Be Sustainable: Buy Licensed ASU Apparel
ASU supports fair labor and sustainability in purchasing decisions.
Our students, faculty and staff proudly wear maroon and gold branded apparel with department logos, the pitchfork, or special events like Pat Tilman’s Run. While many of these apparel items, like T-shirts, hats and bandanas, are handed out for free at campus events, behind each one lies a powerful story of sustainability and ethics that reflects our university values.
Apparel is often manufactured in developing countries with weak labor protections. The Workers’ Rights Consortium has published multiple reports investigating conditions in apparel factories that put workers’ health and safety at risk. ASU enforces a commitment to fair labor and respect for human rights on all branded merchandise, including apparel, by requiring licensed vendors and their contractors to register and comply with the Fair Labor Association Collegiate Licensee Program. Membership requires vendors to meet the international labor standards outlined in the FLA Code of Conduct.
Purchasing apparel, especially with ASU logos, wordmarks or pitchforks, through a licensed vendor ensures you comply with the university’s commitment to social responsibility, brand standards and trademark licensing. In addition to meeting the requirements of the FLA, licensed vendors also offer sustainable apparel products.
Made from sustainable materials
Apparel manufacturing is a resource-intensive process, contributing to environmental issues such as water and energy consumption, pollution, and waste. According to the United Nations, the total greenhouse gas emissions from textile production were estimated at 1.2 billion tons annually, more than those of all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
When purchasing apparel from licensed vendors, look for their sustainable product catalogs or products with sustainable attributes. The ASU Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines prioritize apparel made from certified organic and natural fibers like organic cotton, linen, hemp or Tencel. These biodegradable fibers have lower environmental impacts than synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon, which are made from chemicals and petroleum by-products, essentially plastics.
Purchasing clothing with the following certifications ensures the fibers used for the apparel are from companies that prioritize environmental and social responsibility throughout the textile supply chain.
- Fair Trade
- Global Organic Textile Standard
- Global Recycled Standard
- OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton
- USDA Organic
These additional certifications provide assurance that chemicals used to process or treat fabrics are non-toxic:
The synthetic fabric polyester used in athletic wear has moisture-wicking properties that most natural fabrics do not. When moisture-wicking is needed, choose recycled polyester over new polyester, which produces 50–75% fewer carbon emissions.
The makers of your apparel
ASU’s vendors source apparel from manufacturers that support strong labor practices and environmental responsibility. The product’s manufacturer will be listed in the product title or description in the product catalog.
Bella + Canvas, or Canvas, only uses bluesign®-approved dyes and chemicals, maintains strict wastewater management and is transitioning its Los Angeles headquarters to solar power.
- Gildan owns its entire supply chain, which means greater transparency in manufacturing. Their textile manufacturing facilities are powered by renewable energy sources like biomass and solar energy, and they are transitioning more products to certified organic cotton and recycled polyester. Gildan also owns the sustainable brand Anvil.
- Hanes has reduced water use by 8% since 2019 and has converted to 48% renewable energy. Their ComfortWash T-shirts are made with sustainably sourced USA-grown cotton and meet the A-list rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project for integrating Earth-positive decisions into their business model. Hanes also owns the sustainable brand Alternative Apparel.
By purchasing apparel made by licensed vendors, Sun Devils can wear their ASU pride and uphold the university’s ethical commitment to fair labor. When choosing apparel products, purchase more sustainably by selecting products with eco-certifications, sustainable fabric, or made by sustainable manufacturers.
Visit the ASU sustainable purchasing webpage to learn more and schedule a purchasing consultation. Contact ASU Trademark Licensing with questions about branded apparel and licensing.
Editor’s note: This article is part of a series about sustainable purchasing at ASU. Topics include sustainable purchasing best practices, notable suppliers and resources.