We removed plastic hooks from the Hysteria range in 2022 and the Kids range in 2020. We are working on removing them altogether with a new paper hook on the label instead. That’s a lot less plastic!
Plastic windows were removed from gift sets in the US and mailer bags are now made from recycled plastic. Individually these steps are small, but together they save a few tonnes of single use plastics every year.
In 2022 we made progress on our journey to becoming a more responsible company. While each of these changes in itself is relatively small, together they help us maintain our momentum towards sustainability.
We have set ourselves some ambitious goals when it comes to transforming our business to be more sustainable. The good news is that we are on track to reaching these goals, we are where we hoped we would be at this point - well on track to reaching our targets. Every lift in the percentage of recycled or sustainably sourced materials helps us towards becoming a more responsible company.
We set our sustainability goals a few years back but in 2022 we added another one, and that is to reduce our carbon emissions by 50% before 2030*. We are continuously measuring our progress here and sticking to a globally recognised framework to make sure we are following global business standards. We are already heading in the right direction too!
In 2022 we added a new material to some designs - TENCEL™ Modal. This new kid on the block not only offers great comfort, but since it is made from wood from certified forests, in what is known as a ‘closed loop’ process, it has less impact on the environment. The production process requires less water, chemicals and energy - which is a win for everyone. Not only that, but it is a comfortable material so perfect for socks.
In 2022 we launched a collaboration with WWF - who have been making a real difference in the field of conservation for many years. The collection of eight new designs celebrated some of theses successes in characteristically bold designs - while raising money for more great work from WWF.
*compared to our starting year 2020
Although Happy Socks does not own any factories, we take the responsibility to ensure the factories we work with secure safe and fair working conditions. That is why we only work with suppliers who agree to sign our Code of Conduct – a clarification of our requirements for environmental and social equity.