La Boutique wants to contribute to a healthier planet and encourage people to buy sustainably and locally.

Our mission is to become the go-to store where you can shop guilt-free because you can trust that every product is sustainable and ethical. We strive to provide the best selection of sustainable products and make it easy for people to find and shop for them. We’re committed to helping create a better future and contribute to a cleaner and healthier planet.

Stores we collaborate with are carefully vetted and evaluated based on different sustainability pillars. Transparency is important to us, so we're transparent about our store selection process too.

That’s why in this blog post, we will dive deep into La Boutique's sustainability pillars and how we cultivate conscious collaborations.

Without further ado, let’s jump into it.

La Boutique’s 6 Sustainability Pillars for conscious collaborations

Why we have sustainability pillars

At La Boutique, we asked ourselves what makes a brand sustainable. We concluded that there isn’t one answer, as there are many ways companies can show corporate social responsibility and respect for the environment. This makes it difficult to label a company as “sustainable” or “not sustainable”, it’s just not that black or white.

Some stores might use biodegradable packaging and deliver with more sustainable transport options, while others focus on local, cruelty-free production with sustainable materials.

Instead of coming up with a definition of a sustainable company, we decided to craft sustainability pillars that help us navigate our decisions. Every pillar has a number of parameters that help us determine if a company complies with this pillar.

Our sustainability pillars

As we have mentioned, we have 6 sustainability pillars that we use as a guidelines to determine whether or not a store is a right fit for us.

Sustainability pillar 1 — Fair trade and production

This pillar is all about determining if a company uses fair trade and/or has a fair production process.

To evaluate is a store complies to this pillar, there are a number of parameters we take into account.

1. Ethical Production

The company uses ethical production practices, prioritizing human beings and social sustainability, and pays fair wages to producers.

2. Small Business

The company is a small business, which we define as a team of fewer than 10 people.

3. Handmade

We value handcrafted products that not only reflect love and dedication but also preserve traditional craftsmanship.

4. Transparency

This entails thorough disclosure of information about every stage of a product's lifecycle, from the fields to the store shelves.

5. Traceability

Traceability for a company means knowing its supply chains from start to finish. It also means tracing back each component of a product, from the raw material to the clothes tag and everything in between. It includes knowing the location of milling facilities, farms, plants, and more. Upsides include greater transparency of production processes and supply chain, knowledge of sustainability efforts, reduction of child labor, and prevention of health issues.

Sustainability pillar 2 — Diversity & Inclusion

This pillar focuses on evaluating whether a company embraces diversity and inclusion in its practices.

Our assessment of this pillar involves the following parameters:

1. Minority Groups

We value businesses led by individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups. This could include:

• Black
• Hispanic
• Asian
• Women
• LGBT

2. LGBTQ+ Affirmation

We stand with brands that support and design and create products specifically for the LGBTQ+ community.

3. Inclusivity

The brand offers items for excluded groups. Examples include:

• Fashion catering to plus sizes
• Cosmetics designed for all skin shades.

Sustainability pillar 3 — Environmentally Conscious

This pillar focuses on evaluating whether a company is environmentally conscious and contributes to a healthier planet.

To check if a company aligns with this pillar, we consider the following parameters:

1. Recycled Materials

The product is crafted with at least 70% recycled materials

2. Natural Ingredients

A minimum of 70% of ingredients or fabrics used, are natural and are not chemically produced.

3. Sustainable Fabrics

The Fabrics used are sourced from natural elements, such as bamboo.

4. Plastic-Free Promise

The product does not contain plastic ingredients and is packaged without plastic.

5. Embracing Circularity

The product is designed with circularity in mind, allowing recycling back to its original value. There is a system in place that ensures recycling.

6. Second-Hand

This refers to clothing that's had a previous owner and has been lovingly donated or resold. Buying second-hand clothing is one of the most sustainable fashion choices by extending garment lifespan and reducing landfill waste.

7.Organically Grown

At least 70% of the ingredients used are organic, meaning they're non-genetically modified and grown without chemical pesticides or insecticides.

8. Built to Last

We value timeless products designed for durability and long-term use.

9. Zero Waste

The product's creation process produces minimal waste, and unused materials are innovatively used to manufacture new items.

Sustainability pillar 4 — Vegan

The company makes products without animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

Sustainability pillar 5 — Locally Made

The products are produced in the country where the brand is based or surrounding. This supports local economies and reduces carbon footprints. 

Sustainability pillar 6 — Social Cause

We appreciate brands that reach beyond business, positively impacting communities or specific causes. This may involve donating a portion of their profits to charitable organizations.

Conclusion

La Boutique's selection approach is thorough and well-rounded.

Brands don't have to adhere to all pillars to partner with us. But, we look at the holistic picture of the company’s efforts. We partner with stores that truly share our commitment to sustainability and align with our vision.

Why? Because at La Boutique, our partners aren't just suppliers - they're allies in our mission to offer you sustainable, ethical choices that reflect your respect for our shared planet.

Are you a company that cares about the planet too? Would you like to collaborate and sell your sustainable products on La Boutique? Don’t hesitate to apply and become one of our 50+ partners.

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