Sustainable Materials

Bru Textiles strives to become a Forever Company, creating a positive impact and delivering change to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. To do this, Bru is strategically molding their business vision and evolving sustainability actions according to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

The entire textile industry is the third largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and although we are separate from the apparel and fashion industry, the interior and exterior furnishing fabrics industry needs to ensure we partner and innovate toward sustainable textile production, transportation and educating consumers regarding purchasing decisions. 

The textile industry category, which includes household, technical fabrics, fashion & clothing are responsible for approximately 10% of all global emissions. By 2030, 75% of Bru’s energy consumption will be covered with renewable energy sources.

Quality at the heart of it all - It is something that governs all operations. Their team monitors compliance, new legislation, decent working hours and best practices throughout the industry. They are also responsible for making sure they successfully receive ISO 9001 certification each year. 

Olive Tanned Leather uses 100 percent natural wet-green technology in the tanning process to achieve mineral-free tanning. The tanning extract is made from fallen olive leaves, much like making tea. These olive leaves are a byproduct of olive production. Traditionally, these leaves are burned but now are collected in the Mediterranean region which creates a sustainable wage for many adults. The wet-green® Olive tanning agent is Cradle to Cradle Certified® and has received a Material Health Platinum rating.

Cattle are not harmed for their hides and leather hides are often wasted, instead of allowing them to go to a landfill, Moore & Giles diverts them and repurposes the hides for leather. A common way to tan leather is with Chrome3 chemicals but Moore & Giles typically use olive tanning methods that are plant-based and repurposes leaves that fall from olive trees. Eco Tan leathers do not contain toxic substances that can poison land, water, or air. They are free of metals, glutaraldehyde, triazine, or any other substances listed in the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL), which ensures the safety of both tanners and consumers. The result is tanning systems that are safe for us and the environment. Leather is inherently biodegradable, however, Ecotan is developing a faster biodegradable leather that can take only 90 days to biodegrade as opposed to several years. Eco Tan tannins have undergone Life Cycle Assessments and evaluated the Carbon Emissions of their products. Olive-tanned Leathers uses 100% natural wet-green technology in the tanning process to achieve mineral-free tanning. Wet-green tanning extract is made from fallen olive leaves, much like making tea. Traditionally, these leaves are burned but now are collected in the Mediterranean region which creates a sustainable wage for many people. The wet-green olive tanning agent is Cradle to Cradle certified and has received a Material Health Platinum rating. 

Moore and Giles was the first leather company to pursue and receive a Declare certification for a leather article. Using a byproduct to tan a byproduct. The Declare Label on the leather clearly outlines where the product comes from, what it's made of, where the product goes at the end of its life, and if the product contains toxic ingredients. 

Libeco works with flax farmers, spinners and finishers to create the highest possible added value with the smallest possible ecological footprint. They aim to choose the most sustainable methods out of respect for our raw materials.

Flax is one of the most sustainable raw materials in the world. During growth, the flax plant receives no additional irrigation; rainwater is sufficient. In comparison to other crops, far fewer pesticides and fertilizers are used with flax. The fibers are separated from the stem during a natural process called dew retting.

The best flax in the world grows in northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands. This is the preeminent European ‘flax territory’, responsible for 80% of global flax production. All parts of the flax plant are used. Linseed is used for the next flax season, and because of its high content of omega-3 fatty acids, it is also used in human and animals’ nutrition. Linseed oil is very nutritious and is also found in soap, paint and cosmetics. Flax has its origins in nature and, accordingly, linen fabric is fully biodegradable after use. An independent study has shown that a linen fabric will fully degrade after 6.5 months.

Libeco launched an action plan to improve the ecological performance of the company. In 2021, we made the decision to change the name of the foundation to “Libeco Foundation” and to converge two essential missions of the foundation and the company: the transmission of knowledge and the ecological transition.

REPREVE® is a fabric brand that creates fabric out of recycled water bottles. REPREVE® has transformed billions of recycled plastic bottles into sustainable polyester. Using cutting-edge textile technology, REPREVE® delivers better comfort, durability and functionality. Trusted by brands worldwide to power their sustainable commitments, it is the only traceable and certifiable eco-performance polyester. 

Malai has been around for a while, but the potential of the material was always underestimated. Malai is made from organic and sustainable bacterial cellulose, which is produced in waste coconut water. (If not repurpose it to generate bacterial cellulose, and simply dump it in the environment, it would cause environmental damage). Factories collect the waste coconut water from local farmers in South India and use specific equipment to gather the water. 4000 liters of waste coconut water can cultivate about 25 kg of bacterial cellulose. Malai is certified vegan material. There is no use of any chemicals in the entire production process, so it wouldn’t cause any potential allergy and intolerance in the user. This material is very flexible and can be manufactured in different thicknesses, depending on its usage purpose, it can replace leather or paper. We can also use natural dyes to give it different colors to match the color tone of the specific interior design. If taking good care of Malai materials it can last about 4-8 years, if it needs to be disposed of, the user can simply put it with compostable trash and Malai naturally will break down by itself and be left with no harmful leftovers. 

Adaptive Fiber is a new proprietary foam alternative that is sourced out of Canada and Upstate New York that uses recycled water bottles to create a VOC-free foam alternative. Adaptive Fiber Technologies has pioneered a closed-loop manufacturing process that uses PET water bottles to create fibers that can be used as an alternative to polyurethane foam pads and mattresses.  They collect bottles from consumers, pelletize them and melt and form them into fibers. They achieve zero VOC emissions, which is often a product of polyurethane foam, by slicking the fibers in water instead of oil to achieve a true VOC-free story with their foam. 

Adaptive Fiber’s foams have been heavily tested and are being used in mattresses and are in the early stages of being used in furniture. Mixing this fiber with materials like hemp, coconut fiber, organic cotton and down can help to achieve a natural and zero VOC product.  We interviewed Co-Founder, Mark Savel, who  is now in the process of launching a completely sustainable mattress and recyclable mattress pad that can be fully recyclable, except for the zipper. “There are two benefits, one we are doing something good for the world, but two, with the increase in fuel, and foam is a bio-product of that, my mattress business has gone up 184% since August of 2020.” “We are looking for partners where we can supply the materials, show you how to use the materials, and show you how to reduce costs and have a sustainability story,” says Mark of his value proposition. This clearly shows an interest and need for sustainable products along with a clear opportunity to integrate these fibers as a potential replacement to polyurethane foam that can substantially decrease or eliminate VOCs from products.

The fiber is collected from the coconut husk, a resource that is widely available. Coconut palms grow on 10 million hectares of land throughout the tropics. Only a fraction of the huge quantities of nuts is collected for industrial use. The food industry is the main consumer, and it focuses on coconut meat. The fibers are only a by-product. Coconut fiber is very tough yet also elastic. The fiber hardly deteriorates at all over time. Coir is a product that is naturally adapted to the human body. Coconut fibers are often used in the mattress industry mixed with traditional fibers like wool and cotton or layered with foam on top. It is another good barrier protection between springs. It can also be added on top of foams to provide support by adding more or less density of the material. 

Hemp is long, strong and durable. Hemp fiber conducts heat, dyes well resist mildew, blocks ultraviolet light and has natural anti-bacterial properties. Hemp has been used for centuries to make rope, canvas and paper. Long hemp fibers can be spun and woven to make the crisp, linen-like fabric used in clothing, home furnishing textiles and floor coverings. Blending with cotton, linen, silk and wool gives hemp a softer feel while adding resistance and durability to the product (ENVKEV). These hemp pads are often used in mattresses as a layer between the base or springs of the mattress or sofa as a protective barrier. It is fully biodegradable and has long-lasting durability that can protect the springs. This material can be incorporated into furniture whether it uses springs or not and is an excellent natural fiber that can be sourced domestically in the US. 

Purebond Plywood is a North American-made plywood product that is exclusive from Columbia Forest Products. Their plywood is bonded with Purebond glue, which is a soy-based glue. PureBond® technology utilizes formaldehyde-free, soy-based assembly technology PureBond veneer-core panels are cost-competitive with traditional, domestic panels made using UF construction. Their hardwood plywood panels are assembled without added formaldehyde adhesives by replacing traditional urea formaldehyde (UF) hardwood plywood construction.

Columbia’s formaldehyde-free decorative panels are also conform to U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards by meeting exempt emissions classification within the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Air Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) referenced by LEED V4.

Polywood is a material that takes disposable plastic, which is extremely slow to degrade and would otherwise end up in a landfill, transforming it into beautiful outdoor furniture. POLYWOOD lumber is made using a proprietary blend of plastics, including HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) from landfill-bound and ocean-bound plastics. They recycle nearly 400,000 plastic containers per day in their in-house recycling facility.

Thirty years ago, Polywood was one of the first to create outdoor furniture from recycled plastic materials. They are committed to stopping plastics from ever reaching our oceans. To help, they have expanded their recycling process to incorporate globally sourced ocean-bound plastic in addition to locally sourced materials. In addition, 99% of their factory waste is recycled back into their manufacturing process.

- After our furniture is constructed, 99% of all scrap from manufacturing goes right back to our recycling plant to be reground, sent to extrusion, and made back into lumber.

Simalfa is the market leader in the development of water-based adhesives, delivery systems, process flow solutions, technology systems, inventory management systems, and engineering. Simalfa's mission is to assist in eliminating hazardous chemicals that are being used by companies today through the offering of environmental solutions that work.