Ethics and Sustainability
At Snorkelbear, we are committed to sustainability in every aspect of our business. We believe that fashion can be both super cute and environmentally responsible. Here’s how we strive to make a positive impact:
- Eco-Friendly Materials: We prioritise the use of sustainable fabrics such as regenerated nylon, natural fibres and deadstock/repurposed fabrics. Every piece we produce has at least one of these sustainable elements and we are striving to improve with everything we produce.
- In-House and Australian production: We are very proud of our in-house production team in our little Byron studio. Making in-store means that we have full control over quality and quantity of production, and we get to work one-on-one with the amazing people who manufacture our pieces. We also partner with local seamstresses who work on a contract basis and set their own working hours and rates.
- Responsible Manufacturing Partners: We use responsible offshore manufacturing partners for our Originals collection as it is not viable to make all of our swim in Australia, as much as we would love to! We manufacture in the Philippines, China and Brazil. We have recently moved our main offshore production to a new manufacturer in the Philippines who is able to meet our small order quantities, so there is no pressure for us to overproduce (a big problem for small Aussie brands producing offshore!). All of our offshore partners share our sustainable and ethical ideologies and offer full transparency into their labour and production practices.
- Durable Design: We believe in creating high-quality pieces that last. By choosing durable materials and only making the pieces we really love ourselves, we encourage our customers to buy less frequently and enjoy their Snorkies for a long time.
- Plastic Reduction: We are committed to reducing plastic and packaging waste. Our orders are lovingly packed in a cotton canvas bag and shipped in biodegradable satchels, and nothing arrives to us or our customers individually wrapped in plastic. We are not yet 100% plastic free, but all plastic utilised in our business is used consciously, and re-used consistently – there is no single use plastic to be found and we are committed to reducing plastic usage every day.
- Transparency and Accountability: We believe in transparency throughout our supply chain. From sourcing to manufacturing, we ensure that every step meets our sustainability standards. We are continuously improving and finding new ways to lessen our environmental impact.
Join us in our journey towards a more sustainable future. Together, we can make a difference - one cute bikini at a time.
