomes for people and the environment.
Some examples of how we work with our partner brands' on sustainability initiatives:
FASHION THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
We are proud to work with many other mindful brands who share our
values and work to deliver better outcomes for people and the environment.
values and work to deliver better outcomes for people and the environment.
Some examples of how we work with our partner brands' on sustainability initiatives:
Thrills Co x Universal Store
Going Further On Organic Cotton Transparency
Thrills Co x Universal Store
GOING FURTHER ON ORGANIC COTTON TRANSPARENCY
Tread Lightly
Reduce our impact. Preserve our resources. Restore the planet.
Let’s be honest, fashion has a big impact on the planet. We can change that by choosing fibres that have less impact on the planet, choose natural dyes and design our garments so they can be enjoyed for longer and recycled easier.
PREFERRED FIBRES
CERTIFICATION & PRODUCT CLAIMS
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
Fibres we prefer
Organic Cotton
Organic fibres such as cotton grow with less water and less harmful chemicals which contributes to soil health and conserve biodiversity.
Recycled Cotton or Polyester
Choosing recycled fibres avoids growing and manufacturing virgin fibres which reduces water use, energy use and emissions but also diverts waste from landfill.
Linen
Linen comes from the fast-growing flax plant that requires minimal use of fertilisers and pesticides. The flax plant also improves soil health due to its high rate of carbon absorption.
Hemp
Hemp is considered a sustainable fibre due to the plants fast growing ability and limited use of pesticides and fertilisers. Hemp also improves soil health by restoring pH levels and preventing erosion.
Better Viscose
Did you know viscose is derived from wood or plant pulp? Viscose is a manmade cellulosic fibre. Viscose production relies on forestry products but also heavy chemical processing. We seek alternative viscose made from FSC or PEFC certified materials that are sourced from sustainably managed forests. We also like Lyocell, TENCEL™ Lyocell or Modal as alternative choices to traditional viscose. Lyocell uses a closed-loop process that recycles the chemicals in production
Animal Friendly
Universal Store firmly believes animals must not suffer for fashion. We are committed to investigate the raw materials used in products we stock and take steps to procure responsibly harvested and certified animal products. Animal products are rarely used in our range, when we do we will only stock products that meet the principles of our animal welfare policy.
Our Animal Welfare policy is based on international standards and the widely accepted Five Freedoms for animal welfare. The policy also states our expectations and bans the use of certain materials that are often produced in questionable conditions.
Certified Responsible Down
The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) aims to ensure that down and feathers come from animals that have not been subjected to any unnecessary harm..
Certified Responsible Wool
The Responsible Wool Standard is a voluntary standard that addresses the welfare of sheep and the land they graze on.
Vegan
Free from animal-derived materials or by-products including but not limited to - fur, angora and other rabbit hair, cashmere, mohair, wool, leather, feathers and down.
Transparency
Improve working conditions and the lives of workers in our supply chain.
We seek to build long-lasting relationships with our global suppliers and brands - based on trust, collaboration and transparency. Together we work to align on ethical and social standards to provide workers in supply chain with a safer and more supportive working environment.
SUPPLIER CODE OF CONDUCT
SOCIAL AUDITS
SEDEX MEMBERSHIP
COVID-19 IMPACTS
SUPPLIER CODE OF CONDUCT
Universal Store is committed to responsible practices including the identification and management of social, environmental, and ethical risks and impacts in its supply chain. We expect our suppliers to share this commitment and to assist Universal Store in addressing known issues through a practical and collaborative approach.
Our code sets Universal Store’s minimum expectations regarding human rights, working conditions, business integrity, bribery and corruption, transparency, compliance, environmental protection, and animal welfare. We expect all suppliers to develop oversight of their supply chain demonstrated by auditing and certification systems. Our Supplier Code of Conduct is translated in the local language of the supplier country of operation.
Read our Supplier Code of Conduct principlesThe 13 minimum requirements to be observed by suppliers:
- No Child Labour
- No forced Labour
- Legal Migrant Labour
- Respecting Human Rights in all operations
- Working conditions are safe and healthy
- Fair wages paid
- Fair work hours
- No bribery or corruption and act with integrity
- Factory transparency
- Valid business license
- Environmental Protection
- No use of banned raw materials or banned practices
- Protect Animal Welfare
Climate Action
Reverse climate change and take action to end the climate crisis.
The challenge of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees and achieving net zero by 2050 is massive. The production of raw materials and yarn, the manufacturing of fabrics and transportation of garments have significant climate impacts. Even after clothes have left our stores, clothes washing and disposal has negative climate impacts
Key things we can do - work with suppliers to reduce emissions in production activities – that may involve making sure the factories have access to renewable energy. We also need to use less energy in our stores and switch to renewable energy for our offices and warehouse operations.
OUR PLAN
OUR OPERATIONS
OUR PLAN
We are excited to share our plan to measure our emissions and respond to the climate crisis, which will form a first step towards climate action:
Step 1:
Develop an inventory of our emissions by sources across our supply chain, our own operations, and use and disposal of our products by customers.
Step 2:
Identify the areas of opportunity for Universal Store to reduce emissions in our operations and in our supply chain.
Step 3:
Develop a climate action plan to outline the initiatives that will most contribute to reduce our emissions by 2030, and review our targets to ensure we remain aligned with international commitments and industry ambitions.
Amplify Our Actions
Work together as a team with our community, suppliers, and customers to deliver impact.
There’s no doubt that if we want a more welcoming, just and sustainable community we need to work together and with others, to deliver meaningful impact and create a better future for all.
PARTNERING
PRODUCT CARE
At Universal Store we are passionate about improving our own practices but also helping others see how we can create even bigger impact by working together. We see each interaction with our partners and our customers as an opportunity to raise awareness on things that are important to us such as mental health, diversity and inclusivity, climate action or waste reduction.
We have some exciting plans in this space so stay tuned.
HOW WE ARE TRACKING SO FAR
We partner with Upparel to avoid textile waste going to landfill. Up to June 22, we have diverted 4.8 tonnes of clothing materials from landfill.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
We provide customers with clothing recycling drop off facilities in the following stores:
SOCIAL AUDITS