Visiting our production facility

Have you always wanted to know how and where Les Lunes clothing is produced? We introduce you to our newest production facility in Bangladesh and take a look behind the scenes as well as at the working conditions on site. 

"Made in Bangladesh" stigma

Bangladesh is the second largest textile exporter in the world after China, and more than four million people work in the garment industry in this South Asian country. In the past, Bangladesh’s textile industry made headlines mainly due to precarious working conditions. In particular, the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory complex in 2013, which killed thousands of people, sparked worldwide criticism and a global debate about working conditions in the textile industry. 

Do you want to know what happens to surplus fashion in the fast fashion industry and how Les Lunes avoids overproduction? Here you can find our blog post about disposable fashion.  

Accordingly, our team initially reacted with great skepticism when our Product Department reported about a production facility in Bangladesh that they found interesting for Les Lunes. As a Responsible Fashion Brand, the entire Les Lunes team is committed to contributing to environmental protection with resource-saving fashion and not further endangering it – and the production of our clothing should not be to the detriment of the people who make it. So how can Bangladesh be reconciled with our values? 

As a Responsible Fashion Brand, Les Lunes aims to become more sustainable step by step. Check out here our current Corporate Social Responsibility report and learn about the changes we implemented in 2021 to promote sustainability. 

Transformation in the textile industry in Bangladesh 

Since the Rana Plaza disaster, safety and working conditions have improved thanks to various initiatives. For example, over 200 textile companies from more than 20 countries signed a Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh in 2013 (Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh), covering more than 1,600 factories and two million employees. The International Labour Organization launched a three-and-a-half-year program worth 31.4 million USD to improve working conditions. Additional measures such as raising the minimum wage, banning child labor, and stricter inspections by industry and government have helped improve the situation on site. 

Did you know that Bangladesh now has the highest number of sustainable clothing factories worldwide? 

With the start of the transformation of the textile industry in Bangladesh, the number of so-called "Green Factories" also increased. Bangladesh has a total of 108 factories whose environmental and social standards have been certified by the US Green Building Council. 

Where does Les Lunes produce in Bangladesh?

Bibi (buyer) and Anne (Head of Product) got a firsthand impression of our production site in April 2022.

After months of communication with the production site, which started in November 2021, we personally visited the Green Factory Blue Planet in April 2022. The first style from Bangladesh was then launched in summer 2022. The production site meets all our social and environmental requirements. Blue Planet is the first eco-friendly dyeing and printing facility in Bangladesh. With the Blueplanet Group, we have also found a partner that enables us to have vertical integration. 

What are the advantages of vertical production?

A vertical production allows us very high transparency, as we know that the supplier buys the fibers, then knits the fabric themselves, dyes it themselves, and finally sews it. This means there are no subcontractors involved, allowing us to guarantee that our standards are met. By the way: Even with suppliers who are not vertically integrated, the supplier is clearly instructed by us to prove compliance with the requirements, standards, and quality and bears full responsibility for this.

Blue Planet handles the entire production for Les Lunes without subcontracting. 

In addition to Bangladesh, Les Lunes also produces in Ukraine, Turkey, and China. More information about our production can be found here. 

What does environmentally friendly production mean? 

In the textile sector, dyeing, washing, and printing facilities are the most environmentally harmful units. Blue Planet has therefore made these areas resource-efficient through a modern sustainability strategy.

Environmentally friendly dyeing process

The water used in the dyeing process at Blue Planet remains in a closed loop and can be reused after biological treatment with microorganisms. The remaining sludge is reused as an organic fertilizer for agriculture. Accordingly, no dyes or chemicals enter the environment. In addition, all our textiles are certified with STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, making them free of harmful substances and safe for health. 

More information about the sustainability of the Blue Planet Group and the current Sustainability Report can be found here.

Water-saving production

In addition to water-saving technologies, collecting rainwater is also an important part of the sustainability concept. The rainy season in Bangladesh lasts from June to mid-October. During this time, rainwater is collected, which ultimately accounts for 15% of the total water consumption.

Blue Planet is one of the few manufacturers certified by the certification body Care for Water. The certification is only awarded when garments are produced with technologies that reduce water consumption in production processes. Through closed loops that allow water reuse or technologies like "Cold Pad Patch" (a low-temperature dyeing method) less water and electricity are consumed at Blue Planet.

Would you like to learn more about our resource-saving materials? Here you will find an overview of our fabrics.

Energy-saving measures

As part of sustainability and circularity, the Blue Planet Group plans to switch to renewable energy. Therefore, the Green Factory is working on using the sun as an energy source through the installation of solar energy. By mid-2023, 57% of electricity consumption will be covered by solar energy.

As another energy-saving measure, Blue Planet also reuses the heat generated during the production process for the hot water storage. For example, steaming textiles can save energy and water. 

Social standards at our production site

At our production site, employees have access to internal social benefits such as childcare or health care. 

Our production site in Bangladesh is audited by amfori BSCI. amfori BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) is a cross-industry non-profit organization founded in 2003 that aims to improve working conditions in global, increasingly complex supply chains.

The 11 basic principles of amfori BSCI:

• fair compensation

• occupational safety

• special protection for young workers

• no forced labor

• ethical business practices

• no discrimination

• compliance with legal working hours

• no child labor

• no precarious employment

• Environmental protection

You can find more information here. 

The training of employees at Blue Planet is a continuous process that covers not only operational further education but also health and safety, human rights, and the working environment. All employees have access to internal social benefits such as childcare and health care. 

More information about Blue Planet’s social and safety standards can be found here. 

Other certifications and audits by Blue Planet:  

ISO 14001:2015

The international standard sets requirements for an environmental management system that enables an organization to improve its environmental performance, comply with legal and other obligations, and achieve environmental objectives. You can find more information here.

ISO 45001:2018

The globally valid standard defines the requirements for occupational health and safety management systems. You can find more information here. 

STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® for all products

​​STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is one of the world’s best-known labels for tested textiles and stands for high product safety. It means that the fiber is free of harmful substances and safe for health. You can find more information here.

WRAP:

WRAP is the world’s largest independent certification program and a recognized symbol of the commitment to comply with social and ethical standards. You can find more information here. 

SMETA:

SMETA is a social audit method from Sedex. It enables companies to assess their sites and suppliers in the areas of labor, health, safety, environment, and business ethics. This helps to better understand and ensure working conditions in the supply chain to work sustainably and adhere to socially responsible principles. You can find more information here. 

Other planned certifications:

Currently planned certifications include “Better Work” and “The Social & Labor Convergence Program”.