Sustainability Progress Report 2023

Details on the progress we've made over the past year with sustainability initiatives.

Upcycled Collection

In 2022, we partnered with Looptworks: a Portland, Oregon based business that completely re-purposes used or excess materials into new, limited edition products – a process known as upcycling.

  1. We took returned and lightly damaged Catalina Collection products and, instead of sending them to a landfill, shipped them to our friends at Looptworks.
  2. We carefully and meticulously took apart and deconstructed the returned products, turning them into material for new products.
  3. We then took the deconstructed materials to assemble new limited edition one-of-a-kind products: the Upcycled Patchwork Tote and the Upcycled Laptop Sleeve.

In 2023, we are launching even more upcycled product styles made from other Lo & Sons collections (like the Rowledge and the O.G. 2 in our Signature Collection).

Product Materials

Recycled Poly

In 2022, our efforts to use recycled materials such as recycled poly saved over 1,417,487 plastic bottles from the landfill. We more than doubled this amount from the previous year (647,266). 1,417,487 plastic bottles is equivalent to:

  • 8.3 cars off the road for an entire year
  • 34.17 flights from LA to NYC
  • The entire surface area of 41 football fields

    Nappa Leather

    By working with a gold-rated tannery to make nappa leather, we saved over 13,925,700 LED light hours and 299,759 gallons of water, which is equivalent to:

    • 14,988 showers
    • 29,357 loads of laundry

      Cactus Leather

      This year, we introduced the Waverley 2, the Pearl, the Leather Wallet, and the Small Wallet in a plant-based vegan leather option made from Nopal Cactus. By choosing Nopal cactus instead of traditional vegan leather materials, we reduced greenhouse gas emission by 78%, energy consumption by 79%, and water usage by 190%. Currently, 4% of our units are made in cactus leather.

        Recycled Nylon

        In 2022, we transitioned 25% of our bags made from nylon to recycled nylon, such as our best-selling Rowledge and new arrival Nouvelle, and we plan to transition 100% of our nylon bags to recycled nylon in 2023.

          Lining

          All linings with a solid print are made from 100% recycled poly. All linings with the jacquard print are made from 50% recycled poly and in 2023, we plan to make the 100% transition.

          Web

          In 2022, we introduced a new crossbody bag: the Nouvelle, and used recycled web in the new style.

          Hang Tags

          In 2023, 100% of our hangtags will be made using recycled cardstock and printed with soy ink.

          Mesh

          In 2023, 100% of the mesh used in our bags, such as for the interior pockets, will be replaced with recycled mesh.

            Packaging

            • In 2022, we transitioned 90% of our polyester bags to 100% recycled/recyclable material and in 2023, we plan to make the 100% transition.
            • In 2022, we transitioned 71% of our dust bags to recycled material and drawstring and in 2023, we plan to make the 100% transition.

            Manufacturing

            In 2022, 18.4% of our production was done at a factory that runs on solar energy and uses a Water-SUSTReclamation-System, which can convert over 100 tons of wastewater to clean water per day with a conversion rate from wastewater to clean water of 100%.

            Operations

            • In 2023, we partnered with Happy Returns to consolidate returns and reduce the number of shipments needed, thus decreasing our carbon emissions.
            • In 2022, we also opened a second fulfillment center near Detroit to service our customers on the east coast, thus reducing the distance a product needs to travel and further reducing our carbon footprint.

              Learn more about our sustainable business practices here

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