Sustainability | Ubuhle Besintu

Sustainability: At UBuhle Besintu, our commitment to sustainability is not just a philosophy; it's the bedrock of our brand. We embrace sustainability as a means to safeguard the environment and secure the future availability of precious resources. Our approach aligns with the essence of sustainability, which aims to preserve natural resources and ensure their long-term viability (Mollenkamp, 2023).

Why Sustainability Matters to UBuhle Besintu: We wholeheartedly embrace sustainability because we acknowledge the historical contributions of the fashion industry to issues like racial inequality and environmental harm. At UBuhle Besintu, we see the fashion industry as a platform for positive change, and we consider it our responsibility to pave the way for the long-term well-being of both people and the environment (Deb, 2023).

Transparency: Transparency is at the core of our strategy. We firmly believe that by being upfront and forthright with our customers about our business practices, we can help build a more trustworthy and accountable fashion industry. Our commitment to transparency extends to all aspects of our brand, from our ethical hiring practices and sustainable production methods to clear pricing and honest marketing (Nona Lifestyle, 2023).

At UBuhle Besintu, our promise to you, our valued customers, is to deliver sustainable, high-quality menswear that reflects our deep-rooted commitment to preserving the environment, advancing social equality, and being open and truthful in every facet of our business. We're here to redefine fashion with purpose, and we invite you to be a part of this positive change.

The Circular Economy

A circular economy maximises the amount of time that materials, goods, and services are in use. A circular economy minimises the amount of resources used, redesigns goods and services to be less resource-intensive, and uses "waste" as a resource to create new goods (EPA, 2023).

(Plabon, 2023).

Raw Materials: Tshifhiwa, the owner of UBuhle Besintu, sources high-quality fabrics from local stores, including the Oriental Plaza and Metro Lifestyle. These fabrics serve as the raw materials for crafting his menswear, even though these fabrics themselves aren't sustainable he makes the system more sustainable by reusing off-cuts in his packaging. (Plabon, 2023).
Design: In product design, Tshifhiwa prioritizes durability, repairability, and recyclability. Each garment is carefully designed to ensure it lasts, can be easily repaired if needed, and is created with materials that can be recycled (Plabon, 2023).
Product Processing: At his home-based production space, Tshifhiwa transforms these raw resources into exquisite menswear using skilled manufacturing methods. Every piece is a testament to craftsmanship and sustainability (Plabon, 2023).
Distribution: Tshifhiwa utilizes efficient courier services like Postnet to distribute his products. This ensures that his creations are delivered directly to the doorsteps of his customers, making the distribution process seamless(Plabon, 2023).
Use, Re-use, and Repair: Tshifhiwa encourages customers to use their UBuhle Besintu garments for as long as possible. The menswear is designed to withstand the test of time, and Tshifhiwa promotes repair and maintenance over buying new items. This approach aligns with the circular economy's goal of prolonging product lifespans (Plabon, 2023).
Collection: When the time comes for a garment to reach the end of its useful life, Tshifhiwa encourages proper disposal or recycling. Customers can return their worn items, contributing to the sustainable fashion cycle (Plabon, 2023).
Recycling: Through responsible recycling processes, resources from items that have reached the end of their useful lives are processed to produce new materials or products, closing the loop in the circular economy. UBuhle Besintu maintains a commitment to sustainability from sourcing to recycling, making the circular economy principles a core part of its brand identity (Plabon, 2023).

Our dedication to sustainability is based on the circular economy's guiding principles. We support the following strategies:

High-Quality Garments: We focus on producing durable clothing that will last a lifetime. Doing this reduces the need for regular replacements, reducing waste and resource usage (The Good Boutique, 2023).
Minimal Quantities and Made-to-Order: We only make a small amount of apparel at a time; the majority of our things are made-to-order. This strategy ensures that each garment is made with care and accuracy to fulfil the particular needs of our consumers, as well as prevent overproduction (Cochrane, 2023).
Upcycling and Fabric Innovation: Upcycling, which fits with the circular economy model, is something we are passionate about. By repurposing unwanted apparel, we hope to create brand-new, one-of-a-kind designs. To increase resource efficiency, we are also continually investigating and testing creative ways to turn disassembled garments into new materials (Habitat, 2023).

Triple Bottom Line

The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) is an idea that UBuhle Besintu wholeheartedly supports. We are aware that companies shouldn't put profits above people or the environment (Kenton, 2023).

Our dedication to TBL entails the following:

Profit: While maintaining a healthy financial position is crucial, we do not consider profit to be only one measure of success. Instead, we strive to achieve a balance between profitability and the needs of our clients, team members, and the community at large (Kenton, 2023).

Fair Pricing: Fairness is the foundation of our pricing strategy. As we uphold our sustainability commitments, we work to make sure that our customers get value for their money. Pricing transparency is crucial because it enables our consumers to make educated decisions (Shukla, 2023).
Invest in Innovation: We support research and development to investigate environmentally friendly production methods and materials. From our perspective, innovation entails improving the quality of our products and minimising our environmental impact in addition to cost-cutting (Gönlügür, 2018).

People: Throughout our supply chain, we place a high priority on ethical labour practices to guarantee fair compensation and secure working conditions. We think that the lives of everyone who is involved in our production processes should improve as a result of our achievement (Kenton, 2023).

Local Community Projects: Our perspective on giving back is reflected in the local community projects we participate in. Through education, career opportunities, and activities that promote individual empowerment, we hope to not only improve people's lives but also deepen our relationships with the communities where we live. One of these community projects we support is Rise Against Hunger Africa (Rise Against Hunger Africa, 2023). We support them by donating 1%of our profits per year.
Hiring for diversity and inclusivity: From our perspective, we cannot compromise on ensuring our staff is diverse and inclusive. We advocate for a workplace that values respect, and equality, and celebrates individual uniqueness. This strengthens our organisation and upholds the principles of justice and equality (Greenhouse, 2023).

Environment: At the heart of all we do is take care of the environment. We continuously look for eco-friendly materials, cut back on water and energy use, and reduce emissions. Our goal is to minimise damage to the environment (Kenton, 2023).

Circular Packaging: We see the circular economy concept as being extended by the packaging we choose. Utilising recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable products will reduce waste, in our opinion (Dillon, 2022).
Sustainable Materials: We always look for environmentally sustainable alternatives to materials. We actively look for recyclable materials, eco-friendly colours, and organic textiles. We see these decisions as being a crucial component of our dedication to protecting the environment (Sustainable Jungle, 2023).