O My Bag
Our Rating: 4 Stars - Good
Price: $ $ $ $
Country of origin: Netherlands
Official brand website: Visit
When it comes to sustainable fashion, O My Bag is a brand that stands out. With an environment rating of ‘it’s a start’, the brand is committed to reducing its climate impact. One way it achieves this is by using eco-friendly materials, including organic cotton. By opting for organic cotton, O My Bag ensures that its products are free from harmful chemicals and pesticides that can harm both the environment and the people involved in the production process.
In addition to using sustainable materials, O My Bag also takes pride in its manufacturing processes. The brand handcrafts its products, which helps reduce its climate impact. By avoiding large-scale, machine-driven production, O My Bag minimizes its energy consumption and carbon emissions. This approach not only supports sustainable practices, but it also contributes to the creation of unique and high-quality products.
When it comes to leather tanning, O My Bag shows a commitment to environmental responsibility by not using chromium. Chromium, a toxic substance commonly used in leather tanning, poses various health risks and has detrimental effects on the environment. By eliminating its use, O My Bag ensures that its leather products are free from this harmful chemical.
Water conservation is another area where O My Bag excels. The brand uses collected rainwater in its manufacturing processes, resulting in reduced water consumption. By utilizing rainwater instead of relying solely on freshwater sources, O My Bag minimizes its impact on local water supplies and helps preserve this valuable resource.
While O My Bag’s environmental efforts are commendable, it is important to also consider the brand’s labor practices. In this regard, O My Bag receives a ‘great’ rating. The brand’s factories are certified by Social Accountability International (SA8000), indicating that they meet high ethical standards and ensure fair working conditions for their employees. O My Bag also provides jobs for workers from disadvantaged communities, helping create economic opportunities and empower individuals who may otherwise struggle to find employment.
O My Bag’s commitment to labor rights is further demonstrated through its Code of Conduct, which encompasses the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Four Fundamental Freedoms principles. This means that the brand is dedicated to upholding the rights of workers, including the freedom of association, collective bargaining, elimination of forced or compulsory labor, and elimination of child labor.
Health and safety issues are also a priority for O My Bag. The brand actively monitors these concerns to ensure that its workers are protected and provided with a safe working environment. By prioritizing employee well-being, O My Bag demonstrates its dedication to promoting fair and ethical practices within the fashion industry.
Furthermore, O My Bag acknowledges the importance of fair wages. The brand ensures payment of a living wage in some of the final stages of production, providing its workers with a decent income that allows them to meet their basic needs and support themselves and their families.
Supply chain transparency is another aspect that O My Bag takes seriously. The brand conducts audits of most of its supply chain, ensuring that its partners and suppliers adhere to the same high standards of ethics and sustainability. This commitment to transparency allows O My Bag to maintain full control over its production processes and to guarantee the integrity of its products.
While O My Bag excels in many areas of sustainability, it falls short in terms of its animal rating, which is considered ‘not good enough’. Although the brand does not use fur, wool, down, exotic animal skin, exotic animal hair, or angora, it does use leather. Leather production, especially when not sourced responsibly, can have a significant negative impact on animals and the environment. However, it is worth noting that O My Bag is continuously striving to improve and explore more sustainable alternatives in this aspect.
Overall, O My Bag has made great strides in the realm of sustainability. With its commitment to using eco-friendly materials, reducing its climate impact through handcrafted manufacturing, and upholding labor rights, the brand is making a positive impact in the fashion industry. While there is room for improvement in terms of its animal rating, O My Bag’s dedication to transparency and continuous improvement positions it as a brand that truly cares about creating a more sustainable future.
