Sustainable production

Environmental issues are at the forefront of our company’s operations. By its nature, sericulture (silk production) is earth-friendly. The mulberry leaves eaten by the silk caterpillars that spin the silk are a renewable and sustainable crop as the trees produce year after year. They are replaced after 8 years, after which they are not such vigorous growers and the leaves are not so tasty. No pesticides can be used on the mulberry trees. The silk caterpillars themselves demand the purest and best quality leaves as their food.

Silk fibres are highly absorptive and are easily dyed using low-impact fibre reactive dyes. We do not add any treatments to improve ant-static, flame retardance, wash-and-wear or anti-bacterial properties because silk is already naturally endowed with these properties.

Silk is also biodegradable and will decompose easily in landfills.

The Silksaks are manufactured by a family company in Vietnam. Social and ethical standards are maintained in all factories. Employees are paid reasonable wages and management personally visit the factories regularly to ensure standards are being met.

Silksak store display stands are made from environmentally-friendly materials such as recycled wood, natural paints and waxes.

Box packaging is made of recycled cardboard and printed material is printed on paper from sustainable forests using biodegradable inks.

At head office all office cardboard and paper is recycled or re-used. Through the Waste Exchange program run by the local council, we donate excess packaging waste, such as cardboard, tissue paper and plastic bags to community organisations, schools and kindergartens for use in projects and teaching.

Where possible we employ local and national businesses for a range of services such as logistics, packaging, printing and communications.