Elk has released its 2020 Transparency Report, detailing the ways in which it is progressing towards its sustainability objectives.
Following the successful release of its debut Transparency Report in 2019, the business was awarded with the inaugural Sustainable Innovation Award at the 2019 Australian Fashion Laureate, and was a finalist in the 2019 Banksia Foundation Awards.
Speaking on the second instalment, Elk co-founder and creative director Marnie Goding said that the support the business received on its first report boosted its desire to continue improving its practices.
"The release of our first Transparency Report received an incredible response and we were, in some ways, able to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Encouragement to push on was received loud and clear, and our fear of total honesty was unfounded as the report was accepted without criticism.
"This support not only emboldened us, but also our whole team, our customers and our peers – we have learned that it is ok to not have all the answers, as long as we don’t stop trying to find them," she said.
Supported by the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Elk has identified six key areas it believes it can make a meaningful impact: gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production and life on land.
Backed by these initiatives, highlights from Elk's report include the development of a guide to support its design team in selecting fibres and materials with the least impact, with the aim to have all products made with at least 80% environmentally preferred materials.
The label will also ensure transparency in its supply chain, tracing and publishing 100% of its defined tier one to four suppliers by 2025.
It is also working towards ensuring that 100% of its core supply chain have globally recognised social or environmental credentials by 2025.
Meanwhile, the business has also installed a 77kw solar system across three of its buildings, providing 50% of its electricity, with all additional electricity certified carbon neutral, helping it progress towards its goal of bring a carbon neutral and zero-waste business by 2025.
Elk has also partnered with the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) and Canopy's Pack4Good initiative, to develop more sustainable packaging options across all aspects of its operations.
By 2025, Elk aims to have 100% of its packaging and printed materials as reusable, recyclable or compostable.
Goding added that transparent operations help businesses to understand their wider impact and how they can improve.
"Through transparency we can gain a greater understanding of our impact, both social and environmental.
"Without this knowledge we have no way forward, to make improvements and ensure our sourcing practices are in line with our values," she said.
Elk's 2020 Transparency Report is available on its website.