COTTON
•
WOOL
•
MUSHROOM LEATHER
•
DYESTUFFS
•
SILK
•
LINEN & HEMP
•
TREE FIBRES
•
CASHMERE
•
FEATHERS
•
LEATHER
•
COTTON • WOOL • MUSHROOM LEATHER • DYESTUFFS • SILK • LINEN & HEMP • TREE FIBRES • CASHMERE • FEATHERS • LEATHER •
FASHIONING NEW STANDARDS FOR TEXTILES GLOBALLY
Fashion’s new and highest standards are coming. This is an invitation to be a part of funding fashion’s next step in our global movement toward a regenerative future. Together, DIRT and Demeter are creating new Demeter fashion certification standards, which will render greenwashing, environmental degradation and human exploitation impossible…
The vision
Let’s get fashion’s sourcing power behind soil regeneration globally so that fashion can become a climate solution.
The mission of DIRT x Demeter is to create new certification standards to guide the fashion industry into a healthy future. Because clothes, shoes, bags and accessories don’t have to cause harm to the planet and people. They need to be grown in soil, processed in Earth-safe ways and eventually their materials will return to life within soil where they will be digested by microorganisms and worms, making a new generation of soil.
The reason
Think wool, cotton, silk, leather, linen…the way we grow our raw materials now causes tremendous harm to soil. Vast amounts of chemicals are sprayed on our planet in the name of fibre agriculture. But in stead, we could grow in a way that heals soil, restores nature to full health and supports thriving biodiversity. Demeter knows how, we just need to implement this method of cultivation in our fibre supply chains.
Due to conventional farming, harmful processing practices and overproduction, the clothes we wear are toxic. Fashion as it is today is a climate problem. Since we are changing the way we produce fashion, we might as well aim for best practice, rather than only making it a little less damaging - and that is the power of these new certification standards with Demeter.
The fashion problem
Fashion’s raw materials are grown by farmers, often on intensive factory farms, they are then processed with toxins that we call bleach and dyes. The chemicals used for these processes, after negatively affecting the health of garment workers, run out of the factories in water, polluting rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. Currently for the majority of garments, once they are at the end of their lives, they arrive in a landfill with years of degradation time ahead, each one leaching heavy duty chemicals and increasing the size of the pie of trash.
Garments can become food for all the microorganisms in soil. Imagine when fashion has adopted Demeter standard clothing and accessories, instead of piles of rubbish, there will instead be piles of soil when we are all finished wearing our garments. Soil that can be used to grow the next generation of plants and animals, regeneratively. The entire fashion supply chain, under Demeter's guidance, will become a true circular economy where all processes will contribute to the regeneration of Earth..
…but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Who is Demeter?
Demeter is an international community-owned trademark for biodynamic agriculture, with active certification to ensure the quality of the mark active since 1928. This 100-year-old method of farming and processing is the original ecological approach to agriculture and is recognised as a quality mark for food and wine around the world.
Demeter has yet to bring a serious biodynamic approach to textile production which is why we at DIRT are facilitating the creation of ten new certification standards for fibres, dyestuffs and leather with Demeter. In Fashion, we need their support and guidance to help our supply chains become a climate solution.
Case for success
Very few certification programs exist to protect the Earth and people from fashion:
Those that do exist, do not have as high a standard as Demeter, particularly when it comes to soil regeneration, stringency on toxic chemicals for processing, certification of the entire garment rather than just one element such as the outer fabric, and they do not include compostability at the end of a garments life.
The percentage of garments available on the market that come from certified sustainable supply chains is extremely low and the exact number is unknown:
This is an opportunity. Competition is low.
With these certification standards, Demeter can continue to grow the biodynamic movement, which not only regenerates soil, but supports life on Earth:
1.6% of sales is collected from anyone choosing to use the Demeter trademark and certifications. These funds cover the operating of the certifying activities, ensuring the longevity of the Demeter way.
We see the entire fashion industry as potential clients for these new certifications:
The total value of the global fashion sector is roughly 2.5 trillion dollars, which represents a big opportunity for soil regeneration through biodynamic agriculture along the textile supply chain.
The process
The development of the ten new Demeter Standards will be completed over a two to three-year period, in collaboration with the DIRT charity. Expert working groups for each material will convene to draft the respective standards over the course of 2-5 months. Following the drafting process, each standard will undergo a six-month review and trial phase, after which it will be submitted to the International Standards Committee for approval.
Once a standard is finalised, securing the necessary funding will be essential to support a three-year implementation and marketing phase. We recognize that establishing a knowledge hub to facilitate the transition of the supply chain—specifically farmers and processors—to these comprehensive garment production standards, from soil to soil, is a critical element of our mission.
Throughout this period, DIRT charity will continue to serve as an ambassador for Demeter Standards, raising public awareness and ensuring demand for these essential textile standards. It is vital that these standards are not just theoretical—they must be applied practically across the industry to drive meaningful change.
The funding we need
£527,850
£527,850 is how much is required to create and implement these ten new standards within the first three years of work:
£201,825 for the first year
£201,825 for the second year
£124,200 third year
£73,272 fourth year continuous consumer awareness raising
How to join
-
We are seeking fashion brands to produce Demeter certified clothing.
-
As a champion, you will:
Adopt the standard yourself by sourcing Demeter certified materials and adhere to the social standards
Use your strength to promote this new standard far and wide
Challenge the industry to raise the bar
Support your supply chain to adapt to the new standardSupport DIRT Charity with a donation to implement these high standards
Support your supply chain to adapt to the new standard
-
Benefits for the brand champion:
Being a proud pioneer of a global movement
Gain more business as consumers demand for regeneratively sourced materials
Beautiful storytelling for PR and comms value
Earth positive and human friendly supply chain
Building community
-
Does our cause resonate with you and you feel inspired to support us? Please know that every little helps, so go ahead and donate to DIRT.
-
Is your brand looking fow ways to give back, support a charitable cause or perhaps you, like us, are tired of the negative impact that the fashion industry has been creating and would like to turn fashion into a climate solution?
We invite you to support DIRT charity financially and add the impact to your sustainability report. -
If communicating your sustainability efforts is one of your goals, we can help you tell beautiful stories. Support us financially and let’s tell beautiful stories together.
-
We are seeking businesses from the fashion supply chain to adopt the Demeter Standard(s).
-
As a champion, you will:
Adopt the standard yourself
Use your strength to promote this new standard far and wide
Support your supply chain to adapt to the new standard, e.g if you are a tannery you will support your suppliers to adopt the Demeter Leather standard
Challenge the industry to raise the bar
Donate to DIRT Charity if you can
-
Benefits for the supply chain champion:
Gain exposure to the growing pool of brands that choose nature friendly and certified high standard supply chains
Being a proud pioneer of a global movement
Beautiful storytelling for PR and comms
Earth positive supply chainPeople friendly and supportive supply chain
Building community
Ready to join the movement?
Simply fill out the form below and let us know which action you are interested in. Thank you so much for your support!