WHY A REPORT?
2019 IMPACT REPORT
We believe companies should be accountable for more than just profits. That’s why we’d like to share our sustainability reports so we can track our progress together.
Highlight of the year:
Reflect Studio became a B-Corp
As Reflect Studio, sustainable production and radical transparency have always been at the heart of our identity. We accomplished this by keeping a respectful and conscious attitude at every stage of the production, both environmentally and socially. Being a B-Corp is a stamp of approval that this attitude is accepted worldwide and this approval comes as a result of a detailed examination process.
→ To read more about the B-Corp, read our article: Reflect Studio is now a B-Corp. What does this exactly mean?
How we’ll use our B-Impact scorecard to assess our 5P impact areas
The certification was a result of a long series of assessments. In these assessments, various criteria such as impact measurements of our production and our effects on the environment, employee rights and benefits, company management and transparency and social impact of the company are merged together to provide a conclusion about our consistency and reliability.
We will use some of these criteria and measurements in this impact report in order to present an objective scorecard of our areas of impact. As we are required to constantly improve our scores within a year to be able to keep our B-Corp status, we will update our scorecards based on the B-Impact Assessment criteria every year for our reports.
BASED ON 5PS OF REFLECT STUDIO
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 5PS, VISIT OUR SUSTAINABILITY PAGE
2019
Impact report
INDEX ↓
01. PRODUCT
↳ 01.1. MATERIAL USAGE IN 2019
↳ 01.2. WASTE SCENARIO IN 2019
↳ 01.3. NEW PRODUCTS
↳ 01.4. GAME PLAN
↳ 01.3. NEW PRODUCTS
↳ 01.4. GAME PLAN
02. PLANET
↳ 02.1. B-CORP SCORECARD ON ENVIRONMENT↳ 02.2. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
↳ 02.3. 2019 TOTAL IMPACT
↳ 02.4. HIGHLIHGTS & CHALLENGES OF 2019
↳ 02.5. GAME PLAN
↳ 02.3. 2019 TOTAL IMPACT
↳ 02.4. HIGHLIHGTS & CHALLENGES OF 2019
↳ 02.5. GAME PLAN
↳ 02.5. GAME PLAN
03. PEOPLE
↳ 03.1. B-CORP SCOREDCARD ON WORKERS & COMMUNITY
↳ 03.2. HIGHLIHGTS & CHALLENGES OF 2019
↳ 03.3. GAME PLAN
↳ 03.3. GAME PLAN
04. PARTNERSHIPS
↳ 04.1. HIGHLIHGTS OF 2019
↳ 04.2. GAME PLAN
05. PROGRESS
↳ 05.1. HIGHLIHGTS & CHALLENGES OF 2019
↳ 05.2. GAME PLAN
01.Product
As a manufacturing office, our material choices have the greatest impact. We continuously push for better fibres, better applications, better products. From the design stage to manufacturing, we are committed to creating environmentally responsible products.
↳ 01.1. Material usage in 2019
*Deadstock fabrics: We buy verified ageing, leftover, and over-ordered fabric from factories, other designers and fabric warehouses, called deadstock. This allows us to reuse and divert these materials from the landfill and into your closet.
↳ 01.2. Waste scenario in 2019
2019 challenge: Table shows the percentage of waste generated in different steps of our production process. The highest waste is accumulated in yarn production and cut & sew. As a company working with only Tier 1,2,3 manufacturers in the production chain, recycling and waste handlings methods that occur in Tier 4, yarn production stage is unfortunately unknown to us, yet we try to work closely and negotiate with our manufacturers and guide them towards more sustainable practices.
↳ 01.3. New products in 2019
Bamboo & Wax food wraps
Last year we sourced bowls, cutting-boards and cutlery made from bamboo for WWF Market. We also partnered with Mumo in the making of eco-friendly food wraps made from beeswax and jojoba oil that can be used over 100 times, aiming to eliminate the single use plastics in the kitchen.
Recycled PVC
In our collection for 2019 Istanbul Biennale, we worked with recycled PVC material for our tote bag designs. Endorsing this year’s themes of 7th continent and Anthropocene, we combined natural and recycled plastic elements to refer to a world where productive systems and natural elements drift together.
FOR PRODUCT
Game Plan
01.
Systemize our use of deadstock fabric
So far in 2019, we used deadstock fabric as a one-time project based material source, yet we hope to plan out how we use those fabrics more efficiently and also include them in our design processes & collections as a defining element as well.
02.
The Workshop: in-house manufacturing space
Opening towards mid-2020, The Workshop will be our first in-house manufacturing space, where the designs created in the Studio will pass to the Workshop and turn into samples of garments. During this sampling process, we will have first-hand and full control over the cut and sew processes by receiving the fabrics to the Workshop, creating our own patterns and managing our waste accordingly.
03.
Repurposing fabric cutting leftovers
As we are getting ready to launch our WWF Home collection in Summer 2020, we will be using waste cuttings as pillow inserts. This will bring us one step to circularity.
04.
Rolling out circular design workshops
As Reflect Studio, we would like our approach towards daily errands & life to be equally sustainable as our production processes. So, we are planning to have circularity & sustainability workshops for our design, operations and sustainability teams in 2020.
05.
Transition to GOTS
We will take one step forward towards transitioning all our conventional cotton use to 100% GOTS certified cotton. For this, we will encourage the stakeholders in our supply chain to get GOTS and other certifications.
06.
New materials
We want to reduce our dependence on finite resources by increasing the use of recyclable fibers, such as tencel.
02.Planet
According to Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the total greenhouse gas emissions from textile production equals 1.2 billion tonnes annually. That is more than those of all international flights and maritime shipping combined, just in addition to the great amount of waste generated and waters used.
That is why we have to evaluate our responsibility towards our planet. The P for Planet is about assessing Reflect Studio’s environmental stewardship, including not only how we manage our environmental impact arising from our main business activities but also our day-to-day impact as a team, such as our use of studio kitchen or office supplies. It covers water use, carbon footprint, energy use, waste management as well as specific matters like climate, sustainability and our impacts on land and life.
↳ 02.1. B-Corp scorecard on Environment
Environment impact criteria helps us evaluate our company’s environmental stewardship, including how the company manages its general environmental impacts, such as our water use, carbon footprint, energy use, waste management, as well as specific matters like climate, sustainability and our impacts on land and life.
↳ 02.2. The environmental impact generated
with our responsible manufacturing processes
We calculate our environmental impact using the life-cycle assessment methodology. In order to do that, we partnered with Green Story.
↳ 02.3. Reflect Studio & WWF Market
2019 Total Impact:
HIGHLIGHTS & CHALLENGES
OF 2019
CATEGORY
02.PLANET
Highlights
↳ New packaging for shipping
We used to work with a local shipping agent which used regular plastic packaging. In order to minimize our impact in 2019, we started working with UPS for our local shipments and started using their biodegradable plastic bags. As for our international shipments, we started working with DHL Green for offsetting the carbon generated from our international shipments.
↳ New packaging for WWF Market:
This year for every WWF Market order received, we packaged the orders in cotton bags, which
they later used to carry things, keep their produce fresh or simply to reduce their daily single
use plastic consumption.
↳ New office, new habits:
As our team grew in size during 2019, we moved two offices in Istanbul, one in January and the other in November. At our new spaces we started recycling our plastic, glass, paper, metals and batteries.
↳ Planted trees
In order to offset our carbon, we planted 373 that will capture 8,579 kilos of CO2 every year in collaboration with our partner TEMA.
Challenges
↳ Drawbacks in measurement
We calculate our environmental impact via our sustainable production methods via Green Story, using a life-cycle assessment methodology. Unfortunately, one of the greatest drawbacks we face is that we can only measure a very detailed version of the CO2 emissions generated using certified organic cotton, and not of the polyester, upcycled canvas, or any other different fibre.
↳ Recycling at the office
There are not enough state obligations and regulations for waste management and separation for recycling in our HQ city, Istanbul. This unfortunately leads to a lack of collection facilities in every neighborhood which can process our waste.
FOR PLANET
Game Plan
01.
Alternative solutions for plastic packaging:
We want to find alternative solutions for our plastic packaging. We are in the research phase of sourcing biodegradable plastic bags, and we need to clarify our questions concerning whether or not biodegradable plastics transform into microplastics.
02.
Becoming a WWF-certified Green Office:
WWF Green Office is a tool for systematic and productive environmental management for companies that enables them to reduce workplace’s carbon footprint and use natural resources sustainably. WWF Green Office Certificate indicates that the environmental management system of the organisation is implemented in compliance with external criteria, and that the organisation is committed to continuously improving its activities. As the official licensor of WWF-Turkey, we want to become a certified Green Office in 2020.
03.
Planting 1000 tress to offset our carbon:
Last year we planted in 373 trees. 2020’s goal is to plant 1000 trees, corresponding to the estimated carbon to be generated from our business operations.
04.
Decrease water consumption at the office:
During 2020, we want to decrease our water consumption at our office by 10%. We will track this via our monthly invoices for water use.
05.
Gifting trees:
In 2020 we want to introduce a new birthday celebration and plant trees as gifts on the birthdays of our team members in their name to our partner TEMA.
03.People
People is about all stakeholders of Reflect Studio: our team, workers in the factories we manufacture with, our suppliers, our clients. We aim to evaluate our company’s choices on fair production, as well as our employee’s financial, physical, social well-being and safety. We want to establish a transparent relationship with our clients and invest in our services accordingly.
↳ 02.1. B-Corp scorecard on workers & community
Workers impact criteria evaluates our company’s contribution to our employees’ financial, physical, professional and social well-being through topics such as payment of a living wage, benefits, employee health and safety, professional development opportunities and more.
The Community Impact Area evaluates our contribution to the economic and social well-being of the communities in which we operate, through topics such as diversity and inclusion, job creation, civic engagement and philanthropy, supply chain management, and more.
HIGHLIGHTS & CHALLENGES
OF 2019
CATEGORY
03.PEOPLE
Highlights
↳ Women empowerment in supply chain:
In 2019, we worked with 20 different ateliers for the production of our products. Among those 20, 13 of them are women-owned.
↳ Gender-equal office:
Our team grew in size from 5 to 18 in 2019. As of December 2019, more than 50% is women.
↳ People found out about the journey of their product 3650 times:
Every single Reflect Studio garment comes with a QR code attached to the washing instructions tag. When scanned, the code embarks our customers on a journey of production documented by the team, outlining each step of the process starting from cotton picking to the packaging of the final product. During 2019, our QR codes were scanned 3650 times.
↳ Reporting to our clients:
We want to be accountable to our clients not only with the products we deliver but also with the reporting of the impact generated with each project. So, we started to send single impact reports to our institutional clients in 2019, featuring the details of their order and the environmental impact generated using Green Story data. We want our clients to be aware of the impact that their buying decisions have on our planet. We will continue doing so in the upcoming years.
↳ Share information with our followers:
In 2019, we opened our Medium page where we share what we learn and provide details about our operations to our followers. Click to read our articles.
↳ An ever evolving team:
As our team grew significantly in size, we introduced new activities and workshops. In 2019, 4 out of 18 members of the team are enrolled in online courses of their choice, supported by Reflect Studio.
Every two weeks, our team started gathering together for ‘Kumbara sessions’, where each team member shares an intellectual content with few commentaries. We introduced Sustainability Talks. As we learn with practice and dialogue, we started to host people working in sustainability fields to visit our office for workshops and presentations.
Challenges
↳ Certification for our small atelier:
In the year 2019, we worked with 20 ateliers for the production of our garments and accessories. Among those 20, one of them is a very small atelier owned by a couple, operating with 5 people. All our direct suppliers are certified with either SEDEX or BSCI certifications, except this one due to its size.
↳ Inclusion of underrepresented communities:
As we hired 13 people in the year 2019, we made an effort towards gender equality in the workplace. However, we are aware that we lack the inclusion of underrepresented communities in our HQ office. Our next year’s hiring policies will include a particular focus on underrepresented communities.
FOR PEOPLE
Game Plan
01.
Profit share:
In 2020, we have committed to share 10% of our profit with our employees.
02.
Our own fair trade certifications:
As we will be opening our Workshop in mid-2020, new team members will join us at this new venue, responsible from the cut & sew and sampling of our garments and accessories. We have applied for BSCI certification to ensure our fair manufacturing practices via a third party certification.
03.
Working with ateliers empowering women & disadvantaged communities:
As of 2019, we are proud of working with 13 women-owned ateliers. In 2020, our focus will be also in seeking ateliers employing underrepresented communities.
04.
Reflect Studio Handbooks:
As our business grows, so do our team and our suppliers. Therefore, we need to set to standards of our way of fair operations and conducts. In 2020, we will publish an Employee Handbook, Supplier Code of Conduct, Supply Chain Standards Manual and Code of Ethics.
04.Partnerships
When leveraging brand identities of institutions through aesthetic, functional and sustainable products, we take pride in doing so exclusively through our partnerships with non-governmental organizations. Our partnerships also cover our associations with independent, 3rd party platforms in order to better evaluate our impact as objectively as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS
OF 2019
CATEGORY
04.PARTNERSHIPS
Highlights
↳ Celebrating 1 year with WWF-Turkey:
As of December 2019, we celebrated the first anniversary of our partnership with WWF-Turkey. As the sole, official licensor of the NGO, we created three collections. We have significantly contributed to WWF-Turkey’s local operations and projects that aim to conserve natural habitat and various species. To discover more about our partnership, visit reflectstudio.com/wwf
Our NGO partnerships create an impact that is unique to Reflect Studio. In 2019, WWF-Market powered by Reflect Studio created significant fundraising and direct impact towards wildlife conservation projects of the organization. A new way of fundraising that is environmentally and financially sustainable for NGOs worldwide.
↳ Collaborations with UNHCR:
In 2019, we continued our annual collaboration with UNHRC (UN Refugee Agency) on June 20, World Refugee Day. We designed & manufactured memorable merchandise to raise awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world. To discover more about our partnership, visit reflectstudio.com/unhcr.
↳ Highest score on Good on You:
Good On You: is the go-to source for trusted brand ratings, articles and expertise on ethical and sustainable fashion. It’s recognized and trusted ethical rating system, as well as advice and information, leads the way towards a more sustainable and fair fashion industry. In 2019, we were rated as “Great”, the highest score with our fair and sustainable manufacturing practices. To discover more, visit directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/reflect-studio
↳ Opting for sustainable international shipping with DHL Green:
In 2019, we started partnering with DHL Green for our international shipments. DHL Green is a sustainable and climate neutral delivery service, providing sustainable shipping services to help customers combat climate change by offsetting carbon emissions arising from transportation.
↳ Partnership with Green Story:
In 2019, we partnered with Green Story to help quantify the impact of our clients’ purchases. Using Green Story algorithms and our pre-existing data we calculate the footprint of our products. Through Green Story, we generate relatable visuals for our clients to understand the generated impact.
↳ Common Objective Leadership Award:
Common Objective (CO) is an intelligent business network for the fashion industry, matching members with resources that enable people to work in the most sustainable way. The CO Leadership Awards, given yearly by Common Objective, puts the spotlight on businesses with great products or services - that maximise benefits to people, and minimise impact on the environment. In March 2019, we received the CO Leadership Award. To discover more, visit commonobjective.co/reflect-studio
↳ Planting trees with TEMA:
Last year we started planting trees to offset the carbon generated from our operations. To do that, we partnered with TEMA, the non-governmental organization for reforestation and the protection of natural habitats in Turkey.
FOR PARTNERSHIPS
Game Plan
01.
Quantification of impact:
In 2020, we want to get into more detail about quantification of the impact generated via our sustainable manufacturing practices. To do that, we want to enroll in more advanced softwares like GaBi that can help to carry out our Life Cycle Assessments. GaBi database details the costs, energy, and environmental impact of sourcing and refining every raw material or component of a manufactured item.
02.
New NGO partnerships:
As we have slowly accumulated experience with WWF Market and growing our presence, we want to establish new partnerships with global NGOs; applying our design, manufacturing, sales and marketing know-hows.
03.
Objective accountability:
We were objectively assessed by institutions like B-Corp, Good on You & Common Objective in 2019. However, as manufacturing has a complex supply chain web, we want to establish more grounded, manufacturing-focused independent examinations by third party international organizations.
05.Progress
Progress P at Reflect Studio stands for all our efforts and investments in our quest to build better products, with fair and transparent processes. Progress exists for us to classify, evaluate and enhance our activities within all other 4Ps and move forward continuously.
HIGHLIGHTS & CHALLENGES
OF 2019
CATEGORY
05.PROGRESS
Highlights
↳ Celebrating 1 year with WWF-Turkey:
In 2019, we launched Research and Development. R&D refers to projects undertaken by Reflect Studio in developing new garments and objects. R&D is a space free from commercial limitations, where we experiment with innovative designs & materials, and widening our creative boundaries.
Challenges
↳ Time management:
The challenge about Progress is that as a growing company operating in distinct fields of manufacturing, design services and marketing, working on new ideas and projects can be delayed or prolonged.
FOR PROGRESS
Game Plan
01.
The Workshop:
As our first in-house space opens towards mid-2020, we will have an opportunity to experiment with different materials and moulds, as well as print & embroidery applications and sewing techniques.
02.
R&D Collection:
The real challenge after establishing R&D is to create our first collection. We want to launch a capsule Reflect Studio R&D collection towards Autumn-Winter 2020 season, featuring innovative materials and product cuts.
03.
New materials:
So far, we have accumulated extensive know-how in textile manufacturing. In 2020, we want to be able to focus on the accessories and stationery product categories.
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments.
