10 Best Practices for Sustainable Custom Hat Production

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift towards eco-friendly practices across various industries. The custom apparel industry is included in this trend as well. As more people consciously shift towards sustainability by making decisions that benefit the planet, brands looking to create custom hats as promotional products must do the same. 

Fortunately, there are several eco-friendly custom hat manufacturers like The/Studio leading the charge towards sustainability in the industry. They do so by using sustainable fabrics and following a transparent production process in creating custom hats. These efforts contribute to reducing waste and minimizing the environmental impact of your business branding process. In this post, we will explore some of the ways the custom hat production process can be modified to accommodate modern standards of sustainability.

Organic Materials 

Organic materials have the least impact on the environment. Their production process is often green and chemical-free, which leaves less impact on the environment. Organic cotton for instance is a natural fiber grown and processed without using harmful pesticides and other chemicals. Similarly, hemp is a durable, eco-friendly material grown without pesticides. It also requires minimal water to grow. Bamboo, another sustainable material used in custom hat production, is known to grow very fast. In addition to their green production process, organic materials tend to be biodegradable, meaning they will break down quickly if they’re thrown out. 

Recycled materials 

Another way to reduce the environmental impact of the custom hat production process is the adoption of recycled materials. For instance, recycled polyester is made from plastic bottles and other plastic waste materials that should have ended up in a landfill somewhere. These materials are not biodegradable and are considered harmful to the environment. Keeping them out of landfills as much as possible by recycling them for custom hat production benefits the environment in the long run. 

Sustainable Manufacturing Processes

Custom hat manufacturers that are concerned about sustainability typically adopt low-waste manufacturing processes. The adoption of machines powered by renewable energy sources like solar is one of such changes in the manufacturing process that can have a significant impact on the carbon footprint of the custom hat production process. Sourcing materials locally instead of importing them from international markets is another way to promote sustainability in the manufacturing process

Ethical Labor Practices

This is another crucial aspect of sustainable custom hat production. Facilities that mass produce custom hats often have to work with manual labor whether directly or indirectly (through their suppliers). Following ethical labor practices such as ensuring workers are paid well and treated fairly goes a long way in showing the manufacturer’s commitment to sustainability. 

Sustainable Trims and Embellishments

Although many people tend to focus on the materials used in making the cap itself, the trims and embellishments added to the cap are just as important in sustainability conversations. Responsible organizations often ensure that all embellishments used on custom hats (down to the smallest details) are made using eco-friendly and ethically sourced materials. 

Eco-friendly Colors 

In creating eco-friendly custom hats, brands are often encouraged to go for sustainable dye options for their custom design prints. Fortunately, it is possible to recreate the perfect color palette for your hats using nothing but natural dyes that have been obtained from plants, minerals, or recycled materials. These are safer and eco-friendly alternatives to chemical dyes that are potentially harmful to people and the environment. 

Low Order Quantities 

In the past, many custom hat manufacturers set high minimum order quantities for their products. This can inadvertently force brands to order more hats than they actually need, causing wastage. Since minimizing wastage is one of the tenets of sustainability, there has been a shift towards allowing brands to order just what they need for their branding and marketing campaigns at no extra cost. 

Sustainable Packaging And Branding

While many people hardly pay attention to this, sustainable branding and packaging is one of the ways to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability. Producing eco-friendly hats, but shipping them in plastics and other packaging options that aren’t eco-friendly is counterintuitive. Instead, manufacturers should use recycled or compostable materials to package and ship finished products when fulfilling orders. 

Digital Designs 

Reducing paper trails as much as possible is one of the ways to adopt sustainability in production processes. This can be applied to custom hat production as well. Instead of creating physical designs on paper, many custom hat manufacturers now have tools for creating custom hat designs online, cutting the paper trail. While the traditional option of converting sketches into designs is still available, brands are encouraged to use these digital tools to create their designs. They are quick, efficient and intuitive to use even for people that aren’t professional designers. 

Online Ordering 

These days, the entire process of ordering custom hats can be completed online from start to finish. While this is convenient for business, it’s also great for the environment. Not having to commute to a physical office location or factory to process a custom hat order can reduce fuel consumption on logistics, which has a positive impact on the carbon footprint of the production process. 

While it might not seem like much, having to go back and forth to process a custom hat order can have a significant environmental impact in the long term. By completing the entire process online, custom hat manufacturers are saving brands a great deal of stress while also helping them stay true to their sustainability promises. 

Final Thoughts

Prioritizing sustainability in your custom hat design is good for the environment but it can also be great for business. Eco-conscious customers are more likely to wear your custom hats and other merch apparel when they are certain of your adherence to sustainability practices. 

By working with custom hat manufacturers like The/Studio, you can confidently navigate the process of ordering custom sustainable hats for your business. We prioritize green practices across every stage of our production process from start to finish. Start your sustainable custom hat ordering process with us today and set your business apart. Contact us to get started.