13-11-2008  
Element offre una linea di prodotti che rispettano l’ambiente!

CONSCIOUS BY NATURE
FACT SHEET
ELEMENT’S ENDURING COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS.

IN OUR ONGOING QUEST TO CREATE AND EXPAND THE HORIZONS OF OUR SOCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS INITIATIVES, ELEMENT OFFERS A COLLECTION OF PRODUCT CONSTRUCTED PRIMARILY OF ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

ELEMENT WAS CREATED OUT OF DEDICATION TO MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. WE CARRY THESE CONCEPTS IN THE DNA OF OUR COMPANY BY BUILDING PRODUCTS, CREATING EVENTS, AND ESTABLISHING PROGRAMS TO RAISE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS.
TODAY WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REACH BY PERPETUALLY GROWING OUR SUSTAINABLE AND ORGANIC PRODUCT LINE, CONTRIBUTING TO WORTHWHILE CAUSES, RUNNING EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SEMINARS, SPONSORING AND AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO SKATE CAMPS AROUND THE WORLD AND NOURISHING ELEMENTAL AWARENESS, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
WITH THE MISSION TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE THE YOUTH.
WE CHALLENGE OURSELVES EVERY DAY TO BE A BUSINESS OF OPTIMISM, SUBSTANCE AND QUALITY; TRAITS THAT PEOPLE EVERYWHERE HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM US.

ELEMENT CBN PRODUCT INFO SUMMARY

•ALL OF ELEMENT’S SKATEBOARDS ARE MADE FROM WOOD THAT HAS BEEN SELECTIVELY HARVESTED WITH FOREST, ANIMALS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS IN MIND.

•MUCH OF THE EXCESS MATERIALS LEFTOVER FROM ELEMENT SKATEBOARD PRODUCTION IS RECYCLED OR REUSED AS FUEL TO FURTHER THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF NEW SKATEBOARDS.

•ALL ELEMENT SHOES USE WATER-BASED CONTACT CEMENT FOR COMPONENT BONDING. WATER-BASED CEMENT HAS LESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAN TRADITIONAL POLYMER-BASED ADHESIVES. IT IS ALSO MUCH LESS HARMFUL IF INHALED OR CONTACTED WITH SKIN DURING SHOE PRODUCTION.

•SHOE BOXES AND WRAPPING PAPER ARE MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED, POST–CONSUMER PAPER AND CARDSTOCK. ALSO, ALL BOX AND PAPER PRINTNG UTILIZES SOY INKS.

ELEMENT CLOTHES - CONSCIOUS BY NATURE COLLECTION
WHY CHOSE AN ORGANIC T?

BEACAUSE CONVENTIONAL COTTON FARMING IS ONE OF AGRICULTURE’S MOST DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES. IT TAKES ENORMOUS TOLLS ON THE EARTH’S AIR WATER AND SOIL, AS WELL AS ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE HEALTHOF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE GROWING AREAS.

HOW CAN YOU BE SURE IT IS AN ORGANIC TSHIRT?
OUR TSHIRTS ARE G.O.T.S CERTIFIED
WHERE DOES OUR COTTON COME FROM?
THE COTTON FOR OUR T’S IS GROWN BY A FARMER’S COOPERATIVE IN INDIA, COMMITED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND LIVELIHOOD OF ITS FARMERS AND FAMILIES.
HOW CAN YOU HAVE DIFFERENT COLORS IF IT IS ORGANIC?
OUR T’S ARE DYED USING FABRIC DYES THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD. THE DYING FACILILTES WE USE HAVE THIER OWN WASTE-WATER TREATMENT PLANT TO PROPERLY TREAT WATER BEFORE IT IS DISCHARGED FROM THE FACILITY.

WHAT ABOUT THE SCREEN PRINT DYES?
WE USE WATER BASED INKS WHEREVER POSSIBLE AND TRY TO AVOID PLASTISOL DYES ON OUR ORGANIC T’S. HOWEVER ALL OF OUR PRINTS WOULD NOT MEET ORGANIC STANDARDS.
HOW CAN YOU KNOW THAT THE ORGANIC TSHIRTS ARE MADE UNDER ETHICAL WORKING CONDITIONS?
THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS AUDITED AGAINST THE GLOBAL ORGANIC STANDARD. OUR ORGANIC T-SHIRTS COME FROM A SUPPLY CHAIN THAT IS SA8000 ACCREDITED (SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY 8000). THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHY ISN’T EVERYTHING ORGANIC?

THE COST TO GROW ORGANIC COTTON TENDS TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE.
PLANNING/FORECASTING IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MEET CAPACITY. THE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTS TENDS TO BE LONGER THAN WHAT WE HAVE ALLOTTED, WITH OUR SEASONAL OFFERINGS. MINIMUMS CAN BE AN OBSTACLE.

WHY BUY AN AIDEN TANK?
BECAUSE THE COTTON IS GROWN WITHOUT PESTICIDES, CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS OR GENETICALLY MODIFIED SEED. IT IS SPUN, PROCESSED AND DYED USING THE GOTS STANDARDS, AND PRINTED WITH WATER BASED INK. YOUR GARMENT CAN BE TRACKED FROM SEED, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE MANUFACTURING AND EXPORT PROCESS, TO INSURE IT’S ORGANIC STATUS. NOT ONLY IS IT BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IS BETTER FOR THE GROWERS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. IT
IS ALSO BETTER FOR THE END USER TO HAVE CLEAN, PESTICIDE FREE COTTON NEXT TO THEIR SKIN.
WHAT IS G.O.T.S?
G.O.T.S. STANDS FOR THE GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD. IT DEFINES THE REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE ORGANIC STATUS OF TEXTILES FROM HARVESTING OF THE RAW MATERIALS, THROUGH ENVIRONMENTALLY & SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE MANUFACTURING AND LABELING, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CREDIBLE ASSURANCE TO THE END CONSUMER.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE STANDARDS?
PROCESSING OF ORGANIC PRODUCT, FROM SEED THROUGH MANUFACTURING, HAS TO BE SEPARATED FROM CONVENTIONAL. ALL CHEMICALS MUST MEET BASIC TOXICITY AND BIODE- GRADABILITY REQUIREMENTS. EXCLUSION OF MANY CHEMICALS SUCH AS FORMALDEHYDE, PVC, NICKLE-CHROME OR ANYTHING GENETICALLY MODIFIED. WASTE WATER MUST BE TREATED BEFORE IT ENTERS BACK INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHAT IS O.T.A?
O.T.A. STANDS FOR THE ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION AND IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRSENTING THE VIEWS OF ALL SEGMENTS OF THE ORGANIC MARKET. THE INDUSTRY ACTS AS A VOICE TO LAWMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC.

ELEMENT SHOES - CONSCIOUS BY NATURE COLLECTION
ELEMENT SHOES FACTS AND FIGURES
100% WATER-BASED CONTACT CEMENT
ALL ELEMENT SHOES USE WATER-BASED CONTACT CEMENT FOR COMPONENT BONDING. WATER-BASED CEMENT HAS LESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAN TRADITIONAL POLYMER-BASED ADHESIVES. IT IS ALSO MUCH LESS HARMFUL IF INHALED OR CONTACTED WITH SKIN DURING SHOE PRODUCTION.
POST-CONSUMER PACKAGING MATERIALS
SHOE BOXES AND WRAPPING PAPER ARE MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED, POST-CONSUMER PAPER AND CARDSTOCK. ALSO, ALL BOX AND PAPER PRINTING UTILIZES SOY INKS.
SUSTAINABLE BAMBOO COLLAR, TONGUE AND INSOLE LININGS.
BAMBOO FABRIC IS A NATURAL TEXTILE MADE FROM THE PULP OF THE BAMBOO GRASS.
BAMBOO FABRIC HAS BEEN GROWING IN POPULARITY BECAUSE IT HAS MANY UNIQUE PROPERTIES AND IS MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN MOST TEXTILE FIBERS. BAMBOO FABRIC IS LIGHT AND STRONG, HAS EXCELLENT WICKING PROPERTIES AND IS TO SOME EXTENT ANTIBACTERIAL.
BAMBOO FABRIC IS VERY SOFT AND CAN BE WORN DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE SKIN. MANY PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO OTHER NATURAL FIBERS, SUCH AS WOOL OR HEMP, DO NOT COMPLAIN OF THIS ISSUE WITH BAMBOO. THE FIBER IS NATURALLY SMOOTH AND ROUND WITHOUT CHEMICAL TREATMENT, MEANING THAT THERE ARE NO SHARP SPURS TO IRRITATE THE SKIN. BAMBOO FABRIC IS FAVORED BY COMPANIES TRYING TO USE SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES, BECAUSE THE BAMBOO PLANT IS VERY QUICK GROWING AND EASY TO REPLENISH AND DOES NOT USUALLY REQUIRE THE USE OF PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDES TO THRIVE. AS A RESULT, PLANTATIONS CAN EASILY BE KEPT ORGANIC AND REPLANTED YEARLY TO REPLENISH STOCKS. THE PROCESS OF MAKING UNBLEACHED BAMBOO FIBER IS VERY LIGHT ON CHEMICALS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HARM THE ENVIRONMENT.

ECO-FRIENDLY ORTHOLITE INSOLE
AN OPEN-CELL FOAM MADE OF A BLEND OF POLYURETHANE AND RECYCLED RUBBER. IT HAS EXCELLENT REBOUND AND MEMORY PROPERTIES AS WELL AS BREATHABILITY AND DURABILITY.

HTTP://WWW.ORTHOLITE.US/
LATEX HEEL COUNTER, COLLAR PADDING AND TONGUE PADDING
LATEX IS EXTRACTED NATURALLY FROM RUBBER TREES WHICH MAKES IT A SUSTAINABLE SUBSTANCE. EXTRACTION AND PROCESSING OF LATEX FOAM USES SUBSTANCIALLY LESS HARMFUL CHEMICALS AND PRODUCES LESS CHEMICAL WASTE THAN TRADITIONAL POLYURETHANE FOAM. SOY INK LOGO TREATMENTS VINEGAR INK IS A FORM OF NON-FOOD SOY. IT IS A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, HEALTHY, AND SAFE APPROACH TO PRINTING THAT TAKES ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF ENERGY TO MAKE. IN FACT, CULTIVATION OF
THE SOYBEANS USES ONLY 0.5 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL ENERGY NECESSARY TO PRODUCE THE INK. MUCH OF THAT CROP REQUIRES NO IRRIGATION, LIMITED FIXED NUTRIENTS, AND LEAVES FEWER AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES THAN OTHER CROPS. SOY INK ALSO HAS LOW
LEVELS OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, WHICH HELPS TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION BY MINIMIZING TOXIC EMISSIONS. WOOL/FELT LASTING BOARDS
WE USE SHEEP’S WOOL BLENDED WITH SYNTHETIC FELT TO MAKE OUR LASTING BOARDS. NATURAL SHEEP’S
WOOL IS A SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL THAT HAS LITTLE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND PRESENTS NO THREAT OR HARM TO THE ANIMAL DURING HARVESTING. FELT IS ADDED TO REDUCE FABRIC STRETCHING.

ELEMENT HARDGOODS CONSCIOUS BY NATURE
ELEMENT SKATEBOARDS FACTS AND FIGURES

1 PLY OF BAMBOO WILL BE USED PER BOARD IN ALL EA SKATEBOARDS. BAMBOO IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING WOOD PLANTS IN THE WORLD. BAMBOO CAN GROW UP TO 3-4 FEET PER DAY.
ALL OF ELEMENTS SKATEBOARDS ARE MADE FROM WOOD THAT HAS BEEN SELECTIVELY HAR- VESTED WITH THE FOREST, ANIMALS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS IN MIND.
SELECTIVE HARVESTING IS THE PROCESS OF MANAGING FORESTS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE FOREST AND ITS INHABITENCE. OLD PRACTICES OF LOGGING WERE TO CLEAR CUT A FOREST AND THEN SORT THE LOGS BY SPECIES AND TYPE. THE LOGS WOULD THEN BE SOLD OF TO LUMBER MILLS BASED ON AVAILABILITY. WITH SELECTIVE HARVESTING LOG BUYERS WILL GO INTO THE FOREST AND EVALUATE THE HEALTH, USAGE AND AGE OF THE FOREST. THEY WILL THEN TAG SPECIFIC TREES TO BE CUT DOWN AND TAKE OUT OF THE FOREST. THIS PROCESS ALLOWS THE LOGGERS TO REMOVE THE TREES THAT ARE CAUSING THE MOST STRAIN ON THE FOREST IN TERMS OF AGE, DIES, GENETIC DEFECTS, AND LIGHT NEEDED FOR FUTURE TREES TO GROW. BY REMOV-ING THESE SPECIFIC TREES THE FOREST HAS ROOM TO RENEW ITSELF WITH HEALTHY TREES WITHOUT LOOSING THE DIVERSITY A FOREST AND ITS INHABITANTS NEEDS TO SURVIVE. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF SELECTIVE HARVESTING IS TO USE THE TREES BEFORE THEY DIE AND ARE WASTED, WHILE INSUR-ING THE LONGEVITY OF THE FOREST. TO INSURE THAT NUTRIANCE IS RETURNED TO THE FOREST FLOOR THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES ARE LEFT BEHIND TO SHELTER SMALL ANIMALS AND DECOM-POSE BACK INTO THE FOREST. WITH SKATEBOARD WOOD (HARD MAPLE) THE LOG BUYERS KNOW THAT MOST MAPLE TREES HAVE A MAX LIFE SPAN OF ABOUT 120 YEARS OLD. AT ABOUT 100 YEARS OLD THE TREE START TO LOOSE THERE COMMERCIAL VALUE AS USABLE WOOD. LOG BUYERS TARGET TREES THAT ARE ABOUT 60 – 80 YEARS OLD, THIS HELPS AVOID BUG INFESTATIONS OF TREES AS THEY GET OLDER AND LACK THE NATURAL SAP NEEDED TO FIGHT OFF THE BUGS. THE OLDER THE FOREST THE MORE LIKELY THE CHANCE OF AN UNCONTROLLABLE FIRE, SO BY MANAGING THE TREES BEFORE THEY DIE THERE IS LESS DEAD WOOD TO BECOME FUEL FOR FIRES.
MUCH OF THE EXCESS MATERIALS LEFTOVER FROM ELEMENT SKATEBOARD PRODUCTION IS RECYCLED OR REUSED
AS FUEL TO FURTHER THE PRODUCTION PROCESSES OF NEW SKATE- BOARDS.