Sustainability Les Lunes: CSR Report 2021

As a Responsible Fashion Brand, Les Lunes aims to become more sustainable step by step. With our annual CCorporate Social Responsibility In this report, we want to give insight into where we currently stand and what changes we implemented in 2021 regarding more sustainability. 

What does sustainability mean for Les Lunes?

Sustainability is not just a buzzword for us but a matter close to our hearts. We are not a Sustainable Fashion Company, but we strive to make environmentally friendly decisions throughout the entire value chain and thus become more sustainable step by step: 

• Product development: We create iconic and durable styles that are not tied to trends.
• Selection, sourcing, and processing of raw materials: We have chosen "low-impact fibers". These are raw materials and yarns that have less environmental impact compared to other raw materials.
• Production: We want to ensure that everyone involved in the production process is well treated and fairly paid.
• Transport: We want to reduce the environmental impact caused by transporting our goods.
• Use and reuse of our fashion: We use high-quality fabrics. Quality and durability of our styles are central to our brand. Les Lunes products are meant to be favorite pieces worn for a long time.

We see opportunities to act even more sustainably in many steps of our value chain. In some areas, we are already very good; in others, we want to improve. Below, we would like to provide an overview of the measures we were able to implement this year.

Sustainable Changes in Transport

To reduce the environmental impact of transporting our fashion, we set ourselves the goal for 2021 to produce more in Europe. While 14% of our styles were made in Europe (Turkey and Ukraine) the previous year, we were able to increase the share to 29% in 2021.

Why does Les Lunes produce in China?

Bamboo is mainly grown in China. For our clothing made of bamboo viscose, we therefore decided on local production. We pay close attention to ensuring that the employees who make our fashion work under good and safe working conditions. On site, we have our own production facility with 50 seamstresses. From all other suppliers, we require that they regularly comply with the industry standardamfori BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) or other comparable social standards audited by external auditors.

More about our production and the eleven basic principles of amfori BSCI you will find  here. 

How does Les Lunes transport its goods?

Les Lunes wants to further reduce its own CO2 footprint by preferring to transport goods to Germany by ship or train. While the share of air freight shipments was 75% in 2020, we were able to reduce this to 48% in 2021. The share of sea freight shipments was increased from 7% to 22%.

 

 

Why does Les Lunes transport by airplane? 

As a Responsible Fashion Company, we want to order our goods only in sustainable quantities to avoid overproduction. Unfortunately, we sometimes have to weigh waiting and delivery times against faster transport methods like air freight. That is why we currently cannot completely avoid deliveries by air.

Why did Les Lunes transport less by train in 2021?

During the Corona pandemic, there were very long waiting times at the national borders until trains were cleared for onward travel. To better calculate the transport time of our products, we had to increasingly rely on other transport routes in 2021.

Sustainable Change in Product Area 

When selecting the Les Lunes fabrics, we use "low-impact fibers" — meaning raw materials and yarns that have less environmental impact compared to other raw materials. This idea was the starting point for why we began in 2019 with bamboo and the bamboo viscose derived from it. We have evolved and continued our search for even more environmentally friendly materials.

You can learn more about the Les Lunes fabrics here. 

More sustainable Lenzing products at Les Lunes

Since 2020, we have therefore been working with the Austrian company Lenzing. The Lenzing group specializes in the most resource-efficient fiber production possible from the natural raw material wood. The different materials are also certified with the EU Ecolabel. The LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose we use currently ranks among the most sustainable alternatives worldwide. Our goal for 2021 was to further increase the share of Lenzing products.

Learn here what makes LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose so sustainable. 

TENCEL™ Modal: More fabrics from the Lenzing group

In addition to LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose, TENCEL™ Modal is now also available as a second fabric from the Lenzing family in our shop. The cellulose from which the fiber is made is mainly derived from beech trees. The wood comes from sustainably managed forests in Austria and its neighboring countries. The resource-saving manufacturing process allows for a high recovery rate of over 95% of the additives, resulting in a low environmental impact.

You can find more about TENCEL™ Modal here. 

What is the share of TENCEL™ Modal products compared to the entire range?

In 2021, the share of items made from TENCEL™ Modal was 2%. 

Les Lunes launches products made from organic cotton

In 2021, we also produced styles made from organic cotton for the first time, supporting the Organic Content Standard. Compared to conventionally grown cotton, significantly more water can be saved. Energy consumption is also lower compared to non-organically grown cotton. Another plus: The use of pesticides is prohibited.

What is the share of organic cotton products measured against the entire range?

In 2021, the share of items with organic cotton content was 13%. 100% of the cotton we used was organically grown. 

Les Lunes uses ecological dyeing method with IndiDye®

For our Harper Socks we worked with IndiDye® for the first time. The ecological dyeing method uses 100% natural plant-based dyes.

Dyes of the Harper Socks

• Pink: Madder root and sappanwood 
• Cream: Mixture of madder root and woad root dye
• Blue: Woad root dye

Compared to conventional techniques, up to 98% of water can be saved. Lower temperatures during the dyeing process and shorter dyeing times improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.  

You can find more information about IndiDye® here.

Les Lunes increasingly uses recycled materials

In 2020, we already launched our first product made from recycled materials. The Ruby Scrunchie is made from C-grade goods sorted out by us. This allows us to further process and reuse defective products. This year, for the first time, we also have clothing made fromPost-consumer polyester as well as pre-consumer polyacrylic are produced. This way, we can not only conserve resources but also give waste products and leftovers a new life.

Post-consumer polyester

These are materials such as PET bottles that can no longer be used for their intended purpose. After use, they are fed into the recycling process.

Pre-consumer polyacrylic

These are excess stocks that arise during the manufacturing process. They are diverted from the waste stream to be recycled afterwards. 

What percentage of all products contain recycled content measured against the entire range?

In 2021, the share of styles with recycled content was 7%. 

Les Lunes receives new sustainable certifications

Responsible Wool Standard

With the launch of our Alexis Cardigans, we are working for the first time with wool certified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). This is a standard that focuses on the welfare of the sheep and the land where they graze.— from the farm to the finished product. Compliance with the five freedoms of farm animals according to the Farm Animal Welfare Council is a prerequisite. For sheep, the critical mulesing practice is also prohibited. Individual farms are certified by independent certification bodies through annual audits.

More information about the You can find Responsible Wool Standard here.

What percentage of our wool products are RWS certified?

In 2021, 50% of our wool products were certified with the Responsible Wool Standard. An RWS certification is only possible for products with at least 5% wool content. Since our Margot Cardigan contains only 3% wool, certification under the Responsible Wool Standard was not possible. 

Global Recycled Standard

With the introduction of recycled materials, we chose certification according to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). This labels products that contain at least 50% recycled content. Both social and environmental requirements must be met during production.

You can find more information about the Global Recycled Standard here.

What percentage of all recycled materials are GRS certified? 

• In 2021 100% of all recycled yarns we use are GRS certified.
• In 2021, 41% of our items containing recycled content for the entire product carried the GRS logo.

Organic Content Standard

With the launch of our organic cotton products, we support the Organic Content Standard (OCS). This enables transparency and traceability throughout the entire supply chain, ensuring compliance with the criteria for organically grown cotton.

What percentage of our organic cotton products are OCS certified?

100% of the products containing organic cotton were certified with the Organic Content Standard in 2021. 

Social at Les Lunes  

We are very happy that our Berlin team continued to grow in 2021 and the Les Lunes family now includes over 60 passionate people from twelve countries. 

Would you also like to become part of the team? Then check out our open job listings here. 

Safe working during the COVID-19 pandemic

The majority of the Berlin team has been working from home since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. For a perfect working atmosphere and safe working conditions, since early 2021 all employees have had the permanent option to decide whether they want to come to the office or prefer to work from home. At the same time, Les Lunes launched a Work-Life Integration project group. Among other goals, it aims to balance work and private life in the home office. To enable further training from home, all employees have received free access to the Udemy learning platform. 

First Social Impact Projects

In September, we implemented our first Social Impact Projects. For this, the Berlin team worked with GoNature built insect shelters for more biodiversity. For our second Social Impact Project, Les Lunes partnered with the Berlin Homeless Aid Association supported. For this, we helped for a day with meal preparation for people in need.

Continuation of cooperation with Union of Social Institutions

We don’t want to produce anything for the trash. That’s why we have continued our collaboration with the Union of Social Institutions (U.S.E.) continued in Berlin. In workshops for people with disabilities, new products are made from our old goods that are defective and unsellable: The Ruby ScrunchieThis way, unusable goods can be processed and reused.

Continuation of the Charity Project Die Arche Kinderstiftung 

Les Lunes has been supporting Die Arche Kinderstiftung since 2020 by regularly donating a portion of our revenue. In December 2021, 1 euro from selected products will also be donated to the social organization. Die Arche is dedicated to fighting child poverty in Germany. In their facilities, they offer children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds a free warm meal daily, homework help, and a variety of leisure activities.