Meet the first underwear brand to achieve end-to-end FSC certification in Australia
Underwear brand Step One has become the first clothing company in both Australia and the UK to achieve end-to-end FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification.
Step One’s products are made from bamboo viscose. The certification means the bamboo viscose is sourced with zero deforestation and under fair work conditions.
It’s an important label to have for consumers who think they are clothes shopping more responsibly simply because they opt for natural fibres rather than plastic-derived textiles such as polyester; not all natural fabrics are derived equally and materials such as cotton and bamboo can still have devastating environmental effects depending on how the raw materials are grown and harvested.
Step One founder Greg Taylor says he opted for bamboo viscose fabric for several reasons.
“Beyond its breathability, anti-bacterial properties, and luxuriously soft texture, bamboo’s cultivation is more eco-friendly,” says Greg. “As bamboo is technically a grass, it’s only cut during harvest rather than being uprooted. Moreover, it consumes far less water than cotton does. In fact, the bamboo used by Step One depends exclusively on rainfall.”
More reasons to love the brand
Step One’s factories have been audited in line with BSCI standards, ensuring their commitment to fair wages and safe working conditions, and the brand’s bamboo viscose materials are Oeko-Tex 100 certified, ensuring they are free from harmful substances and safe for human use.
Step One is a member of the Australasian Bioplastics Association, bearing the membership number ABAP 20084. All of Step One’s packaging, which is made from corn starch, meets the standards for compostability as per the AS5810 programme.
For all you investors out there – the brand is one of only a handful businesses to launch on the ASX with a sole owner and no outside investment prior to float. The business grew incredibly quickly taking over 6% of the Australian men’s market share in just 4 years, with 50,000 positive reviews, 65% of purchases are from repeat buyers.
