Happy Earth Day 2024! Today, we celebrate Earth Day, a special occasion dedicated to appreciating and enhancing our planet's health. It’s a day where individuals, communities, and organizations around the world come together to advocate for environmental protection and sustainable living.
What Do We Mean by ESG and SDG?
What is ESG?
ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. It’s a set of criteria that help us check if businesses are operating in a way that's good for the world. Here's a quick breakdown:
Environmental: How is the company treating the planet?
Social: How is it treating people?
Governance: How is it managing itself?
ESG matters because it helps us make sure that companies are not only looking to make a profit but are also doing it responsibly, with people and the planet in mind.
What are the SDGs?
SDG refers to the Sustainable Development Goals, a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. These goals are designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all."
They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. The importance of SDGs lies in their ability to provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
Here at MADE FREE, we’re eager to walk you through our commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and how they mesh with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We're excited to show you the real, positive changes we’re driving forward.
Exploring MADE FREE’s ESG Initiatives
1. Embracing Eco-Friendly Products
We’re passionate about using organic cotton, recycled polyester, and eco-friendly materials in our products. This not only reduces our environmental impact but also encourages cleaner production processes worldwide. It’s all about making sustainability the norm, not the exception.
2. Cutting Down on Waste
Our commitment to recycled materials and durable design goes beyond just minimizing waste—it’s about making a lasting impact. For instance, we use vegetable-tanned leather, known for its durability and the beautiful patina it develops over time, making each product uniquely attractive.
This encourages you, our customer, to invest in products that not only stand the test of time but also reduce environmental impact. By promoting long-lasting quality, we aim to inspire consumer habits towards more sustainable choices.
Shop the MADE FREE Leather Collection
3. Building an Ethical Supply Chain
At MADE FREE, every product comes from fair trade-certified factories. This means fair labor practices and positive economic growth in the communities we’re part of. It's our way of making sure that progress and ethics go hand in hand.
4. Promoting Safety and Fairness at Work
We strictly adhere to fair trade standards, which means no child labor and top-notch workplace safety.
Our factories’ ethical manufacturing practices ensure that our workers are protected and empowered, helping to foster peace, justice, and strong institutions.
5. Advocating for Fair Wages
Providing fair, living wages is crucial for lifting individuals, families, and communities out of poverty and reducing inequalities. Our commitment to fair wages is foundational in supporting economic stability and equality for all our workers.
The canvas Market Tote with a message
As Walk Free has recorded, of the 40.3 million people living in modern slavery, women and girls account for 71% of victims worldwide. At MADE FREE, we believe in the power of economic empowerment to transform lives, especially for women and girls who face systemic barriers and vulnerabilities that can lead to exploitation and modern slavery.
Economic desperation is a significant driver of exploitation. By ensuring fair compensation and a livable wage for our makers, we directly diminish the risk of them falling victim to such dangers. Economic empowerment is a powerful way of safeguarding communities and promoting dignity and security.
Learn more about The MADE FREE Model
How Our ESG Efforts Align with the SDGs
Our initiatives are about more than just doing business; they’re about making a positive impact. Here’s how our everyday actions help achieve bigger goals:
Goals 1 and 2: No Poverty and Zero Hunger — Fair wages and ethical sourcing support sustainable livelihoods and food security.
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being — We ensure safe and healthy working conditions and support health initiatives in our communities.
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation — Our policies aim to reduce water waste and ensure clean production processes.
Goals 8 and 9: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure — We’re investing in sustainable infrastructure that supports innovation and ensures all our workers benefit from the economy.
Goal 10: Reduced Inequality — Our employment practices are designed to help bridge the income inequality gap.
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production — Our product lines promote sustainability and encourage consumers to make responsible choices.
Goal 13: Climate Action — Each step we take is aimed at reducing our carbon footprint and addressing climate change.
Goals 14 and 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land — We are committed to protecting ecosystems by sourcing responsibly and reducing waste.
Goals 16 and 17: Peace, Justice, Strong Institutions, and Partnerships — Strong partnerships and institutional support are crucial for sustainable peace and long-term success.
This Earth Day, we invite you to explore how every product you buy – handbags, totes, belt bags, backpacks, whatever it may be – can support a broader network of positive impacts. Together, let’s continue to foster a more sustainable and just world.
Here’s to making sustainable choices and living more freely with MADE FREE. Happy Earth Day!
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