Towards circular economy-aligned collections

The circular economy is at the heart of our sustainability work, and one of the three main goals of our sustainability program is to have fully circular economy-aligned collections by 2040, which we are systematically working towards. In line with the target, the aim is to keep products and the materials they contain in use for as long as possible. For us, a circular economy-aligned collection means that throughout the life cycle of a product, the following are given priority:

1. Circular economy and product life cycle considerations in product design

2. Material choices and efficient use of materials that support the circular economy

3. Consideration of the circular economy in production and product sales strategy

4. Designing products and services to support reuse, repairability and recycling of products

Circular economy as part of product design, material choices and production

To achieve the target, we take into account the future life-cycle stages of products already at the design and production stage. With quality and longevity in mind, we aim to manufacture our collections from either recycled, renewable, sustainably sourced or innovative materials. Additionally, we will increase the use of these materials in product design. We strive to avoid excess waste in production by producing based on demand. In production, we aim to order

only the amount of material required for the production batches in question. Read more about product quality and sustainability and about materials.

Responsibility for the product’s entire life cycle

In line with the target we set for 2040, the aim is to keep products and the materials they contain in use for as long as possible through recycling, material reuse or services. We are one of the first Finnish clothing manufacturers to take full responsibility for the entire life cycle of the clothes we design and manufacture.

In the Luhta ReUse process, used clothes are given new life either as second-hand products or as recycled fiber produced in our recycling partner’s process. By doubling the life of the clothing, we reduce its carbon footprint by about 45%. Luhta ReUse concept is for now running only in Finland.

In May 2022 we launched in Finland Luhta ReUse, a program we developed to take greater responsibility for the overall product life cycle by recycling the products we design, manufacture and sell. Our goal is to extend the life of the product by finding a new use for it through the ReUse program. Used products made by us are accepted in all our stores in Finland.

Unfortunately, not all the products we receive are always in saleable condition or suitable for the ReUse sales platform. This may be due to the condition, a defect or the type of product. We cannot sell damaged, broken or heavily worn products on our online platform where it is impossible for the customer to physically examine the product and thus make a purchase decision that takes into account the possible defect. For minor defects that do not affect the use of the product, we disclose them on the sales platform. In addition, all our ReUse products, like our other products, can be returned. Luhta ReUse concept is for now running only in Finland.

In line with the waste hierarchy, we aim to sort the products returned to us for the highest possible value recovery, so that material recycling is the last option. If a product is not suitable for the ReUse platform as such, we consider where it could be recycled for the highest possible value. The priority is to refurbish the products to make them saleable; we are currently piloting processes to do this and exploring the possibilities of refurbishing used products. If a product is not worth repairing or cannot be repaired but is still usable, we donate it to our partners in the circular economy sector. For example, we have delivered unrepairable reclamations and ReUse returns to student and business projects and they have been used to create upcycled collections, among other things. We have also donated pre-sorted items that are in usable condition to the Helsinki metropolitan area recycling center, for example. However, if a returned product has reached the end of its life, we forward it to our partner Rester for proper textile recycling.

Our high-quality products are made to last. Proper care and repairs of the minor failings that occur during use can extend the life of an otherwise still usable product. We communicate to our customers about the proper washing and care of our products. Read about our care instructions here. In the summer of 2023, we started working with Menddie’s repair and care service in Finland to provide our customers with a straightforward and easy way to repair and care for our products. The products are sent for repair by post, so product repairs are available from anywhere in Finland.

Read more about the circular economy in our latest Sustainability Report.

Circular economy-aligned products in the Olympic collection

Luhta Sportswear Company has been dressing Finnish athletes for domestic and international competitions for several decades. For the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, the Finnish team will wear Rukka clothing. The Olympic collection was designed with circular economy in mind. The design and material choices for the collection have taken into account recyclability, the long life cycle of products with multiple cycles, and the use of recycled and improved natural materials. Read more here.

Training business and product development for the circular economy – Circular Design training program

We participated in the Ministry of the Environment’s Circular Design training program. The company’s management was trained in strategic coaching, and key people in product and service work were trained in practical work. The Circular Design training program provided the foundation for Luhta Sportswear Company’s future circular economy roadmap. This work will take us towards our goal of fully circular economy-aligned collections by 2040.