Environment

It is critical that we are able to offer our customers products that are not harmful. Product safety is a top priority and our dedicated teams work to ensure that our products are made to strict safety standards.

We have developed a set of chemical restrictions that all manufacturers undertake to follow. These requirements are regularly revised and followed up by strict testing procedures. Manufacturers are obligated to carry out tests during production in order to ensure that the finished products do not contain restricted substances. We collaborate with several nominated laboratories that assist manufacturers and buyers throughout this process.

We are member of Kjemikaliegruppen (the Chemical Group) in Sweden, an interest group lead by the research institute Swerea that gather clothing companies that aim to reduce the use of chemicals in their production processes. 

The Swan is the official Nordic ecolabel, introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Swan logo demonstrates that a product is a good environmental choice.  The product fulfil a range of environmental, health and quality requirements. This means that requirements are set for the production of fibers and hides/skins, to the further treatment of the fiber and hide and onward to the finished textile or leather product.

Varner has, through the brands Days Like This, Cubus and Carlings, collections that are labelled with the Swan-logo. Our goal is to continuously increase the amount of Swan-labelled products in our stores.

We are committed to improving cotton farming practices globally with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI).

Cotton is one of the world’s most important fibers and is widely used in the garment industry. However, the environmental impact of cotton production is substantial with high water consumption and extensive use of pesticides, insecticides and fertilizer.

This is why Varner has joined the Better Cotton Initiative. (BCI) http://bettercotton.org/

The Better Cotton Initiative exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future.

2016 marks the start of our journey with BCI. By 2020, Varner is committed to sourcing 50 % of our total cotton as Better Cotton.

Organic cotton is responsible grown cotton without the use of toxic and persistent synthetic agrichemicals (pesticides, defoliants and fertilizers) and genetically modified seeds. Organic cotton is generally grown as part of a diverse production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people.

Our suppliers work with the certifications standards OCS (Organic Cotton Standard) and GOTS (Global Organic Cotton Standard). We are member of Textile Exhange that owns the Organic Cotton Standard and many other standards that our suppliers follow.

By working together with factories, we strive to minimize our environmental impact. Considerable amounts of water is used in the production of textiles, and proper treatment of discharged water it is essential. Factories must have a program dedicated to reducing emissions and strive to optimize the use of resources.

Factories must have a system to control and manage the use of chemicals during the production process. The workers must be equipped with protective equipment and receive proper training.

Through company inspections and continuous dialogue, we work to ensure that factories do not violate environmental regulations and work to improve environmental management systems.

Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in. Ensure sustainable water management and access to water for all is one of UN’s 17 Sustainability Development Goals to be achieved within 2030.

Water usage in the textile industry is extremely high and occur at each stage of the lifecycle of textiles. Cotton is one of the most water-intensive agricultural crops and significant amount of water is used in the garment production. This is why, we as an industry, have an important responsibility to continuously improve our efforts in this field.

Varner has a goal to increase the use of organic certified cotton and BCI-labelled cotton in our garments. We set strict requirements to our producers with regards to water usage, chemical handling, waste management and emissions.

In 2016, as the first Norwegian brand, we became member of Sweden Textile Water Initiative, STWI. Together with other brands we cooperate to improve the water impacts in the production process.