FIBRES FOR OUR FUTURE
At JAG, we desire to leave a light touch on the world we love.
We are working towards reduced material usage, less waste and circular design practices, and we’ve developed a list of what we consider to be the best materials we can use to achieve this. Our efforts will evolve over time, and so we will update our customers as we go.
Cotton is grown in over 70 countries globally, thriving in long, hot summers. When the cotton plant is mature, the fluffy bolls are picked, separated from seed & plant debris, and then spun into yarn. Though it’s one of the world’s most used fibres, cotton farmers still face compounding climate-related challenges.
To ensure our cotton choices can positively support people and planet, we are using fully traceable Good Earth Cotton and Global Organic Textile Standard Cotton for select ranges. Both these standards ensure the cotton is grown using more regenerative farming methods, with more controlled irrigation and without the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides. We’re also tracing deeper into our supply chain so we can understand and support our cotton growers.
Linen is one of the oldest cultivated fibres in human history. Most of the world’s linen is grown on the coastal band of Europe stretching from Northern France through to Belgium and the Netherlands. From here, it travels the world to be spun, woven and knitted into fabric. Linen fibres are thicker and longer than cotton, which gives it the strength and longevity that JAG products are known for.
We value knowing where our linen comes from and the conditions under which it’s grown, so we are increasing our use of European linen which is majority rain-fed and cultivated without heavy use of fertiliser and pesticides.
Wool is one of the earth’s most renewable fibres, being an annually shorn and replenished resource. Its unique structure gives it a natural ability to breathe, stay wrinkle-free, and adapt to different climates and situations, and as a fibre it has great recycling potential. Other fibres we use such as alpaca, yak and mohair share these properties. We are committed to ethical and humane sourcing, and JAG has a strict non-mulesing policy.
Our wool growers try to ensure sheep are treated humanely in accordance with local animal welfare laws, but due to the complex nature of material supply chains it is challenging to have complete visibility over wool origins. We support producers who are transitioning away from non-mulesed wool and will continue our fibre tracing to have more visibility in our wool sourcing.
Man-made cellulosic fibres, commonly known as viscose, rayon and modal, are unique in the world of textiles. They are created through a hybrid process where natural materials – wood pulp (the ‘cellulose’ of trees) or cotton waste – are broken down with a solvent and mechanically turned into a pure cellulosic fibre. Though they mimic the lustre and fluidity of silk, not all these fibres are created equal. Their production can contribute to deforestation and pollution if the wood used to create them isn’t sourced responsibly. We are prioritising the use of Lenzing trademarked fibres as the wood sourced for their production comes from sustainable forestry, and their chemical waste is recovered and reused in a closed-loop process.
POLYESTER AND OTHER SYNTHETICS
Polyester, and other manufactured synthetic fibres such as nylon and elastane, are derived from petroleum. Their use and disposal comes with negative environmental impacts such as the leaching of microplastics through wash and wear, as well as the burning of fossil fuels. JAG has a strict policy of using no synthetics unless they provide a function that prolongs the life of the garment. They account for less than 5% of our fabrics and are usually there to provide stretch in our denim or as trims. Where possible, we use recycled polyester instead of virgin polyester, and we are working on phasing synthetics out of our ranges.
Leather derived from animal hides is one of the most ancient materials used by humans, enduring through its ability to provide durability, insulation, and protection from the elements. The leather industry however is known to be highly unregulated, contributing to deforestation, over-use of water and highly toxic tanning processes.
We only use New Zealand Real Grade Leather, which ensures skins are direct by-products from the meat and dairy industry, that strict animal welfare standards are adhered to, and that only REACH approved chemicals are used.
We’re determined to keep reducing the impact of our materials, and to do so we have some great initiatives in the works.
BY 2025 WE ARE AIMING TO:
Complete the final stages of our fabric tracing, moving into tracing yarn and raw fibre production to achieve better visibility at the grower level. Have all linen European Flax Certified and all cotton either GOTS certified, Australian origin or from responsible & traceable sources. Have all man-made cellulosics come from responsible sources. Eliminate synthetic fabrications unless required for stretch functionality. Investigate waterless finishing processes for denim. Trial bio-based pigments and alternative colouration processes. Transition to 100% recyclable or reusable packaging.
