Bamboo is an inherently lower impact crop than hardwood trees because it needs little to no irrigation or pesticides, grows rapidly so needs less land, can be harvested without damaging root systems and surrounding habitats, and even has the potential to store carbon and regenerate soil health. We've mapped the sources of our bamboo and we're actively working to ensure responsible cultivation practices and as well as assessing the exact benefits of bamboo cultivation.

Synthetic fibres are generally made from petroleum, which is made from non-renewable fossil fuels. We've used a small amount in this product to give your garment better performance and durability. As of 2022, virgin synthetic fibres make up less than 5% of BAM's total fibre usage. We aim to eliminate them completely by 2030 and are actively exploring recycled or lower impact alternatives that we can use without compromising on performance.

Our two viscose suppliers, Sanyou and Jilin, are rated joint 3rd best on the Canopy Hot Button Report which ranks viscose producers on environmental performance and commitment to protecting ancient and endangered forests. Both hold OekoTex Step level 3 certification – one of the most rigorous industry audits assessing the use of chemicals, quality management, environmental and social impact. Both are in the process of completing the ZDHC MMCF module.

Fulgar is a leading manmade fibre producer known for innovation, quality, and sustainability. In 2009, they became the first polyamide producer to achieve EU EcoLabel certification. One of their products is Amni Soul Eco®, a polyamide fibre with enhanced degradation properties meaning it will break down within 5 years in a landfill environment compared to hundreds of years for conventional synthetic fibres.

Elastane comes from petroleum derived from fossil fuels. In addition to being an unsustainable material it can also contaminate textile recycling streams and won't biodegrade in landfill. We are actively searching for lower impact alternatives, in the meantime strictly limiting our use of elastane when needed for performance – to improve fit, allow the garment to retain its shape over time, prolong the life of the garment and keep it in use longer.

We identified this supplier as part of our supply chain mapping. Our goal now is to build up a better picture of the mill, understand their practices and processes as well as the environmental and social governance in place. In this way we can assess their impact on our products. 

This dyehouse has invested heavily in innovation and lower impact machinery, meaning they've been able to reduce their water consumption by 60% in recent years. They are signed up to the ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) Gateway and the Supplier to Zero program. They rank as “better” on our scale of “good, better, best” because they are embedding best practices into their production methods and are transparent in reporting their wastewater and chemical handling policies.

Playvest have been making our beautifully soft and supportive seamless products since 2019. They have recieved an SME Excellence Award in recognition of their strong focus on innovation complemented by a sustained growth strategy that successfully creates wealth and jobs in local regions.

BAM are a certified B-Corp. We launched the Employee Ownership Trust in 2021 which means our employees now equally share ownership of 10% of the company. BAM is a living wage employer in the UK and is accredited by the Living Wage Foundation.