Our Commitment to Sustainability
At Sour Tea, we prioritize sustainability by adopting a print-to-order model that minimizes waste and rejects the fast fashion cycle. Unlike traditional mass production, where garments are churned out in bulk and often end up discarded, our approach ensures that each item is printed only when ordered. This method significantly reduces overproduction and excess inventory, directly addressing the environmental impact of unsold clothing. By focusing on high-quality, durable garments and responding to actual demand, we maintain a commitment to both sustainability and craftsmanship. This conscientious process not only keeps consumerism in check but also supports a more thoughtful and responsible fashion industry. With every Sour Tea piece, you invest in timeless quality and a greener future, ensuring that no garment goes to waste.
At Sour Tea, we are proud to work with AS Colour as our trusted blank supplier, known for their outstanding performance in ethical and sustainable practices. AS Colour has earned a remarkable third-place ranking in the Ethical Fashion Report 2022, among 581 assessed brands, and has consistently excelled in five key areas over the past five years: Policies & Governance, Tracing & Risk, Supplier Relationships & Human Rights, Worker Empowerment, and Environmental Sustainability.
AS Colour's dedication to reducing environmental impact is evident through their innovative practices. They have entirely eliminated single-use plastic bags and replaced traditional duster bags with certified biodegradable alternatives. Their use of paper tape for cartons instead of standard cellotape simplifies recycling, and they’ve removed metal eyelets from swing tags to reduce waste. In addition, their garment tags and retail bags are now FSC-approved, and plastic shrink wrap has been eliminated from pallet shipments since 2020.
Further demonstrating their commitment, AS Colour collaborates with Impactex for a circular waste solution, providing textile recycling bins in all Auckland stores. This initiative helps divert waste from landfills and repurpose it into valuable new materials, like home insulation and acoustic panels. Their rigorous standards are also reinforced by OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification, ensuring that their products are free from harmful substances and chemicals.
Sour Tea is proud to source from AS Colour, whose unwavering commitment to sustainability aligns with our own values. We encourage our customers to join us in promoting responsible consumption by recycling textiles through Impactex's collection points. For more information on textile recycling and OEKO-TEX® certification, visit Impactex and OEKO-TEX®.
Printing Processes
Our inks are certified to Oeko-Tex standards, ensuring they meet high environmental and safety criteria. At the end of their lifecycle, these inks are recycled to minimize environmental impact.
Shipping Sustainability
At Sour Tea, sustainability is at the heart of our operations. We’re committed to reducing our environmental impact by integrating eco-friendly practices into every aspect of shipping processes. Our approach ensures that we not only deliver quality garments but do so with minimal waste and maximum responsibility.
We use sustainable packaging solutions to minimize our footprint. Our orders are shipped in either compostable courier bags or recycled ocean-bound plastic. We opt for paper cushioning instead of bubble wrap, and we reuse boxes and packaging whenever possible.
At Sour Tea, we are constantly assessing and refining our processes to enhance our sustainability efforts. Every step we take is a part of our broader mission to protect the planet and promote responsible fashion.
