Products

• Natural Yarns are preferred within the collection: 100% Cotton, 100% Linen or 100% Tencel. These yarns are all biodegradable and re-cyclable yarns from naturally grown plants.

• Components are being switched to partial or 100% recycled materials as rapidly as possible. For example, internal carboard items are now made from 100% Recycled Cardboard. Collar supports and Courier Bags are made from 100% Recycled Plastic. Active programmes are underway to convert other components to being made from recycled materials.

• Certified Organic Cotton is used whenever possible.

Manufacturing Facilities

• Abelard shirts are produced only in facilities certified by the international Ethical Manufacturing standards organisations: Sedex, Iso 14001, and Oeko-Tex Standard 100. This guarantees that the following is achieved:

• Every employee is paid a healthy living wage, no child labour is used, and safe working practices such as chain gloves for cutters and needle guards on machines are maintained.
• Employees and their family are given free comprehensive Medical Care, and a nurse is permanently on-site to assist.

• The Key making plant for Abelard shirts has achieved the highest Platinum standard with the LEED O&M Green Building rating system.

This means that the building and the processes within the factory are now leaders in Energy and Environmental design.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world's most widely used green building rating system. These buildings use less energy and water (water is recycled internally), utilize renewable energy (extensive solar panels on the roof), create less waste (offcuts are cotton recycled), and preserve land and habitat (cooling gardens fill the surrounding grounds creating habitat). It has taken 14 years of development to achieve this level of sustainability in manufacturing.

• Abelard and it’s parent company the Salco Group are committed to maintaining high ethical standards:

• Staff are paid living reasonable wages and conditions all the way through the system.
• Written policies require all staff to welcome diversity of employment, to act personally with consideration and no discrimination.
• Recycling of cardboard and other materials is fastidiously maintained at all possible locations.