American brand Parachute aims to be carbon neutral by Earth Day 2022

• January 21, 2022

Parachute’s new commitments are comprised of short-term and long-term goals that focus on improving operations, sourcing, supply chain and brand offerings. It plans to become certified carbon neutral by April 22, 2022, Earth Day, by measuring and offsetting the company’s entire footprint with verified carbon credits. It will also launch its first-ever circular programme, the Recycled Down Pillow, beginning in 2022, made of a recycled cotton shell and filled with sanitised down from returned Parachute pillows.

The company will double down on responsible material certifications for products to further advance Parachute’s commitment to a more sustainable supply chain. These include Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification, to certify cotton materials are free of harmful chemicals, pesticides and residues; Oeko-Tex certification, to certify core products are free of high levels of 100+ harmful substances; Responsible Down Standard (RDS), to certify down comes from humanely treated ducks and geese; and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), to certify wood is responsibly sourced.

Parachute will launch Fair Trade Certified products in 2022, with plans to expand the qualifying assortment in 2023, to signify products are made in environments that meet rigorous social, environmental and economic standards. The manufacturers of its GOTS certified products must meet criteria of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). These rules protect workers and ensure that every step of the supply chain uses ethical practices.

The company will also establish programmes that enable opportunities for diverse talent across its platforms, partners and employees. This includes initiatives like Home for Dreams, established in the fall of 2020 that offers mentorship, grants, and brand amplification support to Black-owned businesses.

“At Parachute, we have always put a focus on sustainability, and we take pride in offering premium quality, long-lasting and responsibly-made products that our customers can feel good about. Now, we are taking that one step further by publicly setting actionable goals that we believe will benefit employees, partners, customers, and our planet,” said Ariel Kaye, founder and CEO of Parachute. “We know there is a lot of work ahead of us, but we believe in doing our part to help create a sustainable future for our industry.”