The global textile industry faces many social and ecological problems, and relies on a vulnerable, resource intensive supply chain. For this reason, CRAiLAR FTI’s proprietary process literally puts a new spin on some of the world’s oldest textile crops — bringing bast fibers from flax and industrial hemp into the 21st century while paving the way for an exciting and sustainable future. CRAiLAR FTI is committed to playing a leadership role in the textile sector and will support supply chain solutions that promote responsible environmental and ethical practices in manufacturing, and the protection of global ecosystems including ancient and endangered forests.
Demonstrate Corporate Leadership
CRAiLAR FTI recognizes that business leadership and long-term success must consider the environment. Consequently, CRAiLAR FTI is dedicated to building environmental awareness among customers, employees, suppliers and peers.
Conserve Ancient and Endangered Forests and Ecosystems
CRAiLAR FTI provides a clear solution to avoid sourcing textile fibers and pulp/paper inputs from the world’s ancient and endangeredi forests, as CRAiLAR FTI produces these valuable raw materials from agricultural fibres. We are building a marketplace that can support the protection of the world’s remaining ancient and endangeredi forests including the Canadian and Russian Boreal Forests; Coastal Temperate Rainforestsii; tropical forests and peat lands of Indonesiaiii, the Amazon and West Africa, and the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems contained within these forests. Currently Canada, Brazil and Indonesia are the largest exporters of dissolving pulp for viscose globally.
As the issue of ancient and endangered forest fiber in cellulosic fabrics gains increasing awareness among global clothing brands, high profile designers and producers, CRAiLAR FTI will work with suppliers, Canopy and brands that are part of the CanopyStyle initiative to support the protection of ancient and endangered forests and forward solutions to reduce demand on our forests.
Innovation and Development
CRAiLAR FTI produces fiber from agricultural fibres. This provides CRAiLAR FTI’s customers with a guarantee that the company is not sourcing from controversial sources associated with wood including wood from: illegal loggingiv, wood logged in contravention of First Nations/indigenous peoples’ rights or in contravention of Free, Prior or Informed Consent (FPIC) or endangered species habitat.
CRAiLAR FTI remains open to exploring partnerships to supply fiber yarn, and nonwoven products to companies producing “forest-free” yarns, fabrics and nonwovens that do not source from ancient and endangered forests.
Advance Joint Conservation Solutions
CRAiLAR FTI supports the implementation of visionary agreements in key forest areas, such as the Canadian Boreal Forestsv, Coastal Temperate Rainforests and Indonesia. We look to Canopy to identify opportunities to encourage existing and new initiatives that seek to protect the world’s remaining ancient and endangered forests.
Reduce our Carbon Footprint
CRAiLAR FTI aims to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions and where possible will play a role in mitigating climate change by participating in initiatives that reduce the loss of carbon-rich forests (e.g. ancient old growth temperate rainforests and forests growing on peat lands) and by encouraging the development of fabrics made with agricultural residue fibers.
Pollution Prevention
CRAiLAR FTI will strive to use best practices with its fiber production, monitor and reduce overall emissions, not use harmful chemicals that cannot be recycled in a closed process, minimize air and water pollution and encourage our supply chain partners to do the same.
Paper and Packaging
Recognizing that avoiding impacts to the world’s forests is also tied to CRAiLAR FTI’s own use of paper and packaging, CRAiLAR FTI is committed to improved efficiency in paper use in its own operations, and to reducing waste. In line with CRAiLAR FTI’s commitment to produce agricultural fibre textile products, CRAiLAR FTI will aim to source agricultural residue and/or 100% post recycled content paper and packaging productsvi.
Promote Industry Leadership
CRAiLAR FTI recognizes the benefit of creating environmental awareness amongst its team, customers, and partners. The company will work to highlight its environmental efforts on its website, in public communications and social media, and in partnership with stakeholders.
Strong Forest Management Standards
CRAiLAR FTI fully supports responsible forest management practices that protect biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, provide long-term social and economic benefits to communities, and facilitate a stable, sustainable supply chain and climate of operational certainty. We encourage our supply chain partners to preference fiber certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard where virgin fiber is needed.
Jason Finnis, Chief Innovation Officer, CRAiLAR FTI
Date: May 11, 2017
300-1095 McKenzie Avenue, Victoria, BC Canada V8P 2L5
www.crailar-fti.com ● info@crailar-fti.com