Didriksons Women's Erika Parka - Dark Night Blue

Think Green

We know our customers like to know exactly what they're buying; we're not going to sugar coat it, but we are going to explain it. We've divided up all of the sustainable features we've identified across our product ranges and grouped them into three so you know how your purchase is making an impact: Think Nature, Think Welfare, Think People.

The Didriksons Women's Erika Parka - Dark Night Blue has the following sustainability attributes...

• Eco Dyeing Techniques

  Getting colour into fabrics isn't as simple as you might think. Traditionally, fabrics are batch-dyed, but more brands are becoming aware of the water and carbon saving ability of solution dyeing. That's a 90% reduction in water usage and 96% reduction in CO2 emissions - certainly not to be dismissed. This technique adds pigment to the fibre while the plastic is still molten - so, yes, it is only applicable to plastic based yarns.

  A secondary eco dyeing technique is the use of natural pigments. Plant based dyes are sourced from sustainable crops and applied in a cold-water process, which can use 65% less water than traditional methods.

• PFC-Free DWR

  Fluorinated DWR finishes make clothing waterproof by repelling water droplets. ‘PFCs’ is the broad term for all fluorocarbon chemicals, of which PFOS and PFOA are sub-groups. Different chemicals in this family have a varying number of carbon atoms, so C6 has six carbon atoms and C8 has eight. While the outdoor industry has moved away from C8 (or 'long chain') PFCs, C6 (short chain) PFCs are currently unbeatable in their waterproofing performance. They're considered less harmful to the environment than C8, but they have not been proven to be safe. PFCs are known as forever chemicals; once created they will never break down and are harmful to people and the planet. To read more about the chemistry related to PFCs, head here.

  PFC-Free DWR uses alternative, biodegradable technologies that repels water from the surface of a fabric - such as Fjallraven's Greenland Wax. PFC-Free DWR coatings are water resistant enough for most daily activities, so if you don’t need a highly technical waterproof, consider a PFC-Free garment instead.

• Recycled Fabrics

  By recycling fabrics, we are not only stopping extra waste heading to landfill but also reducing the need for virgin fabrics to be created. Recycled fabrics can be anything from recycled polyester to recycled cotton and where recycled cotton is used, it's often offcuts from factory floors that would otherwise end up in landfill.

This item can be returned by post or to your nearest Tiso Group store – for more details see our Returns Policy.