3 reasons why we produce in Europe and sustainably
"Sustainability and fairness are important to us. That's why we produce our UV protective clothing almost exclusively in Europe. Short transportation routes, the use of recycled materials, and excellent quality and durability contribute to a good CO2 balance," says Markus Courtial, founder of iQ-Company and UV protection expert, explaining the company's sustainability strategy. "Additionally, I want to know my partners and ensure that fair wages are paid and good working conditions prevail. Only then can we sell with a clear conscience – and our customers appreciate that too."
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What does this mean specifically for sustainability? Here are a few examples:
- Approximately ten percent of plastic waste in the sea is made up of ghost nets. By using these nets for our products, we reduce their quantity and can thus protect some marine animals from life-threatening effects.
- The use of recycled PET bottles reduces the amount of waste, specifically, with one kilogram of fabric, we recycle 14 PET bottles.
- There is low CO2 emissions in production: Since the PET bottles are not incinerated, three kilograms of CO2 emissions are saved for every kilogram of fabric produced.
- Almost the entire production (except for UV caps and UV hats) takes place in Europe, meaning that transportation routes are short, and CO2 emissions are reduced.
- There is a low water consumption in production: To manufacture an iQ-UV PRO T-shirt, we need 18 liters of water, whereas a standard cotton T-shirt typically consumes 2,750 liters.
- No toxic substances are produced: Producing one kilogram of cotton requires the use of 167 different pesticides. In contrast, one kilogram of recycled UV protection double-face fabric requires no pesticides at all.