How to Make Your Fashion Tech Pack More Sustainable

In today’s fashion industry, sustainability is no longer a trend but a necessity. As consumers become more conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases, designers are increasingly incorporating sustainability into every aspect of their process, including the creation of tech packs. A fashion tech pack is a critical document in the production process, providing manufacturers with all the details they need to create a garment. By making your tech pack more sustainable, you can help reduce waste, ensure ethical production practices, and lower your garment’s environmental impact.

In this article, we’ll explore key strategies for creating a more sustainable tech pack and discuss how small changes in your design and manufacturing process can contribute to a more eco-friendly fashion future.

1. Select Sustainable Materials

Material selection plays a significant role in the sustainability of your garment. The fabric and trims used in the design process directly impact the environment in terms of production processes, resource consumption, and waste generation.

  • Use Eco-friendly Fabrics: Choose fabrics made from sustainable materials, such as organic cotton, hemp, Tencel (lyocell), or recycled polyester. These fabrics are produced with fewer chemicals, require less water, and are often biodegradable.
  • Upcycle Materials: Consider incorporating upcycled or repurposed materials into your designs. Upcycling helps reduce waste by using materials that would otherwise be discarded.
  • Specify Material Certifications: In your tech pack, include certifications that prove the sustainability of your materials, such as Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for organic fabrics or OEKO-TEX certification for safe and eco-friendly textiles.
  • Consider Fabric Durability: Choose fabrics that are long-lasting and can withstand wear and tear, reducing the need for consumers to discard garments after only a few uses.

How to include this in your tech pack:

  • Clearly state fabric compositions (e.g., 100% organic cotton, 80% recycled polyester, 20% wool).
  • List any sustainability certifications and include swatches of the materials you’ve chosen.
  • Specify eco-friendly trims such as biodegradable buttons, recycled zippers, and natural dyes.

2. Focus on Ethical Manufacturing

Ethical manufacturing practices are an essential part of sustainability. By working with manufacturers who prioritize fair labor practices, safe working conditions, and environmental responsibility, you ensure that your garment is produced in a way that benefits both people and the planet.

  • Fair Trade Certification: If possible, work with manufacturers who are Fair Trade certified. This certification ensures workers receive fair wages and work in safe conditions.
  • Factory Audits: Conduct regular audits to ensure that your manufacturer complies with ethical labor standards and environmental regulations. Include these audits in your tech pack to hold manufacturers accountable.
  • Reduce Energy and Water Usage: Specify in your tech pack that you want to minimize the environmental impact of manufacturing by choosing factories that use renewable energy sources or implement water-saving technologies.

How to include this in your tech pack:

  • If you are working with a certified manufacturer, include details about the certifications (e.g., Fair Trade, ISO 14001).
  • Set goals for the factory to reduce water and energy usage, and ask them to provide data on their sustainability efforts.
  • Provide guidelines for ethical production and worker safety.

3. Prioritize Durability and Timeless Design

Creating garments that last longer reduces the overall consumption of resources. By designing timeless, high-quality pieces that can be worn year after year, you help combat the disposable culture that is often a hallmark of fast fashion.

  • Quality Over Quantity: Focus on designing well-made garments that are durable and versatile, using higher-quality fabrics and construction methods. For example, reinforced stitching, durable zippers, and strong fabrics all help make the garment last longer.
  • Timeless Design: Aim for classic, versatile styles that won’t go out of fashion quickly. Designing pieces that remain relevant season after season encourages customers to hold on to their clothes for longer.
  • Easy Care and Repair: Consider garments that are easy to care for (i.e., fabrics that are machine washable and durable) and allow for repairs, such as removable buttons or patches that can be replaced.

How to include this in your tech pack:

  • Provide detailed specifications for quality, such as thread count, stitching methods, and fabric durability (e.g., “10,000 cycles in abrasion test”).
  • Specify easy-to-repair details, like removable buttons or repairable zippers.
  • Provide instructions for fabric care that helps prolong the garment’s life.

4. Minimize Waste with Efficient Pattern Making

Waste reduction is one of the core principles of sustainable fashion. In garment production, waste can be minimized during the pattern-making stage by using digital pattern-making techniques or adjusting pattern placement to reduce fabric scraps.

  • Digital Pattern Making: Use digital pattern-making software like TUKAcad or CLO 3D that optimizes fabric use and reduces waste by minimizing the number of pattern pieces needed.
  • Zero-Waste Design: Consider implementing zero-waste design techniques, where every piece of fabric is used in the final garment, leaving little to no waste.
  • Efficient Fabric Cutting: If you are working with a factory, specify the need for an efficient cutting plan that minimizes fabric waste.

How to include this in your tech pack:

  • Request that the manufacturer uses digital pattern-making tools to optimize fabric usage.
  • Include details about fabric utilization goals and request that excess fabric is saved for future use or recycling.
  • Consider including a note on pattern placement that aims to reduce fabric waste.

5. Use Eco-friendly Packaging

Packaging is another area where sustainability can be improved. Excess packaging, especially plastic packaging, is a major environmental issue in the fashion industry.

  • Sustainable Packaging Materials: Choose packaging materials that are recyclable, biodegradable, or made from recycled materials. For example, opt for recycled paper hang tags, cardboard boxes, or compostable garment bags made from plant-based materials.
  • Minimal Packaging: Minimize packaging by using only what is necessary to protect the garment during shipping and storage. Avoid excessive plastic wrapping or overly packaged products.
  • Reusability: Consider designing packaging that can be reused by the customer, such as a cloth bag or a sturdy, reusable box.

How to include this in your tech pack:

  • Specify the materials for packaging, such as recycled cardboard or biodegradable bags.
  • Include guidelines for the type of packaging to be used for each item (e.g., “no plastic packaging” or “use recycled paper tags”).
  • Indicate that minimal packaging should be used to reduce waste.

6. Consider End-of-Life Options for Garments

Sustainable fashion doesn’t end when the garment is purchased—it’s also important to think about the garment’s end-of-life. Clothes that are difficult to recycle or dispose of properly contribute to environmental waste when discarded.

  • Design for Recycling: Choose materials that are easy to recycle, such as cotton, wool, and certain types of synthetics like recycled polyester. Avoid using mixed-material fabrics that are hard to separate and recycle.
  • Circular Economy: Consider implementing a circular fashion model, where garments are designed for reuse, repair, or recycling. Encourage customers to return old garments for repurposing or offer repair services.
  • Biodegradable Fabrics: Look into fabrics that are biodegradable and won’t contribute to landfill waste once discarded.

How to include this in your tech pack:

  • Include instructions for the use of recyclable or biodegradable fabrics.
  • Provide guidance for end-of-life garment care, such as advice on how to recycle or donate the garment.
  • If applicable, include a take-back or recycling program in your tech pack instructions for post-consumer garment returns.

7. Document Sustainability Goals

Lastly, it’s important to communicate your sustainability goals clearly in your tech pack so that manufacturers know what is expected.

  • Sustainability Targets: Define your sustainability goals for each product. For example, you might aim for a certain percentage of organic materials or a reduction in carbon emissions during production.
  • Supplier Responsibility: Include sustainability and ethical sourcing guidelines for your suppliers and manufacturers. Ensure that they are aligned with your values and commitments.

How to include this in your tech pack:

  • Include a section that outlines your sustainability targets and goals.
  • List your sustainability certifications and supplier expectations (e.g., “Supplier must use 100% organic cotton or certified fair-trade labor practices”).

Final Thoughts

Making your fashion tech pack more sustainable involves thoughtful decisions in material selection, manufacturing processes, and packaging, as well as a commitment to long-lasting, ethical designs. Incorporating sustainability into your tech pack not only helps reduce the environmental impact of your designs but also aligns your brand with the growing demand for eco-conscious fashion. By making these changes, you are contributing to a more sustainable and ethical fashion industry, one garment at a time.