Kapten & Son X

sustainability

Our world is faced with a number of challenges, and because of this we at Kapten & Son want to positively contribute to its betterment. This means that we need to make sustainable decisions and to act thoughtfully and responsibly at all times. At the same time we sustainably position our company along the entire value chain – from production, to the product, to transport. We want to make our greatest possible contribution and have a positive impact on the environment and our community.

production

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PRODUcT

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transport

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Production

The majority of our products are manufactured in Shenzhen (near to Hong Kong). With 13 million inhabitants, Shenzhen is a progressive and innovative metropolis with sustainable pioneering projects. Here, the latest technologies are developed by young, creative people and, thanks to qualified employees, high-quality products are produced in compliance with ethical and moral standards.

Production & working conditions

To ensure the best possible working conditions in our production facilities, we are not only regularly on site ourselves, but also work together closely with external organizations to carry out ethical audits on a regular basis (audits of hygiene, health, safety, waste management, prohibition of child labor, working atmosphere and schedules and salaries). In this way, not only is the awareness of these areas created and appropriately trained among production managers and employees, but weak points are also identified and eliminated more quickly and are checked again during the next audit.

Longevity & Quality

Product

The selection of high-quality materials is the basis for the development of products with a long service life. Longevity has proven to be one of the most influential parameters for improving environmental impact, which is why quality is the first priority when selecting our sustainable materials. All our products will last for years if properly maintained and used.

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Glasses and sunglasses

The frames of our glasses and sunglasses are made of acetate or nickel-free metal. Acetate is obtained from the cellulose of renewable and recyclable raw materials. For this purpose, wood waste is cut up and processed into cellulose fibers, which are pressed into acetate sheets. The special feature of acetate is that the glasses are therefore very light, of high quality and can be adjusted flexibly for you at any time. The nickel-free metal of our glasses is extremely durable and allows for a light and simple design.

Watches

The housings of our watches are made of high-quality stainless steel (316L), which is especially distinguished by its durability. Stainless steel is very robust and heat-resistant and at the same time light and has a subtle design. For the glass we use either hardened mineral glass or especially scratch-resistant sapphire glass.

backpacks

Our sustainable backpacks are PVC and PFC free. They are made of a vegan tech material (PU) – a kind of artificial leather – and recycled PET. PU (Polyurethane) is free of any chemical softeners and is ideal for our backpacks because it is water repellent and guarantees a long life span. Recycled PET has the same quality as conventional polyester, but does not require new resources and about 59% less energy in production. With recycled PET, resources can be saved, since neither petroleum nor new plastics have to be purchased. It is obtained from cleaned PET bottles, industrial polyester waste, or even garments, thus representing a sustainable cycle. Only two backpack models, Lund "Olive Green" and Lund "All Black", contain a small amount of tarpaulin and canvas, for which we are looking for sustainable alternatives.

Packaging

As an e-commerce company it is difficult to do without packaging completely. Nevertheless, we take the 5Rs principle: 'Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot' as a guideline to improve our packaging and make it more sustainable. We want your products to reach you undamaged and of the highest quality, which is why we attach great importance to the protection of our products. Under the motto 'Refuse and Reduce' we reduce superfluous packaging. We have changed our backpack packaging from plastic bags to a reusable cotton bag. Also our sunglasses will be protected by a glasses cleaning cloth instead of plastic.

Guideline

5Rs principle

1. REFUSE

We reject all redundant packaging that is not necessary.

2. REDUCE

Overall we are reducing the packaging that is not needed.

3. REUSE

Where possible, we use our packaging again.

4. RECYCLE

What can't be refused, reduced or reused is recycled.

5. ROT

The last step, we use compostable materials when possible.

Transport of goods

Transport

Most of our production is in Asia and our products are sold worldwide. Transportation inevitably contributes to a large extent to environmental pollution. In 2019, we were already able to transport >90% of our transport volume by train from Shenzhen to Germany. We are increasingly reducing the percentage of alternative means of transport, such as airplanes, because transportation by train emits about 40 times less CO2. Therefore, we are currently working on balancing our complete CO2 emissions and ways to compensate for them.

Delivery & return routes

The delivery to you is made as efficient as possible through the collective warehouses of our transport service providers. In addition, the majority of our shipping through DHL GoGreen is climate neutral. This means that the CO2 emission during shipping is compensated by donations to a climate organization. In order to raise awareness of delivery routes and thus minimize the number of returns, we do not pay for the costs of a return shipment. In addition, we save an enormous amount of paper because the return slip is not enclosed with every single parcel which, if not used, produces unnecessary waste. In the long term, we are striving for a multi-channel solution by opening our own stores in order to further minimize and simplify returns and delivery routes.

Our roadmap

BY 2018

- Design durable, high quality products

- Regular visits to our production facilities

2019

- Use of sustainable materials (PVC- and PFC-free)

- Transport of over 90% of the transport volume by train (CO2 savings)

- Application of "ethical audits" to manufacturers

2020

- Become completely PVC and PFC-free (incl. packaging)

- Transport over 95% of the transport volume by train (CO2 savings)

- Calculate and offset the CO2 footprint

- Exclusively climate-neutral shipping with DHL GoGreen

- Support climate protection projects

- Expand social commitment

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