AFRIEK
AFRIEK provides tailors from Rwanda with a living wage (theme in the CSR Risk Checker: salary & remuneration), and has only used organic cotton from regions with transparent value chains since 2020 (theme in the CSR Risk Checker: soil and (ground)water contamination).
The clothing brand is now ready for the next chapter of their social and sustainable mission: Local production of prints on organic fabrics, with natural dye from for instance food waste streams. Nowadays, many prints are made from synthetic dye which is both toxic for workers and the environment (themes in the CSR Risk Checker: health & safety at work, soil & (ground)water contamination).
To change these unsustainable practices, AFRIEK conducted a pilot to test the feasibility of a natural printing technique in Rwanda. The study shows that it is possible to print organic fabrics with natural dyes. Implementing the technical process on a larger scale remains a challenge, but AFRIEK believes scaling up is feasible.
The brand aims to share the research results in an accessible way with local stakeholders. This way, the clothing brand wants to ensure that the local textile sector benefits from the new insights. The more clothing producers experiment with natural dye, the faster the industry can become more sustainable.
Do you also want to get started with due diligence in your international value chain? Our roadmap will help you to get started!
More testimonials
CTOUCH
Electronics and responsible manufacturing do not always seem to be a fortunate combination. The production of phones puts high pressure on the environment, along with associated risks to workers' health and wellbeing. For instance, extracting raw materials in mines can be dangerous. Likewise, stories of toxic chemicals in the production of phone screens are well-known.
WAKULI
The mission of Wakuli is to shake up the coffee industry. The company is committed to fair prices for coffee farmers and even derives its name from the word for farmers in the Swahili language (wakulima). Wakuli is also dedicated to sustainability and is exploring how their Brazilian production partner can switch to regenerative production methods.