What UpNDownsports and Spreadshirt do for sustainability/environment

UpNDownSports is in the context of sustainability and environmental compatibility important that the designed and sold products are printed where they are sold. We make sure that the added value remains in Europe and that the environment is protected through short transport routes.

In addition, UpNDownSports sees the future in the production and printing of green products. Ecological production of organic products made from organic and environmentally friendly fabrics.

For these reasons, UpNDownSports has also chosen Spreadshirt as a partner, as these premises are guaranteed here. Our partner Spreadshirt handles the entire organization of T-shirt printing and shipping, including complaints processing.

Responsibly into a green future

In 2002, Spreadshirt entered the e-commerce business with big dreams. Since then, Spreadshirt has been helping people carry their individual message into the world – on products that are printed just for them, on-demand and thus resource-saving. What started as a start-up is now part of the Spread Group, a globally active group of companies with more than 1,000 employees.

As a strongly grown company with its own production sites, Spreadshirt is aware of its increasing responsibility for the planet and people, and wants to change the business sustainably and positively with higher standards. The Corporate Social Responsibility Report shows in detail how the topic of sustainability is lived.

We bear responsibility today for tomorrow

Responsibility is a measurable value. It encompasses respect for our planet as well as for people and builds on sustainable business relationships. Our responsibility also includes questioning our own actions. We want to strike a balance between the growth of our online business and the impact this has on the environment.

OUR PLANET

No overproduction thanks to print-on-demand

Our business model is called “print-on-demand. Unlike traditional manufacturers, we only print what customers have chosen or designed themselves – and only when they order it. We also only produce the desired number of items – from single items to bulk orders. Since Spreadshirt was founded over 20 years ago, sustainable production and action has been part of our company’s DNA. This not only makes us and our planet happy, but also our customers, who return less than two percent of our products. That makes us the industry leader. And even the returns are given a second life through donations and recycling.

Investment in sustainable & ecological production

We regularly invest in modern, more environmentally friendly technologies and products. Most recently, we spent €10 million upgrading to modern Kornit Atlas printers. Digital direct printing, our standard printing method, uses sustainable inks, vegan color pigments and a particularly water- and power-saving printing process. Since 2019, we have not used any paper at all in our production processes – saving the equivalent of 767 trees per year.

Our own green product line

Whether T-shirt or hoodie – we love sustainable products. That’s why we are gradually expanding our range with many products from organic production. The products in our own, multi-certified premium collection are made from organic and environmentally friendly fabrics, and other organic brands are already represented in our range. By the end of 2022, we would like to at least double the number of our green products. In this way, we will offer our customers a sustainable alternative in almost every product category. We are also working on making the origin, materials and certificates of our products more transparent.

Durable products & prints

Products made from high-quality fabrics and materials please for a particularly long time – and are therefore especially sustainable. Every product is thoroughly tested before we add it to our range. We test the longevity of fabrics and prints in a series of test prints as well as various washing cycles. After printing, we test for possible chemical residues, color brilliance of the print as well as accurate processing. Even with products that have been in our assortment for a long time, we regularly look for feedback from our customers and thus ensure constant product quality.

Renewable energies

The transition to renewable energies is a simple but important step in the right direction. We have been covering the electricity requirements of our servers in the EU and our Leipzig headquarters entirely with green electricity since 2020. We plan to do the same for our sites in the USA.

Think future

The road to true sustainability is long. We strive to produce a little less waste every day and to keep reducing our environmental footprint. In 2022, we aim to package all European deliveries plastic-free, followed by our packaging in the U.S. market. We will continue to add ecological products to our range and facilitate and promote sustainable purchasing decisions. And on the production side, we also want to further improve our energy efficiency and reduce our CO2 emissions as far as possible.

For us, sustainable business means striking a balance between our business, the environment and people. We act today for a green future.