How to recognize an eco-responsible product ?

At a time when every brand offers so-called eco-friendly clothing, it's sometimes difficult to navigate and distinguish fact from fiction. For us, who proclaim ourselves to be more sustainable and work to limit our footprint, it's essential to be completely transparent with our customers. As cyclists, we face direct challenges with climate change during hot summer days, or with abnormal weather conditions at other times of the year (storms, severe weather, etc.). But our sport, which is mechanical, also requires a lot of equipment and sometimes pushes us to consume a lot. As is often the case, we are both victims and culprits. So how, as a cyclist, can we consume more responsible ? This is the question we will try to answer in this article. The choice of materials The production of the raw materials that make up a garment is the main factor in environmental degradation in the textile industry. Depending on the manufacturing process, the consumption of water, fossil fuels, toxic products, and pollutants can be higher or lower. When it comes to eco-friendly clothing, it's important to choose the right textiles, made from sustainable fabrics or natural fibers. At the house of Matchy, we make a point of using recycled materials: Our entire clothing range is made partially or entirely from recycled materials (at least 30% per product). As we develop technical and high-performance products, the main materials we use are: recycled polyester recycled elastane merino wool polyamide Our products are certified by the label Global Recycled Standard and improved by low environmental impact production. Many of our products are made from 100% recycled materials, and we have integrated eco-friendly chamois leathers into all of our shorts. The place of manufacture Eco-friendly clothing must be manufactured near the place where it is sold, and under socially acceptable conditions. Indeed, in some countries, labor laws are stricter and more protective of employees than others. Despite this, the majority of cycling textiles still come from distant regions, particularly Asian countries, which means a long journey for the product to reach the consumer, as well as often insufficient control over production conditions. At the house of Matchy, we produce our clothing mainly in France and Italy, near our premises in Annecy. This allows us to limit our impact linked to transport, to be constantly in contact with our production sites and also to support local know-how and the local economy. When a product is damaged, this proximity also allows us to return it to the manufacturer who can repair it, and therefore offer you a "crash policy" by repairing your jerseys and shorts following a fall or accident. Eco-responsible labels To make life easier for consumers, labels have been introduced. This certifies that a garment meets a range of important environmental criteria. However, it's still important to be able to distinguish the good ones. If a product's label indicates a certain material, try looking for the label (and verifying its veracity) to be sure. Unfortunately, just like the food products in our supermarkets, not all labels are equal. Matchy, we use credible and verified labels that we will list for you: SCS SCS Recycled Content Certification evaluates products made from pre-consumer or post-consumer materials diverted from the waste stream. Repreve REPREVE® is a trusted brand of recycled performance fiber used to make durable textiles with wicking, odor control, water resistance, and more. Greensoul MITI Green Soul technology combines the use of 100% sustainable recycled fibers with the most environmentally friendly dyeing and finishing processes without compromising fabric performance. Bluesign Bluesign is a system that provides safer and more sustainable environments for people to work in and for everyone. Oeko-Tex Oeko-Tex is a quality label comprising several technical standards, aimed at certifying the health and ecological qualities of textiles and leathers, guaranteeing the absence of toxic products. GRS GRS is an international, voluntary standard that establishes criteria for third-party certification of recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical composition restrictions. You are now ready to make more conscious choices about your equipment and ride your bike in a more eco-responsible way. Let's participate together in a better future #besustainable.