Rapanui is sustainable outdoors and basics clothing brand based on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island.
Rapanui sells water-repellent jackets, basics like organic cotton t-shirts and hoodies, and your essentials like pants and socks in an array of bold and colourful designs. Co-founders Rob and Martin Drake-Knight launched Rapanui in 2008 Every product is made from organic or recycled materials at a certified wind powered factory.
How complicated can making a sustainable, organic t-shirt be? Well, first start with organic cotton or recycled organic cotton. When the cotton fibers have been removed, the seeds are recycled into organic cow feed and vegetable oil for food products. The petals and seeds need to be removed before it can be spun. Every part of the plant is used. To avoid polluting the soil and waterways, Rapanui cleans and recirculates 95% of its waste water from the dyeing process. Rapanui claims to even make potable water from this waste water from its factory.
Spinning, dye, weaving, cut and sew all take place in the same facility, reducing costs and environmental impact of transport and other logistics. Rapanui makes its products in the Teemill in the Isle of Wight or its factory in India. Both facilities use this vertically integrated system to trace the product through the supply chain and verify compliance with sustainability and safety standards.
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (I)
Rapanui's Teemill factory own a solar farm and power manufacturing operations with renewables. Their factory in India is powered by two wind farms and a 150kw PV array.
The brand relies on a circular supply chain: products are made from natural materials, using renewable energy, and everything is designed from the start to be sent back when it is worn out. In fact the company will pay the postage for returning used items within the UK gives customers a discount coupon for the next purchase. The company recycles returned items instead of making waste.
In addition to its circular supply chain, Rapanui only produces items on demand to avoid overproduction and waste. "Our t-shirts are produced in real time, in the seconds after they are ordered. We only make what people actually need, when they need it." Our products can be returned and remade again and again and again. A pure material makes remanufacturing possible, and means products that are softer, and not harmful to the environment.
100% plastic-free, recyclable wrapping paper, stickers, and other packaging
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (II)
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (III)
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