Karuna Dawn

Our Sustainability Framework

• Emissions & Key Environmental Issues

  What is your company doing to reduce your emissions or combat key environmental issues (e.g. waste (packaging, end of life product strategy or recycling), biodiversity, land use, water, chemical use, energy use, and natural resource use etc.)?

  All our bags and accessories are kind to people, animals and the planet. We only use sustainable materials in the production of our products. Our products are handmade producing lower carbon emissions and minimising material waste. Our products are sent to customers naked meaning we do not wrap them in plastic or other materials. Our products are shipped using Hero Packaging - a compostable mailer bag or if the item is small in size, they are sent using a paper based pre-paid envelope. Our up-cycled denim bags are entirely circular. They are made using post-consumer jeans and manufacturer's off-cuts, saving garments from landfill. We are launching a take back program for these bags. At the end of use, our customer can send it back to us and we will send it back to our partner who will create new designs from the return of these bags.

• Materials

  How are the products your company offers made from environmentally friendly materials (e.g. recycled, organic materials)?

  Materials used are all sustainable and all of them are plant-based. We use Organic Cotton, Up-cycled Denim, Grass Reeds and Leaves for our Leaf Leather range.

• Supply Chain

  Do you partner with ethical factories that meet international labor standards? What processes have you implemented to make your supply chain more sustainable?

  We partner with ethical production houses to create our bags. All of our partners employ women from rural communities or from marginalised and disadvantaged backgrounds. Organic Cotton Tote Bags: Our partners in Nepal and in Rajasthan, India are both members of the World Fair Trade Organisation which means they are audited by WFTO to ensure they put people and planet first. They both worked together to create our stunning organic cotton hand-block printed open tote bags. Up-cycled Denim Bags: Our Mumbai partner creates our stunning up-cycled denim bags stopping garments from going to landfill. She works with local self-help groups with the aid of NGOs who provide training and equipment to women from marginalised communities. Leaf Leather Bag & Accessories: Our Thailand partner works with local, rural communities to create the visually striking leaf leather range. The rural communities use this as supplemental income to their core farming income. Reed Bags: Our Sri Lankan partner is PETA-certified and arranged for these bags to be made for us by a rural women's co-op. We were their first order and this provided the women with income to support their families.

• Community Initiatives

  How does your company give back to the community (e.g. financial donations, volunteering, partnerships etc.)?

  We consciously procure services to create our bags and partner with production houses that provide employment and opportunity to those disadvantaged and vulnerable in society. We donate to charities and for this 2023 Christmas period, we have partnered with an Australian organisation SCAI and have committed to donate 5% of all Organic Cotton Tote Bag sales to this wonderful organisation.

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• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

  How has your company made a commitment to achieve and maintain inclusion & diversity (e.g. Gender / Race / Ethnicity / National Origin / Sexual Orientation / Religion / Disability / Age)?

  We seek to partner with suppliers that who provide employment and opportunity to marginalised and vulnerable in society. We live by the principle of Conscious Consumerism – understanding that our purchasing power can have a profound social and environmental impact. Marginalised, vulnerable and disadvantaged people and those starting new lives after fleeing abuse and trafficking are offered employment, opportunity and access to education to help break cycles of poverty Reed bags: are made by a rural women's co-op Up-cycled denim bags: employed marginalised women Organic Cotton bags: 78% of staff employed are women Leaf Leather: employs women in rural/village communities

• Circular Models

  How does your circular model or circular initiative work?

  Our up-cycled collection is a circular model whereby post-consumer jeans are saved from landfill and produced into beautiful, denim bags. At the end of life, these bags can be returned to us and we will forward to our supplier who has a take back program and will breathe new life into these bags once again.

• Service Offering