Nothing changes if nothing changes.

 

Climate change is real. Small steps at a time, we at Finarte want to make better decisions as a company to reduce our footprint on this globe. At the same, it should be easier for anyone to choose a climate friendly product by enabling informed, science-backed decisions.

Our first step on this road – carbon emission report on the materials we use.

Learn below our plan of action.

Nothing changes if nothing changes.

 

Climate change is real. Small steps at a time, we at Finarte want to make better decisions as a company to reduce our footprint on this globe. At the same, it should be easier for anyone to choose a climate friendly product by enabling informed, science-backed decisions.

Our first step on this road – carbon emission report on the materials we use.

Learn below our plan of action.

Our carbon footprint

Material use is major source of CO2 emissions. That’s why we started our dive to emissions on that.

Guess what we found out? Recycled and natural materials always win.

On average, the raw material needed for a 140×200 sized rug emits

42,35 kg of CO2

 

That is equivalent to

– 285 kilometres with a fossil fueled car
– 42 litres of milk
–19 steaks of beef

Our carbon footprint

Material use is major source of CO2 emissions. That’s why we started our dive to emissions on that.

Guess what we found out? Recycled and natural materials always win.

On average, the raw material needed for a 140×200 sized rug emits

42,35 kg of CO2

 

That is equivalent to

– 285 kilometres with a fossil fueled car
– 42 litres of milk
–19 steaks of beef

Emissions per material

Recycled material is always the most sustainable option*. See below the average CO2 emissions by raw material.

Here are a few examples of raw material carbon dioxide emissions by design in size 140×200:

Emissions per material

Recycled material is always the most sustainable option*. See below the average CO2 emissions by raw material.

Here are a few examples of raw material carbon dioxide emissions by design in size 140×200:

Sustainability Approach

* The calculation of carbon dioxide emission by raw material take into account the emissions from producing each material. However, it is good to point out a few issues:

1. Recycled material offset is calculated to 0 as per current metastudies. However, this does not take into account the fiber’s first life in the overall environmental assessment of recycled fibers and the whole recycling process as well as the fact that most often a recycled fiber is not as high in quality as its virgin counterpart.

2. High emissions of the raw material is not necessarily a bad thing. What matters most is the lifecycle analysis of the product: for example wool as a material creates significant carbon dioxide emissions during it’s creation, but in it’s lifecycle it requires less maintenance and is more durable, making its use longer than cotton.

3. Besides carbon dioxide, there are several other environmental concerns with textiles. For example Higg’s Materials Sustainability Index is a good source for comparing impacts of different materials. What you will find out? Recycled materials are still the winners in the full assessment as well.

Sustainability Approach

* The calculation of carbon dioxide emission by raw material take into account the emissions from producing each material. However, it is good to point out a few issues:

1. Recycled material offset is calculated to 0 as per current metastudies. However, this does not take into account the fiber’s first life in the overall environmental assessment of recycled fibers and the whole recycling process as well as the fact that most often a recycled fiber is not as high in quality as its virgin counterpart.

2. High emissions of the raw material is not necessarily a bad thing. What matters most is the lifecycle analysis of the product: for example wool as a material creates significant carbon dioxide emissions during it’s creation, but in it’s lifecycle it requires less maintenance and is more durable, making its use longer than cotton.

3. Besides carbon dioxide, there are several other environmental concerns with textiles. For example Higg’s Materials Sustainability Index is a good source for comparing impacts of different materials. What you will find out? Recycled materials are still the winners in the full assessment as well.

Our plan of action

At the moment, we save on average 35% of carbon emissions by using recycled materials. But there’s still work to be done.

We want to be realistic and ambitious at the same (don’t we all?). That’s why we have a plan:

More sustainable materials

80% of our products must meet the Climate Friendly category requirements by 2025*

This will be achieved through:

1. Increasing the proportion of products made from recycled materials from 60% to 80% percent

2. Use more fast-growing, plant-based fibers

3. Find new, better alternatives for wool and viscose without compromising in quality and characteristics

Peatland restoration (Hiilipörssi)

Finarte has become an official partner of Hiilipörssi by The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.

Through Hiilipörssi, we not only offset our emissions but also ensure richer biodiversity, healthier waterways and long-lasting carbon sinks through swamp preservation.

Ensuring peatland restoration is a more nature-focused approach than traditional carbon offsetting.

Planting trees

Together with our producing partner IAG we will start a protected tree planting project in Bhadohi, India. Our aim is to have a fast growing, biodiversity-enhancing site of trees that will also act as a recreational area for the factory workers. This project has been delayed due to covid-19, but is planned to commence in the autumn of 2021.

According to recent studies, afforestration projects with many different species can almost double their effectivness as a carbon sink. We will be partnering with local NGO’s to identify the best tree species for the area given it’s weather and other characteristics.

Our plan of action

More sustainable materials

80% of our products must meet the Climate Friendly category requirements by 2025*

This will be achieved through:

1. Increasing the proportion of products made from recycled materials from 60% to 80% percent

2. Use more fast-growing, plant-based fibers

3. Find new, better alternatives for wool and viscose without compromising in quality and characteristics

Peatland restoration (Hiilipörssi)

Finarte has become an official partner of Hiilipörssi by The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.

Through Hiilipörssi, we not only offset our emissions but also ensure richer biodiversity, healthier waterways and long-lasting carbon sinks through swamp preservation.

Ensuring peatland restoration is a more nature-focused approach than traditional carbon offsetting.

Planting trees

Together with our producing partner IAG we will start a protected tree planting project in Bhadohi, India. Our aim is to have a fast growing, biodiversity-enhancing site of trees that will also act as a recreational area for the factory workers. This project has been delayed due to covid-19, but is planned to commence in the autumn of 2021.

According to recent studies, afforestration projects with many different species can almost double their effectivness as a carbon sink. We will be partnering with local NGO’s to identify the best tree species for the area given it’s weather and other characteristics.

How the survey was conducted

The study was conducted in late 2019 according to numbers of 2018 (collections, stocks and production) with the help of a third-party consultant with a three-step method.

1. Identifying the latest researched information on carbon dioxide emissions of raw materials we use: cotton (both conventional and recycled), wool, viscose, jute and rPET (recycled polyester)*

2. Studying the different blends of raw materials in our collection (designs manufactured in 2018)

3. Surveying their carbon dioxide emissions, taking into account the share of recycled materials used

How the survey was conducted

 

The study was conducted in three steps:

1. Identifying the latest researched information on carbon dioxide emissions of raw materials we use: cotton (both conventional and recycled), wool, viscose, jute and rPET (recycled polyester)

2. Studying the different blends of raw materials in our collection (designs manufactured in 2018)

3. Surveying their carbon dioxide emissions, taking into account the share of recycled materials used

Our thoughts

 

“Living by our own values is increasingly  important to all of us.
I constantly want to question myself how and why am I leading this company in an era that actually doesn’t need any more things, a question I have struggled since the start.
However, I know for myself that a home with beautiful, practical objects that you appreciate is meaningful. That’s why it’s important we continue to give options and provide choices for more sustainable home decor items along with facts to support your decisions.
There are still many steps to be taken and actions to be fullfilled, but it must start with something.“

– Larissa Immonen, CEO of Finarte

Our thoughts

 

“Living by our own values is increasingly  important to all of us.

I constantly want to question myself how and why am I leading this company in an era that actually doesn’t need any more things, a question I have struggled since the start.

However, I know for myself that a home with beautiful, practical objects that you appreciate is meaningful. That’s why it’s important we continue to give options and provide choices for more sustainable home decor items along with facts to support your decisions.

There are still many steps to be taken and actions to be fullfilled, but it must start with something.“

– Larissa Immonen, CEO of Finarte

What next?

 

This was only the first step on our path to a more climate-friendly collection. Next, we will start looking at how much other processes  that create emissions and what can we do to combat them.

By end of 2024, we aim to have full information of the climate effects of our products, including manufacturing, packaging, logistics and sales and development.

With this information, we will find best practices to minimize our emissions and find ways to combat or offset them with the aim of being carbon neutral in 2028.

 

*sources:

Greenhouse gas emissions profile for 1 kg of wool produced in the Yass Region, New South Wales: A Life Cycle Assessment approach, Brock et al 2013

Carbon footprint and energy use in jute and allied fibre production, Singh et al 2018

Resource use and greenhouse gas emissions from three wool production regions in Australia, Wiedemann et al 2016

A carbon footprint lifecycle assessment study of Ganni clothing collection 2016

Higg’s Materials Sustainability Index, 2019

CLIMATE FRIENDLY PICKS

What next?

 

This was only the first step on our path to a more climate-friendly collection. Next, we will start looking at how much other processes (manufacturing, packaging, logistics and sales and development) create emissions and what can we do to combat them.

CLIMATE FRIENDLY PICKS