Our production and our manufacturers
Smallmatters aims to be a driving force in the development of sustainable products that reduce both our own and our customers' environmental footprint. We work to promote reduced consumption, limited extraction of natural resources and minimal waste. Sustainability and responsibility are at the core of our business, and we are committed - together with our manufacturers - to following the highest ethical standards.
This means ensuring a safe and responsible working environment at our manufacturers, where working conditions, health, environment and business ethics are taken care of. All our manufacturers have signed a Code of Conduct agreement , in which they commit to following our ethical guidelines based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights . They are responsible for ensuring that both their own production and any subcontractors operate in accordance with local authorities' applicable regulations. This includes respect for fundamental human rights, labor rights, environmental regulations and chemical requirements.
Smallmatters uses exclusively recyclable, natural fibers and prioritizes surplus materials and textile waste in production. Natural fibers require less water in production, are treated with fewer and less harmful chemicals, and are both biodegradable and recyclable.
We only cooperate with factories that we have visited ourselves, or that are controlled by a Norwegian agent company that is a member of the Ethical Trade Initiative and follows their guidelines.
A little about our productions:
1. UPGRADED TEXTILE WASTE
We upgrade expired and surplus textiles from Norwegian hotels into reusable products such as laundry bags, hair dryer bags, shoe bags, shopping nets, toiletry bags, spa products and trolley covers - textiles that would otherwise be thrown away or burned.
NorTekstil , Norway's largest laundry chain, and RentX , are our partners. We receive used textiles such as tablecloths, bed linen, sheets and towels that can no longer be used for their original purpose. By giving these textiles new life, we help reduce waste and replace unnecessary disposable products in plastic and paper, as well as products made from virgin materials.
The products are sewn, embroidered and printed locally at OPT in Oslo , a VTA (permanently adapted work) company that gives people the opportunity to develop through work. Here, skilled employees are given adapted tasks based on their skills, and an opportunity they would not otherwise have in working life.
Our products travel short distances, and we keep transportation to a minimum to reduce environmental impact.
2. SURPLUS MATERIALS
In large-scale clothing production, it is challenging to calculate accurate material requirements, which results in production errors, dyeing errors and cancellations. This leads to large amounts of quality fabrics either remaining unused in stock or being thrown away. Instead of treating these textiles as waste, we give them new life by developing functional and aesthetic packaging bags and bunad bags.
All embroidery threads and recycled cotton ropes we use are Oeko-Tex certified. We avoid plastic in transport – the products are shipped in bags sewn from leftover materials and packed in recycled and recyclable cardboard before being shipped to our customers.
Our bags replace unnecessary plastic and paper bags, making packing and organizing easier. They help you take better care of your belongings, which in turn contributes to reduced consumption.
The products are sewn and embroidered in factories we have visited or collaborated with for many years – in Norway, China, Portugal, Poland, Lithuania and Italy .
3. KASHMIR
Many people think that cashmere wool comes from Italy, but the exclusive wool comes from various breeds of goats that mainly live in the cold regions of China and Mongolia. It is precisely the harsh climate that causes the goats to develop a fine undercoat – the basis for the soft and luxurious cashmere yarn.
Wool is a natural, renewable and biodegradable fiber with a number of technical properties. In addition, it is a material that can be easily recycled into new wool at the end of its life.
Our cashmere products are designed in Norway and produced in a small factory in Inner Mongolia, where we have consciously chosen to use pure, natural fibers and surplus materials. All yarn, whether new or leftover from other productions, is Oeko-Tex, The Good Cashmere Standard and GOTS certified . This ensures that the production meets strict health and environmental requirements, while at the same time protecting animal welfare.
We strive for high quality and timeless design that gives our clothes a long life. Since we prioritize leftover yarn, our sweaters come in exclusive, limited editions.