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Stella McCartney wool gets Cradle to Cradle certificate

04 Oct '17
3 min read

Continuing in Stella McCartney’s dedication to sustainability and circular economy, the brand has been given a Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold level certification for its wool yarn by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, a fashion industry first. Through the certification, Stella McCartney takes commitment to sustainable design into action.

Through the Institute’s Cradle to Cradle product certification programme, Stella McCartney is taking her commitment to sustainable design into action.

The programme helps the designer take her commitment a step further by creating opportunity for the brand to simultaneously optimise ingredient materials and constructively engage the supply chain. More than certification alone, the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard also drives innovation and positive change for the brand and the fashion industry.

Stella McCartney has been a leading member of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s Fashion Positive initiative since 2014. The initiative’s aim is to accelerate the fashion industry’s trajectory towards circular design through the collaborative development of circular ‘building block’ materials.

The brand’s achievement marks the fashion industry’s first Gold level certification for wool yarn—one of the industry’s most commonly used ‘building block’ materials. Stella McCartney selected wool yarn as its first Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold level product because of the continuity of the material use in products from year to year, across categories and collections including men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories. The designer developed the wool yarn in collaboration with long time supplier Zegna Baruffa and focused on optimising the entire process from avoiding the use of pesticides on the wool, to optimising the chemistry of the dyes; improving the health, safety and sustainability of the materials.

To achieve Cradle to Cradle certification, Stella McCartney worked with independent assessor Ignasi Cubina, co-founder and director of Barcelona-based Eco-Intelligent Growth, to promote dramatic change over time in the material health of the wool yarn from the start. Every step of the wool production was scrutinised, beginning with the strict selection of farmers and the avoidance of toxic pesticides, and the careful monitoring of the use of detergents, leveling agents, biocides and processing chemicals. As a result, more than 70 per cent of the yarn’s chemistry was optimised.

Annie Gullingsrud, director of textiles and apparel at Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, said, “Increasing the number of safe, circular building block materials within the fashion industry is crucial to realising industry-wide change in the way apparel and accessories are designed and made. As a member of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s Fashion Positive initiative, Stella McCartney is among an influential group of brands working together to lead the industry towards more responsible, sustainable and circular practices. Achieving Cradle to Cradle Certification at the Gold level for its wool yarn is a significant milestone for the entire fashion industry—and proof that a commitment to improving the safety, health and circularity of the materials we use is well within reach.”

Stella McCartney’s precedent-setting certification helps pave the way for greater collaboration and engagement in the broader effort to expand the volume and availability of Cradle to Cradle Certified building block materials for fashion. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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