Traceback your Towel
and explore your
impact on people
& the environment
Creating a
FAIR ECONOMY
15-20%
higher raw cotton price for the benefit of the farmer.
Creating a
FAIR SOCIETY
100%
of employees who worked to produce this product work for companies that comply to the international labour standards.
Life Long Learning &
WELLBEING
10%
of the working time in NatureTex is dedicated to art and self-development activities; to promote wellbeing and
happiness at work.
Protecting the
ENVIRONMENT
30.5%
water was saved by using biodynamic, regenerative methods compared to conventional cotton cultivation.
Value Chain of the Sheet
Check out the process this sheet goes through to get to you!
Farming
The towels start as cotton flowers, with the variety Giza 95. This specific kind of cotton is special for Egypt and is cultivated in a city called Fayoum located southwest of Cairo. This high-quality long-staple cotton was cultivated using a holistic and regenerative approach called biodynamic agriculture.
During the cultivation of the cotton, no synthetic pesticide or fertilizer was used. This way, the farmer preserves the biodiversity of the soil and surrounding and protects the water and air from pollution.
EoL certified cotton is sold at a higher price to ensure that the farmers’ economic situation improves and farmers become more self-sufficient and support the development of their community.
Economy of Love provides its farmers consultancy and information about regenerative, biodynamic agriculture to increase skills and knowledge about useful techniques.
Meet The Farmers
get to the source of production
Ashry Sakaran
Farmer in Fayoum, Egypt
Ashry Sakaran grows Demeter-certified biodynamic cotton, along with other crops, in Fayoum, southwest of Cairo. He started to believe in the importance of biodynamic agriculture after noticing a difference in health-related matters since his conversion from conventional methods.
Ahmed Tawfik
Farmer in Fayoum, Egypt
Ahmed Tawfik has his own Demeter-certified biodynamic farmland in Fayoum, where he grows cotton, Giza 95. His father has been working with SEKEM for 30 years. He grew up not knowing any other agricultural methods than the biodynamic methods. He seeks to further develop, biodynamic agriculture in his surrounding area.
Gomaa Hassan
Farmer in Fayoum, Egypt
Gomaa Hassan has his own Demeter-certified biodynamic farmland in Fayoum, where he grows cotton Giza 95, along with other crops. He’s been working with SEKEM for 24 years. Gomaa believes in the importance of biodynamic farming, as it doubles the production and protects his family’s health as well as his own.
Mahmoud Rabiea
Farmer in Fayoum, Egypt
Mahmoud Rabiea has his own Demeter-certified biodynamic farmland in Fayoum, southwest of Cairo. Along with other crops, he grows Cotton Giza 95, where the weather in Fayoum is the most suitable for this specific Giza.
Processing
(Ginning and Spinning)
Following the principle of circular farm organism, the cotton seeds are returned to the farm, where the cotton was initially cultivated, to be reused; for the upcoming season. Seeds that are not reused on the farm are used for cottonseed oil or animal fodder.
The spinning of the cotton is outsourced to a company located in Sadat city, in the northwest of Cairo.
In addition to the environmental criteria, fair treatment and well-being in the supplying companies are guaranteed through the Economy of Love Code of Conduct and the social criteria of the GOTS certification.
Processing
(Weaving, Dyeing and Finishing)
Moving on to the next step, the spun yarn goes through a process called weaving. That gives us the woven terry fabric, which then goes on to the dyeing and finishing processes.
Dyes are often done through harmful chemicals that are bad for the skin and the environment. The Demeter and GOTS certifications ensure that the inputs being used in the processes of dying and finishing are Eco-friendly, biodegradable, and non-hazardous, with no toxins.
The dyeing facility located near Cairo abides by the most stringent legal requirements for the treatment of wastewater before its disposal.
No cutting waste is produced in the making of the towels. That is because the towels are woven together parallel to each other, and the weaving company only has to cut them loose from each other and finish the sides.
Processing
The towels arrive at NatureTex completely finished, where NatureTex manages and outlooks the whole outsourced processes. After which they’re tested on quality issues to make sure that the quality is according to the standards, and they are ready to go.
Even though the towels are outsourced, NatureTex makes sure to test the quality of the product when it arrives at the factory; to ensure its conformity with the organic standards.
NatureTex factory has implemented the Core Program, which enables all factory employees to engage in courses of art, acting, music, origami, and many more to promote happiness at work.
NatureTex recently started implementing the Economy of Love EDU program, to inspire the employees to actively take part in taking care of the environment, themselves, and others.
Packaging Material
The towels are now packaged together in one polybag in sets of 12. After which, they are packed together in carton boxes ready to be shipped and distributed to the retailers. Packaging materials have a huge impact on the products’ lifetime impact and cannot be neglected.
The poly bags that the towels are packed in are made from recyclable material, while the carton boxes are biodegradable.
The manufacturing and transportation of packaging materials such as carton boxes and poly bags are accounted for in the calculation of the product’s emissions. The company is actively working on reducing them.
As part of SEKEM holding, NatureTex is involved in tree planting an was therefore able to sequester more CO2 than its emissions and thus continued to be carbon positive in 2020 and 2021.
Distribution
The towels are now ready for distribution. They’re transported to different local customers or ports to be shipped to international clients.
The supply chains transportation emissions are monitored by the sustainability department of the SEKEM Holding. The data includes all the transportation required starting from the farm till it reaches the local/international retailers’ shelves.
NatureTex mainly uses sea freight for international shipments; to reduce emissions and to have the least possible overall impact on the environment.
As part of SEKEM holding, NatureTex fully offsets its carbon emissions for transportation.
Meet The Employees
The people who processed, packaged and distributed your product
Vivian
Merchandiser in NatureTex
Vivan has been working in the merchandising department in NatureTex for 8 years. She’s very passionate about the field and hopes to continue doing it for as long as she can.
Jing
Quality and Production Engineer
Jing has been a quality supervisor at NatureTex for 14 years. She came to Egypt from the Philippines and stayed as she grew attached to her team, who became like family to her.
Adel
Packaging and Labeling Assistant
Adel has been an employee in NatureTex for three years now. He lives in Abou Hammad and works in the packaging and labeling department.
Abou El Qasim
Administrative Affaires officer
Abo El Qasim lives in Abou Hammad. He’s been an employee in SEKEM for more than 23 years. Adou El Qasim is a trusted employee who manages administrative affairs in NatureTex.
What is the True Price?
Are there hidden costs that the price doesn't reflect?
True Price Comparision
Sustainably and ethically produced products add value to society and the environment. However, when comparing prices, we don’t take into account the long-term and externalized impact of the products we purchase.
For example, we know that this biodynamic cotton emits greenhouse gases – such as Co2-eq, costing society up to 0.042 USD/kg, and about 0.37 tonnes Co2-eq per tonne of cotton. However, compared to conventional methods, this biodynamic cotton cultivation produces 75% less Co2-eq.
We encourage you to compare products based on their true price; the price that reflects the hidden costs that we and future generations eventually pay for.
This cultivation of Cotton costs up to 0.042 USD/Kilo, by emitting carbon into the atmosphere
What is The Water Footprint on The Farm?
Are there hidden costs that the price doesn't reflect?
By looking at a product’s water footprint, you can assess the amount of water used throughout the production process, from the farm until it becomes fabric. That way you can make an informed decision based on the product’s impact on water resources.
3050 liters per kg were used to cultivate the raw cotton.
Around 30.5% less water compared to conventional cultivation methods in the same region.
Since some countries have fewer water resources than others, it’s not only important to know how much, but also, where it comes from to appropriately measure your impact on those resources.
The Water Footprint of cultivating the
cotton for this Towel is
2744 liters
Examples of Hidden Costs
Costs that are not reflected on the price tag, but are eventually paid by society
WATER
REPROCESSING COST
Society is paying taxes to clean water sources from agriculture’s chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, as well as the irresponsible disposal of wastewater from factories, in order to make it usable/drinkable water.
HEALTH COSTS
Society has to bear the long-term cost caused by disruptive agriculture e.g. soil erosion, desertification, loss of biodiversity.
ENVIRONMENTAL
DAMAGE
Society has to bear the long-term cost caused by disruptive agriculture e.g. soil erosion, desertification, loss of biodiversity.
Locations
Check out the locations of all the farms, companies who were involved in making this product!
discover the origin of your product
We hope this information helped you Choose Your Impact!
And make mindful purchasing decisions that leave a positive impact on people and the environment
Interested to know more about the companies above? Click here to download the SEKEM Sustainability Report
