Sustainability

 

We believe better design begins with thoughtful choices — from the materials we use to the partners we work with and the way our products are made. We create timeless, functional pieces designed to be used often and kept for years, while continually exploring materials and processes that can reduce their impact.

MATERIALS

Material innovation has been central to Svala from the beginning. We seek out animal-free materials that balance environmental considerations, performance and longevity. Our collections have incorporated next-generation materials including MIRUM®, Piñatex® and BioVeg, as well as natural cork and organic textiles.

We believe transparency is an important part of responsible sourcing. Our material partners have included Natural Fiber Welding in the U.S. for MIRUM®, Ananas Anam in Spain for Piñatex®, and Coronet in Italy for BioVeg and our Vegan Leather. Sileather® provides the silicone material used for the trim on our Vita collection.

We also work to reduce material waste where possible. Production remnants have been repurposed to create smaller accessories such as card cases, while excess development materials have been donated to fashion design students at FIDM in Los Angeles.

SAFETY AND STANDARDS

We consider chemical safety and material standards as part of our sourcing process. MIRUM® is made without petrochemicals or plastic, while Piñatex® production restricts substances included on the Cradle to Cradle Certified® banned chemicals list.

For our signature coated canvas, we chose a PVC-free TPU coating to provide durability and water resistance while avoiding the environmental and chemical concerns associated with PVC. The material was independently tested by QIMA and passed for phthalates, cadmium and lead.

Our recycled polyester and organic cotton lining from Carr Textiles meets OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 Product Class I and Global Recycled Standard (GRS) 4.0 requirements.

RESPONSIBLE MANUFACTURING

We select our manufacturing partners based on their technical expertise, quality standards and approach to responsible production. Our Svala Originals are produced in small batches in Los Angeles, while our Vita collection is produced in China by Autron, a specialist accessories manufacturer with expertise in coated canvas and sustainable material innovation.

Autron participates in independent Sedex SMETA auditing, which assesses labor standards, health and safety, environmental performance and business ethics. The facility maintains policies covering areas including working hours, wages, health and safety, discrimination, forced and child labor, and environmental responsibility.

Explore Autron's sustainability practices and policies →

PACKAGING

Svala products are packaged in either unbleached, organic cotton, BCI cotton or hemp dust bags. Our hang tags are made from recycled or FSC paper. Our FSC-Certified, acid-free, recyclable tissue paper is from the sustainable packaging service No Issue. 

SHIPPING

Svala products are shipped in unbleached, kraft shipping boxes. Through our partnership with Ecologi, a tree is planted with every order. 

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For additional information about our materials, manufacturing practices, certifications or testing, please contact us at hello@svala.co.