Our approach to sustainability
At the core of the Good Days brand ethos is our commitment to keeping sustainable and ethical decision making at the heart of what we do. Our initial focus is on three key areas: Fabrics, Packaging and Manufacturing. Building a business with sustainability at its core is a constant process of development and improvement. We are continuing to educate ourselves in these topics, and to challenge both our own practices and those of our suppliers, committed to improving our products and processes as we learn.
There are areas that we have been unwilling to compromise on from the start, such as where our products are made and by who, and the type of packaging we use. But there are other areas where we are still working towards solutions, such as how we can create a closed loop for our products at the end of their life so that they can be recycled again.
Good Days for our planet
A core mission for Good Days is supporting a circular economy, finding ways to repurpose waste, specifically plastic, which is suffocating our planet and oceans. We use a range of fabrics, which all contain varying levels of recycled plastic from waste products including plastic bottles, fishing nets and nylon carpets. Our goal is to divert plastic which would have otherwise ended up in landfill or oceans, repurposing it into a high quality product with a long life.
Recycled Polyester
Our Recycled Polyester for our leggings and bra tops comes from TopGreen® and Repreve® . This use of post-consumer plastic not only repurposes waste, but reduces our reliance on petrochemicals and prevents environmental pollution. TopGreen® and Repreve® use post-consumer plastic bottles, taking them through a process of grinding, washing, melting, re-polymerizing, spinning and texturizing, to create a high quality yarn.
Repreve® is the only eco-performance fiber with U TRUST® verification to certify recycled content claims. From any point in the supply chain, using our unique FiberPrint® tracer technology, we can test your products to verify Repreve® is in there, and in the right amounts.
Recycled Nylon
Our Recycled Nylon comes from Carvico JL in Italy, who use ECONYL®, a 100% regenerated nylon yarn derived from pre and post industrial waste such as discarded fishing nets and carpets which have reached their end of life. 640 thousand tons of fishing nets are abandoned at the bottom of the ocean, creating huge issues for marine life. Carvico works with Healthy Seas to find ways to clean up our oceans and find solutions for ‘ghost nets’ once they reach their end of life.
Recycled Polyester (with cotton blend)
For our vest tops, cotton is blended with recycled polyester produced by REPREVE®, who create high performance fibres from recycled plastic waste. The blend with certified organic cotton creates a soft and fluid fabric with high performance properties to make it suitable for activewear.
We’re doing everything we can to avoid single use plastics. We use the following materials for our packaging:
Garment Bags
We use two types:
1. biodegradable, compostable non-toxic bags made from cassava starch made by Avani in Bali.
2. Water soluble, compostable, biodegradable, non-toxic bags from #INVISIBLEBAG. These are made from a water-soluble and biodegradable combination of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), starch, glycerin and water. PVA can be biodegrade by microorganisms, breaking down into carbon dioxide and water with no trace of micro plastics. Click here for how to dispose of your #INVISIBLEBAG
Mailers
We use two types:
1. Mailers by The Better Packaging Co. which are made from corn starch and other plants. They have received the AS 5810-2010 certification by The Australian Standard for their ability to decompose, one of the most rigorous certification programmes for the testing of biodegradable standards in the world. These bags can be composted with home compost at the end of life and will breakdown within 3-6 months.
2. Water soluble, compostable, biodegradable, non-toxic mailers from #INVISIBLEBAG. These are made from a water-soluble and biodegradable combination of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), starch, glycerin and water. PVA can be biodegrade by microorganisms, breaking down into carbon dioxide and water with no trace of micro plastics. Click here for how to dispose of your #INVISIBLEBAG
Tote Bags
Our Good Days tote bag is made in Bali using waste fabric from rice bags which is cleaned and repurposed. You can use these again and again for carrying your grocery shopping, gym kit, laptop.
Tags
Our tags and inserts are made using recycled paper - make sure to recycle them again. We don't use plastic hangtags but attach our tags with cotton thread and a small safety pin where necessary.
Our manufacturer donates other left-over fabric off-cuts to local charity-based groups who re-make them into saleable goods.
Our production runs are small and collections are ‘evergreen’ so that we won’t end up with excess stock.
We are aware of the predicament of washing man-made fibers such as polyester and nylon, and the risk of micro-plastic release into the water system through washing machines.
That’s why we are stocking Guppyfriend washing bags, which are a scientifically approved solution against microplastic pollution from washing.
It reduces fibre shredding and protects your clothes – tests confirmed that on average 86% less fibres break off when washing with a Guppyfriend.
We are proud to be members of 1% for the Planet. Founded by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, 1% for the Planet helps to connect businesses with high impact non-profit partners that align to their brand values.
Through their scheme we are committed to donating at least 1% of our gross annual revenues (whether we are profitable or not), to approved environmental non-profits.
Good Days for people
Our activewear is made in Bali, Indonesia, by a manufacturer specialising in ethical and environmentally friendly practices.
Employees receive:
Fair pay: A salary at least 2x the minimum wage, double wages for overtime, 13 months salary a year (one month paid double).
Time off: 25 days paid leave.
Medical cover: free medical insurance covering all doctor’s fees, prescribed medication and hospitalization (extended to their spouse and up to three children).
A comfortable working environment: freshly cooked lunch provided daily, and a clean, safe and air-conditioned working environment.
As a business, they also donate money monthly to BIWA, an association dedicated to the welfare and education of women and children in Bali who scavenge their living from rubbish dumps.