Benjamin is the founder of the brand of timeless, organic or recycled and sustainable clothing and accessories
[ COTON VERT ]
Year founded: 2018
Design location, office: France 🇫🇷
Raw material sourcing locations: France 🇫🇷, Belgium 🇧🇪, Turkey 🇹🇷, Greece 🇬🇷, India 🇮🇳.
Manufacturing locations, production: There are several, but here are the countries: France 🇫🇷 , Portugal 🇵🇹, Italy 🇮🇹, India 🇮🇳, Bangladesh 🇧🇩
Meet the founder
Benjamin wanted to create Coton vert because he wanted to start a business and give meaning to his work. First of all, he believes that entrepreneurship is part of him and is part of his personality.
He wasn't cut out for an office job with the time and geographical constraints we know. He had a thirst for autonomy, for freedom, in short, he wanted to be his own boss!
Also, he needed to give meaning to his work, to his daily life. Today, despite all the work Coton vert demands of him (probably more than a "typical" employee), he feels happy and fulfilled in his work, and useful too, which is important to him.
About the brand
Timeless, organic or recycled and sustainable clothing and accessories to dress more responsibly every day. The plus? Benjamin and his team choose and co-create their new products with their community. #collaborative
The eco-responsible impact
It is a very comprehensive approach, but here are the main points:
Social: they work with small-scale factories. For 2 years, all new products have been made in Europe, many of them in France, as locally as possible. However, Benjamin and his team keep their "old range" made in Asia under decent conditions (GOTS certified factories, therefore ILO standards) since it allows them to offer more affordable prices to the general public. The partnerships are mainly based on the human element, they go meet their manufacturers, see and understand how they work, etc. Occasionally, they make donations to solidarity associations, such as Le Foyer de Notre-Dame des Sans-Abris or the Fondation Abbé Pierre.
Environment: They only use organic, recycled or upcycled materials. As mentioned above, they are manufacturing more and more locally. They have a "ugly clothes" policy to achieve 0 waste. The packages are plastic-free and made of recyclable cardboard, they have no office/premises = significant energy savings! They keep very little stock and favor the pre-order system etc. In their private lives, they adopt the most eco-responsible lifestyle possible (Benjamin doesn't have a car, Célia prioritizes zero waste, Lucile never takes a plane, etc...).
Animals: Except for one material containing recycled wool (for the sweaters), all products are vegan.
The big pluses
The manufacturers because "Our products are 90% certified. Often GOTS for those in organic cotton and made outside Europe, Faitrade cotton for several as well. For our French products, they are
The values of the brand
♻️ Recycling ↓
They use recycled materials: recycled polyester (never non-recycled polyester) in some sweatshirts, jackets and joggers, recycled wool in the sweaters and a 100% recycled polyester bath range.
🔁 Upcycling ↓
They offer clothing made from upcycled cotton (this is especially the case for the clothing made in Portugal, in cotton or linen).
🧴 Zero plastic ↓
0 plastic packages (more info above)
🌀 Zero waste lifestyle ↓
The logistics partners (who also do garment manufacturing) make the most of all fabric scraps. The partner manufacturers use methods to limit losses as much as possible.
🇫🇷 Made in France ↓
Part of their range is made in France. This range is growing more and more :).
🇪🇺 Made in Europe ↓
Part of their range is made in Europe. When it's not in France, they manufacture in Portugal, or Italy.
🐨 Vegan ↓
Except for one product in recycled wool (our sweaters), all products are vegan.
🌿 Organic / Bio ↓
The vast majority of the clothing is made of organic cotton. When they use cotton, it is organic in 95% of cases, and upcycled in 5% of cases.
🗓️ Production to order ↓
They opt for pre-orders for the majority of products. Thus, they manufacture just enough, according to demand. Sometimes this is not possible because some factories require large minimum quantities.
👐🏽 Social and solidarity impact ↓
They support and work with small-scale factories, including 2 adapted companies that work with people with disabilities. Occasionally, they make donations to associations.
✅ Certified ↓
The products are 90% certified, mainly GOTS for those in organic cotton and made outside Europe, Faitrade cotton for several as well. For the French products, they are essentially certified ORIGINE FRANCE GARANTIE or FRANCE TERRE TEXTILE.
🏠 Made locally ↓
They live in Lyon. Their logistics partner (managing stock and shipping packages) is very close by, in Saint-Étienne. They work with many partners in their region, especially for the French sweaters, sweatshirts and t-shirts. They also collaborate with an adapted company in Lyon, supplying them with boxes and packaging. As soon as they can, they work as locally as possible! :)
[ Timeless, organic or recycled and sustainable clothing and accessories. To dress more responsibly every day. ]
