Sustainability

OUR MISSION

So far we have been able to source 100% recycled nylon that is both light weight and water-resistant to form the bulk of our hats. With your support in the growth of this brand, we will look at having every inch of our surf hats made from 100% recycled ocean waste or other sustainable materials.

 

WHY RECYCLED NYLON?

A part from the functional benefits of this material, recycled nylon is made from waste nylon (plastic) by breaking it down into its chemical components. Once this is done, the components can be recombined into nylon sheets. This waste includes items polluting our oceans like industrial fishing nets, plastic bottles and other waste found in our everyday lives. 

Virgin nylon is made directly from chemicals derived from petroleum. Petroleum refineries pose a major threat to our environment by spewing tons of carbon and other toxic substances into the air, as well as leaching toxic chemicals into the water and soil.

By using recycled nylon, we not only put marine debris, landfill plastics and factory scraps to good use, but we can avoid this harsh mining process and positively reduce our carbon emissions. 

 

OUR PACKAGING

Making the right choices as a brand doesn't stop at the product. We have chosen to use HERO mailers to ship orders, and here is why:

1. HEROPACKS are made from home-compostable materials, mainly corn starch and PBAT (a compostable ingredient that bonds the renewable ingredients together)
2. They take 90-120 days in your home compost to break down
3. They are an Australian-owned company with similar goals to continue their efforts in reducing their carbon footprint

How do we compost the mailers?

To compost them at home, it’s best to remove any labels, cut them up and place them in your compost bin as “brown” materials. These will completely break down within 90-120 days in a home-compostable environment - sometimes even sooner!

These can also be sent to composting facilities to be properly broken down and composted. If you are in Australia, please CLICK HERE to find a composter near you. You can also ask your local council if they can provide a composting green bin for you. Another great option is to visit www.sharewaste.com to find a local home-composting enthusiast near you! These links were shared by HEROPACK themselves.

Please don't throw mailers in the trash

It's common to think if a product is biodegradable then it should biodegrade just as well in a landfill right?  This is not true and we are happy to inform you of why it is important to take small efforts to compost your mailer.  

 

 

OUR SUPPLIER

In the beginning stages of Ashiver, we spent a long time researching hat manufacturers that not only had expertise in hat craftsmanship, but who had access to recycled materials and a nationally accredited and certified ethical workplace.   

Yes, we manufacture in China. We understand it can be a tough pill to swallow for some, especially with the Chinese market getting such a bad rap over the years. However what we have witnessed is China's positive response to global concerns, resulting in the Chinese fashion industry really upping their act!

We will continue to do our due diligence to ensure our manufacturer meets our ethical standards, including visiting in person. And... if they don't, we will make them aware of our requirements and do our business elsewhere if need be.  

Why we chose China? 

1. Working in China makes it easy to access factories who produce certified recycled fabrics and accessories. With an increasing demand for sustainable products, China is producing more and more sustainable options. In fact, being one of the biggest goods producers in the world, means China has more influence on the world’s market, especially when we put pressure on China to provide such materials, sustainable practices and ethical working environments.        
2. Manufacturing costs in Australia are about four times higher than China. If we produced hats in Australia with the same quality and features, we would be having to charge at least double their retail price.  As an establishing brand, this is not sustainable. At least not yet. We do however use Australian-owned companies where we can for things like packaging and promotional material, and aim to transition to Australian made once our business grows.