Enviromental Policy
Introduction
It is important to us that Aberdevine strives to be a sustainable enterprise. A bra can have as many as 30 components, and we are determined to use only those we feel are kindest to the planet.
Aberdevine was founded on the principles of the circular economy. From the very beginning, circularity has been central to how we think about design, materials, and the life of every garment we make and every person we work with. We are constantly working to make our processes and products as circular as possible - from the certified regenerated and biodegradable fabrics we source, to our returns and recycling programme that ensures nothing goes to waste.
At Aberdevine, sustainability is a journey. It is a commitment we make every day through the many decisions we take. We realise there is always room for improvement, and we promise to keep working and researching to be the best we can be.
Commitments
We shall ensure:
- As many components of our product as possible are procured from recycled, biodegradable, or credibly certified sustainable sources.
- We continue to encourage customers to return as much of our product as possible through our take-back and recycling programme.
- We adhere to all applicable environmental laws and regulations.
- We play a role in educating our customers on the environmental impact of lingerie and sustainable fashion.
- We work towards achieving relevant environmental certifications for our products and processes.
- We measure and seek to reduce our carbon footprint, waste, water use, and chemical impact across our supply chain.
- We continually review and improve our environmental ways of working.
Product
In our fabrics, we use recycled lace certified under the GRS (Global Recycled Standard), OEKO-TEX, and EU Ecolabel standards. The dyes in our cream and honey-coloured products are made using plants - oak gall nut and birch bark respectively, which are non-toxic, non-allergenic, and fully biodegradable. We do not use coal tar-derived synthetic dyes, which is where most dyes on the market come from.
We also use TENCEL™ Lyocell - produced from sustainably sourced wood in a certified closed-loop process - which is completely biodegradable and vegan. Our tulle is made from AMNI SOUL ECO®, a certified biodegradable nylon that degrades in landfill conditions within a few years, compared to standard nylon which takes hundreds.
The wiring in many bras on the market is made from or coated with plastic. This is generally claimed to be necessary for appearance and durability, but our in-house tests have found no supporting evidence. At Aberdevine, we exclusively use non-coated, nickel-free metal underwires - and we intend to develop programmes to reclaim and re-use them in the future.
All our bras, bralettes, and bodysuits have straps and bands made from Q-NOVA® recycled nylon, regenerated from pre-consumer raw materials that would otherwise have been disposed of as waste. All our European suppliers are fully traceable, and we work only with those who hold credible third-party certifications.
The only exception to our natural dye commitment is black, which cannot currently be achieved satisfactorily using natural dyes - but was heavily requested during our market research. Offering black supports our aim of producing versatile, long-lasting products, and we are keeping this under active review. No solution is final; we promise to keep researching and testing to find the best possible materials.
Packaging & Delivery
All Aberdevine packaging is made from recycled or unbleached materials by aB British entity in the UK and in Poland and is designed to fit through a standard letterbox, reducing missed deliveries and their associated carbon cost. We use Royal Mail for UK orders and FedEx or UPS for European orders, choosing lower-emission delivery options wherever available.
Recycling
We hope that you will treasure your Aberdevine lingerie for many years. But when the time comes, and you deem your pieces no longer suitable, we ask that you please send them back to us- and we will send you a voucher in return. We will reuse every part we can and responsibly recycle the rest. Of the 30 components in a bra, only a small number can currently be recycled - but that will not stop us from exploring new ways to reduce our products' environmental impact.
Biodiversity
We donate £1 from every item sold to biodiversity charities. We believe businesses have a responsibility not only to reduce harm, but to actively contribute to the restoration of the natural world.
Business Model
Aberdevine is built to resist the logic of fast fashion. We produce timeless, adjustable, long-lasting garments specifically intended to be kept, worn, and loved across many years and many stages of life. We believe the most sustainable garment is one that never needs to be replaced.
Marta Bujwicka-Colman
Founder, Aberdevine