Lowering carbon emissions

How We’re Lowering Our Carbon Emissions

Last updated: August 13, 2025

At WearMyVibe, we make products people actually want to keep—then we obsess over making and shipping them with the smallest footprint we can manage. Below is our current playbook and roadmap. It’ll keep evolving as we measure more, learn more, and (frankly) get better.

TL;DR — What we’re doing right now

  • Made-to-order = less waste. We produce after you order, which cuts overproduction and dead-stock.

  • Better inputs. Prioritizing organic cotton and recycled blends for apparel; durable powder-coated drinkware; water-based, low-VOC inks; and laser engraving (no inks/dyes).

  • Smarter packaging. Right-sized boxes, paper fillers, and curbside-recyclable or compostable mailers. We’re phasing out poly where alternatives are viable.

  • Ship with emissions in mind. Ground-first by default in the U.S., consolidated fulfillment, and fewer split shipments.

  • Cleaner power at our studio. We match 100% of our studio’s electricity use with renewable energy credits (RECs) while we work toward on-site solar.

  • Measure → improve. We’re building a per-order carbon estimate so we can target hot spots (materials, freight, returns) and set sharper goals.

1) Designing out waste with made-to-order

Traditional retail guesses demand months in advance; we don’t. Your item is produced when you click “Buy,” which:

  • Avoids overproduction and end-of-season dumps

  • Reduces returns (you pick the design, size, and style you actually want)

  • Lets us continuously improve files and print settings without scrapping inventory

2) Materials that last and pollute less

  • Apparel: Moving core tees/hoodies to organic cotton or recycled-content blends where fabric quality meets our durability bar. We publish fiber content on product pages so you can choose the lower-impact option.

  • Inks & pretreats: We use water-based, low-VOC inks for DTG and DTF where possible, and keep curing temps optimized to save energy without sacrificing wash-fastness.

  • Engraved goods: Many gifts (flasks, wallets, glassware) are laser-engraved, which uses electricity and produces virtually no liquid ink waste.

  • Longevity first: A long-lived product has the lowest annual footprint. We bias toward heavier knits, quality zippers/seams, and coatings that actually last.

3) Packaging that doesn’t overdo it

  • Right-sizing: We auto-choose the smallest viable mailer/box for each order.

  • Paper > plastic: Kraft mailers, paper tape, and recycled paper fill are our defaults.

  • No filler for filler’s sake: If it doesn’t protect, it doesn’t ship.

  • Clear end-of-life: We note whether each mailer/box is recyclable or compostable on the packing slip.

4) Shipping with fewer emissions

  • Ground by default (U.S.). Air is fast, but carbon-heavy. We default to ground unless you explicitly choose faster shipping.

  • Fewer boxes, fewer trucks. We work to avoid split shipments by syncing production across product types whenever timing allows.

  • Regional fulfillment pilots. We’re testing “closer-to-you” production for select items to shorten the last mile.

5) Cleaner energy where we work

  • REC-matched electricity. Until we install on-site solar, we match 100% of our studio’s electricity with renewable energy credits to support clean generation on the grid.

  • Equipment tuning. We regularly calibrate presses, dryers, and lasers to minimize reprints and wasted kWh.

6) Returns, reworks, and circularity

  • Fit & care guidance. Clear size charts and care instructions reduce returns and extend life.

  • Repair > replace (when feasible). For certain items (e.g., wallets, engraved goods), we’ll fix minor defects instead of swapping for brand-new.

  • Second-chance shelf. Cosmetic-blemish items get discounted rather than discarded.

7) How we measure (and why it matters)

We’re building our accounting around the Greenhouse Gas Protocol scopes:

  • Scope 1: On-site fuel (minimal for us).

  • Scope 2: Purchased electricity (REC-matched).

  • Scope 3: The biggies—materials, inbound/outbound freight, packaging, and returns.

What we’re tracking first

  • Emissions by material type (e.g., organic cotton vs. conventional)

  • Emissions per shipping method (ground vs. air)

  • Packaging mix by order

  • Reprint/return rates and their footprint

8) Goals & roadmap

  • 2025: Publish a per-order footprint estimate at checkout for major product categories. Cut split shipments by 20% vs. our 2024 baseline.

  • 2026: Transition >80% of apparel to preferred fibers (organic/recycled) in core colors. Make 100% of outbound packaging recyclable or compostable.

  • 2027: Reduce average emissions per order by 35% from 2024 baseline through materials, packaging, and shipping improvements. Add on-site solar or equivalent long-term clean power.

We’ll report progress annually and adjust targets as we get better data.

9) Offsets (only for what we can’t yet cut)

Reductions come first. For residual emissions we can’t yet eliminate, we plan to support third-party-verified carbon projects and will publish which projects we choose and why. Our rule: no vague offsets—clear additionality, verification, and public reporting.

10) How you can help

  • Choose ground shipping when timing allows.

  • Order once, not twice. Add everything you need to a single cart to avoid split shipments.

  • Care for your gear. Cold wash, line dry, and follow care labels to extend life.

  • Recycle the packaging. We’ll tell you how right on the packing slip.

Questions? Ideas?

Sustainability is a team sport. If you spot greener materials, better packaging, or local partners we should consider, tell us. We’ll listen—and when we change something because of your idea, we’ll share the update here.