Last year, P.E. Nation revealed a set of sustainability targets and committed to making at least half of its range sustainable by Q1 2020. To discover how the brand has progressed on its mission, Ragtrader spoke to P.E. Nation co-founder Claire Tregoning.
How has the sustainability strategy progressed?
We have been on our sustainable journey for about three years now and have made some huge achievements.
Our collections are now almost 75% recycled or organic fabrications, our packaging is recycled and biodegradable and we have transformed our office recycling.
What have been some milestone achievements?
Our biggest milestones have been small wins.
Whether that be where we find a sustainable fabric and whether it is cut and sew jersey, woven for our jackets or active fabric that looks, feels and performs better than virgin fibres.
It has also been great to see our customers responding positively and being very supportive of our journey.
What have been the challenges you’ve overcome in the journey so far?
Working with our suppliers to come on the journey with us, and educating them on why we want to become more sustainable.
It has been great as it has allowed us to start working with our factories to ensure that the day to day practices they have are being considered more sustainably as well.
What is next in P.E Nation’s sustainability mission?
To use a fabrication for active that is 100% natural, sustainable and circular/compostable or recyclable.
What has the business learned in the pursuit of sustainable activewear?
It is a long process, the research and testing is long and complicated.
We have needed to complete a lot of testing to ensure we did not lose our brand DNA whilst developing our sustainable pieces.
What was the response to your first sustainable set; the ‘Strike Set’?
We had an overwhelming response to our first sustainable set.
It sold very well and the response positive from both our wholesalers and customers.
The positive response has continued through to our new sustainable sets.
What would P.E Nation like to achieve in the sustainability space in the next 12 months?
To have all collections 100% sustainable in fabrications.
We still have a lot of work to do, we are delving into R&D on more sustainable dying and printing techniques, looking at more natural fibres and how they have been developed into smart textiles with natural anti-bacterial and anti irritation properties and how we can use them in our products.
Where would P.E Nation like to be in its sustainability journey in the next five years?
Working with companies such as Parley and creating our own sustainable and circular fabrications, understand our supply chain through tier one, tier two and tier three levels.
Work to develop sustainable toggles, zippers and trims that still carry P.E Nation DNA.
Are there any other initiatives in the pipeline?
Now when we are coming up with our new ranges each season and going through the design process, our top priority is making everything as sustainable and ‘Conscious Nation’ as we can.
Now that we are at the point of having 75% of our collection sustainable we can’t imagine it not being a priority.
It took some time, but it was has all been worth it.
We have also partnered with I=Change and so far have raised:
• Bushfire recovery - over $40,000 of essential supplies
• 117 tonnes of sediment prevented from reaching our Reef
• 88.88 tonnes of carbon dioxide stored by the planting of native trees