One+All, the UK’s market leader in the manufacturing of personalised, high quality school knitwear and premium corporate wear, has achieved Planet Mark certification. Achieving the Planet Mark is based on the commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability in its business operations by measuring and reducing its carbon footprint and engaging its stakeholders. 

One+All is committed to rigorous sustainability policies with its ultimate goal of becoming a Certified B Corporation. One+All has achieved CarbonNeutral company certification through a combination of in-house efficiency measures, renewable energy use and external emissions reduction projects. With a supply chain stretching through the Philippines, Egypt and Bangladesh, the company wishes to embed a fair-for-all business philosophy, which is evidenced by its becoming a foundation member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), and signing the Responsible Sourcing Network’s Cotton Pledges.

Over the next year, the company will be working towards reducing its carbon emissions and sharing its journey with its community to inspire others. By being more strategic about its environmental responsibility, One+All will be able to significantly increase its positive impact and hope to encourage continual improvements within its community.

Businesses in the clothing industry must begin to act on carbon emissions. As well as being major emitters of carbon and waste, the industry is under growing pressure from consumers to act in a sustainable manner, for reasons as varied as workforce satisfaction to plastic pollution. The market for sustainable clothing is rapidly growing and represents a significant opportunity for clothing brands to develop with a reduced environmental impact.

One+All are committed to making children look good and feel good, and this is reflected in their ethical business practice. One+All is proud that every stage of the production of their school wear is carefully considered to reduce environmental impact and create a positive effect on people and the planet. From ethical sourcing to promoting their worker’s rights One+All are committed to doing the right thing for the next generation who are wearing the products that they make. 

In just 4 years One+All has reduced its carbon impact by 50% and its carbon literacy programme supports the people they work with to make improvements too. They run a uniform recycling scheme to reduce the huge amount of garments thrown away each year. 

Using recycled polyester, generating energy from their photovoltaic solar system, recycling 80% of their waste, using less cardboard and plastic packaging and swapping to electric hybrid cars, this innovative company has taken decisive action to make a positive difference. Part of their range of blazers, jackets and ties is made from recycled fabric and the polyester in their blazers is made from recycled plastic -using less energy, reducing CO2 emissions and fewer bottles in landfills.  

But it is the work that One+All are undertaking with their offshore suppliers that really stands out. They choose suppliers that share their values, care about their workers and want to keep improving. Working with their suppliers in Egypt and Bangladesh, One+All shared the environmental and commercial benefits of carbon reduction and created a plan of action together. A shared understanding supported by carbon literacy training will enable suppliers to understand the bigger picture of climate injustice around the world, their footprints and what is needed to reduce their impact. The reduction in the cost of energy resulting from switching to LED lighting is already being seen. By directly employing employees working on-site in the factories in Bangladesh and Egypt, One+All ensure that the people who make their products are really part of the team, with safe working conditions, fair pay and a voice. 

One+All products are designed in-house and focus on a high level of service and quality. Sourcing directly from Tier 1 supplier and from one Tier 2 (knitwear yarn) enables them to manage their supply chain efficiently and ensures that their suppliers are true partners.  

One+All provide all the information needed for an informed decision for parents and children that purchase their school wear. Their website clearly maps their supply chain and audits ensure that there is no use of child labour/modern slavery. They gift water filters to workers overseas providing clean drinking water for their homes and soon all their overseas partners will be Planet Mark certified and doing more to reduce their carbon footprint. 

One+All is certified Carbon Neutral and has committed to net-zero by 2030, well ahead of the national target. 

Their objective is to publish the emissions used to produce each item of schoolwear supplied, adding a QR code to the garment label on every garment they supply. This will allow children, parents and schools to access information about the carbon impact of the garment, plus details of who made their clothes (information about the factory, location, number of workers).