As part of its recently announced sustainability plan, direct-to-consumer bedding and furnishings company Parachute launches its first bedding and bath line made of organic cotton. The capsule collection’s 22 pieces are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified.
The Organic Cotton Collection features sheeting, duvet covers, quilts, throws, bath towels, a robe, and loungewear made using sustainably grown organic cotton. The initial line features seven new nature-inspired colors: reed, willow, bisque, sand, flax, pebble, and white.
The collection also is GOTS-certified to ensure that the entire supply chain, from cotton gin to finished product, meets stringent ecological and social criteria set by the GOTS organization and that harmful chemicals and dyes are not used. GOTS is considered the gold standard for organic cotton certification.
Parachute ran into controversy with GOTS in early 2020 for running an ad claiming its products hold a certification that’s “more important than organic,” and that “Textiles with the organic label can still be treated with toxic chemicals at a later stage of production.”
At the time, GOTS responded to what it called a misleading claim by Parachute, saying, “While this is possible for uncertified products made from organic fibers, this is a misleading statement for textiles certified and labelled to the Global Organic Textile Standard. GOTS protects workers and environment at every stage of production and the GOTS approved ‘Positive List’ was developed to assure GOTS certified wet-processors only use chemical inputs with the lowest possible toxicity effects available.”
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Parachute CEO Ariel Kaye told the Sourcing Journal in January that the company has worked closely with GOTS since then to ensure certification by the organization for its products.
“Sustainability is an ongoing journey for our company, and we are always looking for ways to build upon our existing efforts,” she said. “As we look to deepen our commitments in 2022 and beyond, we’re pleased to be growing our partnerships with established organizations like GOTS and look forward to working collaboratively to bring our customers more exciting, responsibly-made products that they can feel good about purchasing.”
This collection follows several recent introductions for the company, including a line of fair-trade rugs and an expanding furniture line that includes bed frames, nightstands, and benches. Parachute also recently hired its first chief merchandising officer, Meredith Lamont, to lead its brick-and-mortar expansion, and the company also announced its intension to achieve carbon neutral status by Earth Day on April 22, 2022.
“Sustainability is the key to solving many of the challenges we face today,” Kaye said. “I launched Parachute eight years ago with Oeko-Tex certified bedding, meaning that it’s undergone rigorous testing for harmful substances, because I believe in the importance of doing our part to reduce our impact on people and the planet. I’m excited that we are continuing to evolve our sustainability practices with our new organic collection. It’s soft, beautiful and made with the utmost care. We consistently strive to grow and evolve with our community and protect our environment, and we’re ready to take these commitments to the next level.”
The full organic collection is immediately available to shop both online, at parachutehome.com, and in Parachute retail stores across the U.S., and will launch in Canada Feb. 15.