At our family-run company, we believe that protecting the environment is not only a responsibility but also a necessity for the well-being of our children and future generations. With this in mind, we have taken firm steps to minimize our ecological footprint and preserve the planet's natural resources. Through our commitment to environmental sustainability, we aim to create a greener, cleaner, and healthier world for all.
At Jackalo, we firmly believe that you shouldn't have to compromise when it comes to choosing the perfect fabric. You deserve fabric that delivers exceptional quality while also contributing towards protecting the environment. That's why we choose to use organic cotton - it's the best of both worlds.
Organic cotton is grown naturally without the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs. By prohibiting the use of harmful chemicals and promoting biodiversity and soil health, organic cotton farming is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional cotton. Organic cotton also uses significantly less water than conventional cotton, making it more sustainable all around.
We're proud to support natural farming practices, and we believe that the processing methods used for organic cotton result in a cotton fiber that is stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to withstand wear and tear. This means that our fabric is ideal for long-lasting use, so you can enjoy your Jackalo clothes for years to come.
At Jackalo, we are committed to reducing waste not just waste produced by us, but waste that's available to be used. That's why we're big fans of using deadstock fabric - sometimes called overstock, or surplus fabric - in our designs.
This type of fabric is unused material that was produced but never used by the manufacturer or designer, and it can come from previous collections, overproduction, or canceled orders.
What's even better is that our deadstock fabrics are also organic, making it a double win.
When we use deadstock fabric, we're doing our part to be both distinctive and eco-friendly. Plus, we love knowing that we're not requiring additional resources to produce it, and we're keeping perfectly good material out of landfills.
We take the issue of textile waste seriously. We believe in the importance of circularity in fashion, and that's why we recycle the scrap fabric generated during our production process.
Whenever possible, we upcycle larger scraps to create something new, beautiful, and functional with our accessories. This allows us to reduce waste and keep usable materials from ending up in landfills. Since the materials used may be limited, each accessory can have its own distinctive look and feel. We love the idea of creating something special and different from the mass-produced accessories you commonly find in stores. It's our way of adding a personal touch to everything we make.
At Jackalo, we believe in the importance of creating a culture of repair and reuse. We want to help you learn to repair and reuse your clothing, that's why we offer our mending guide and other resources to promote a culture of repair and reuse. We also design our products so they can be easily repaired, making it easier to keep loved clothes in use longer. Together, we can slow things down a little and go back to the old-fashioned way of making loved clothes last.
At Jackalo, we are proud to be the first children's clothing brand in America to offer a buy-back program. When Jackalo clothes are outgrown, we'll buy them back to be renewed and resold, or responsibly recycled. We hope to one day use the recycled clothes to make our own fabrics, thereby becoming fully circular. When you participate in our tradeUP program, you take an active role in promoting sustainability and reducing waste AND you make high-quality, organic products available to more families at a reduced cost.
Did you know that on average, a piece of clothing in the United States is only worn 7 times before it is discarded? It's shocking to think that so many clothes are only worn a handful of times before they end up in landfills, adding to the growing problem of textile waste. This is why it's important to choose quality pieces that are designed to last and to make a conscious effort to wear and re-wear them as much as possible.
We believe in creating high-quality and versatile pieces that can be worn time and time again. Our founder Marianna's mother was an economist, who taught her at a young age about the Cost Per Wear (CPW) equation. CPW is a simple way to measure the quality of the items by breaking their cost up over the number of times worn. The more you wear something, the less the cost per wear is, making a well-loved garment a sound investment.
CPW also makes the value of investing in well-made clothing clear. When you re-wearing your favorite pieces, you also lower your individual environmental impact and build a wardrobe that stands the test of time.
Our clothing is designed to fit your kid's lifestyle and last through all of their adventures. These are the pieces that become the foundation of their wardrobe. These are the pieces they'll reach for every day, no matter the season, year after year.
Let's make a change and reduce our impact on the environment, one outfit at a time.
We understand that small actions can make a big difference, and that's why we sweat the small stuff with each decision we make about packaging. By investing in sustainable packaging practices, we hope to inspire other businesses and individuals to join us in promoting a more sustainable future.
Recycled Plastic Polybags
By using recycled materials, we can do our part to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills or pollutes our oceans.
Compostable Shipping Materials
We also prioritize using sustainable shipping materials, such as cardboard boxes. Not only is cardboard a renewable resource, but it's also biodegradable and can be easily recycled or composted after use. Other materials we use include recycled tissue paper, paper tape, and compostable mailer bags. It's important to us that we make conscious decisions when it comes to our packaging choices and that we do our part in promoting a more sustainable future. We aren't perfect, but we are always looking for ways to improve and taking the opportunity to do so as often as we can.
As a family who deeply cares about the environment and our planet's future, we are proud to say that here at Jackalo, we prioritize energy-efficient factories and those with sound practices for waste reduction and recycling. By reducing our energy consumption and waste production, we can minimize pollution, conserve natural resources, and make a positive impact on the fight against climate change. As a responsible and sustainable business, we believe that it is our duty to prioritize these practices and help pave the way for a more environmentally conscious manufacturing industry.
We are believers that localization is a strategy that can benefit not only businesses but also the environment and local economies. This can create job opportunities and stimulate economic growth in the communities where they operate.
While we are currently not able to source fabric and production in the United States, we believe that by working with our carefully selected partners abroad, we are having a hugely positive impact on communities with fewer resources than we have in the United States. We are able to do a lot of good in India, with our fair trade and organic-certified partners, and by keeping farming, milling, and sewing close together.
We are proud to partner with highly-skilled makers that value the environment and worker well-being as much as we do. Our primary production partner in India is both Fair Trade and GOTS certified. Any production partners that do not have this level of certification is required to sign on to our code of conduct and is subject to hands-on inspection from our small, but dedicated staff.
While we keep as much of our production as geographically tight as possible, there is still a carbon output, and, of course, carbon is emitted in the transportation from farm to factory, factory to the US, and from our door to yours.
Because of this, we offset the carbon produced in ALL phases of our work, from the farm to your front door.
We partner with SimpliZero to ensure that our carbon neutrality investments have as much impact as possible. All of our carbon offsetting investments are third-party certified and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Carbon offsetting isn't perfect we know that, but it allows us to do good for the planet and have positive social and economic impacts. Investing in renewable energy and conservation projects creates jobs in those industries and supports communities, at the most risk of feeling the impacts of climate change.
At Jackalo, we believe that by working together and taking action, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
Jackalo has joined 1% for the Planet, committing to donate 1% of annual sales to support environmental organizations focused on the environment.
We joined 1% for the Planet because we believe in supporting people and organizations that are on the ground doing the good and important work we need to keep this planet we love livable for future generations.
"Currently, only 3% of total philanthropy goes to the environment and, only 5% of that comes from businesses. The planet needs bigger support than this, and our growing network of business members are doing vital work to increase giving and support on-the-ground action. We're excited to welcome Jackalo to our global movement," says Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet.
By contributing 1% of their annual sales, thousands of 1% for the Planet members have raised over $450 million to support environmental partners around the globe.
Partners are vetted and approved based on referrals, track record and environmental focus. With over 5,000 environmental partners in the 1% for the Planet network, every member can find and support the causes that matter most to them.
Got a favorite environmental organization that we should support? Just reach out and let us know. If they are a member of the partner organization, we are happy to support their important work.