Sustainability

Responsible Towards a Green Future

In 2002, Spreadshirt entered the e-commerce business with big dreams. Since then, we’ve been helping people share their personal messages with the world – on products that are printed on-demand, specifically for them, and thus resource-efficient. What started as a startup is now part of the Spread Group, a globally operating corporate group with more than 1,000 employees.

As a rapidly growing company with our own production facilities, we are aware of our increasing responsibility towards the planet and people. We want to change and positively influence our business with higher sustainability standards. Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report details how we embrace sustainability.

We are responsible for tomorrow, today.

Responsibility is a measurable value. It includes respect for our planet as well as for people, and is based on sustainable business relationships. Our responsibility also includes questioning our own actions. We aim to strike a balance between the growth of our online business and its impact on the environment.

No Overproduction Thanks to Print-on-Demand

Our business model is "Print-on-Demand." Unlike traditional manufacturers, we only print what customers have chosen or designed themselves – and only when they place an order. We also produce only the desired quantity – from a single piece to a large order. Since the founding of Spreadshirt more than 20 years ago, sustainable production and business practices have been part of our company’s DNA. This benefits not only us and our planet but also our customers, who return less than two percent of our products. This makes us an industry leader. Even returns get a second life through donations and recycling.

Investments in Sustainable & Ecological Production

We regularly invest in modern, more environmentally friendly technologies and products. Most recently, we upgraded with €10 million to the new Kornit Atlas printers. In our standard digital direct printing process, we use sustainable inks, vegan pigments, and a particularly water- and energy-saving printing process. Since 2019, we have eliminated paper usage in our production processes – saving the equivalent of 767 trees per year.

Our Own Green Product Line

Whether it's a T-shirt or a hoodie – we love sustainable products. That’s why we are gradually expanding our range with many products made from ecological materials. The products in our own, multiple certified premium collection are made from organic and eco-friendly fabrics, and other organic brands are already part of our range. By the end of 2022, we aim to at least double the number of our green products. This way, we will offer our customers a sustainable alternative in nearly every product category. We are also working to make the origin, materials, and certifications of our products more transparent.

Durable Products & Prints

Products made from high-quality fabrics and materials last particularly long – and that makes them especially sustainable. Every product undergoes thorough testing before we add it to our range. We check the durability of fabrics and prints through a series of test prints and various wash cycles. After printing, we test for potential chemical residues, print color brilliance, and precise processing. Even for products that have been in our range for a longer time, we regularly check customer feedback to ensure consistent product quality.

Renewable Energy

The transition to renewable energy is a simple but important step in the right direction. Since 2020, we’ve been covering the electricity needs of our servers in the EU and our Leipzig headquarters entirely with green energy. We plan to do the same for our locations in the USA.

Certifications and Seals

Stanley & Stella

The trendy brand Stanley & Stella is more than just a maker of great eco-clothing. Stanley & Stella combines absolute wearability with a touch of rock’n’roll and a deep green conscience. From organic cotton farmers to clothing manufacturers, the brand only chooses partners whose sustainable and environmentally conscious practices, as well as respectful treatment of their employees, they have personally verified.

Certifications and Seals: Öko-Tex® Standard 100, FWF
Memberships: FWF
www.stanleystella.com

For more information on sustainability at Spreadgroup, visit: https://www.spreadshirt.de/nachhaltigkeit