Giving Compass' Take:

• Grant Trahant, writing for Causeartist, interviews Derrick Emsley, founder of Tentree, a company that plants ten trees per item purchased, and has strong environmental goals. 

• What will the landscape of ethical branding look like in 2019 as more companies develop CSR missions and become committed to achieving the SDGs?

• Here are five traits fo truly sustainable and ethical brands.

Meet tentree, a lifestyle apparel company based out of Vancouver, that plants ten trees for every item purchased. By combining social and environmental consciousness with lifestyle apparel, tentree allows consumers to have a direct impact on the environment and communities worldwide.

The goal of the company is to become the most environmentally progressive brand on the planet by reducing the negative impact of the apparel industry and use it as a vehicle for change. Every tentree item is made using a blend of sustainable fabrics. The company also works to promote fair labor practices and safe working conditions throughout their supply chain.

Below is a portion of a Q&A with Derrick Emsley, founder of tentree:

Tell us a little about your tree planting strategy and the organizations you are working with locally and abroad!

Our goal is to enrich impoverished communities. We use tree planting as a means to provide food, education, shelter, and overall communal prosperity. We’re not looking to foster dependence through these projects. We’re trying to teach the locals how they can build these projects, maintain them, and grow them. Our tree planting efforts support education initiatives in the area to explain to these communities how deforestation has led to poverty, lack of jobs, poor fishing, etc. This helps to ensure people don’t find themselves in the same situation.

How does the design and manufacturing process of your apparel correspond with your commitment to community and transparency?

We strive to provide ethically sourced, fashionable clothing with eco-friendly materials, while still giving back to the Earth. We remain committed to ethically responsible manufacturing processes and incorporating eco-conscious materials in all our products. We use sustainable fabrics like recycled polyester, organic cotton, cork trims, hemp, tencel, etc. We also use certified, responsible manufacturers that commit to our ethical standards.

Read the full article about tentree by Grant Trahant at Causeartist.