Ethically and sustainably produced items

Throughout the production process I make sure to take responsibility for the environment, our children and the individuals that I work with. This means that I take ethical and sustainable production seriously; proper wages and zero child labour policies are ensured. All of this is done to the best of my ability.

Below you will find a description of the production process, and which type of certification is applicable to which step.

Dutch OEKO-TEX® 100 certified fabrics

All ByAlex fabrics are certified with STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®. This is a worldwide consistent, independent testing and certification system for raw, semi-finished, and finished textiles at all processing levels.

Having this certification means that we comply with the strict international standards, meaning toxic substances and chemicals are not used in the factories or during the production process of the fabrics. An independent party tested the ByAlex materials during different stages: including the production of the fabrics, but also when the playmats are in use. 

This certification means that my seamstress is not in any danger when she is handling the fabrics, and that our children are safe when they are jumping around or sleeping on the playmats. Win, win situation, don’t you think?

Water based ink

All fabrics are printed using a water based ink. This takes me one step closer to becoming completely socially responsible. This means that all prints are free from chemical inputs such as dyestuffs and auxiliaries.  This enabling consumers to purchase items that contribute to a socially responsible world.

Fun fact: the ink is water based which means the printing processes uses far less water. This type of ink is about as environmentally friendly as you can get.

CFK free foam is used for the mattress

ByAlex playmats are made using a flexible and good quality foam. It’s made entirely in the EU under strict safety regulations.

This foam lasts for about ten years and doesn’t lose its shape easily. The perfect material for all those wrestling matches, first baby steps, crazy tickling sessions and endless cuddles. The foam is sourced and produced in the EU by one of the best suppliers.

ByAlex foams are hypoallergenic (neutral), fire retardant in accordance with the MVSS302, Oeko-Tex 100 Class I certified and are produced in an environmentally friendly manner (full CFK and Halogen-free). Our foam can also be physically and chemically recycled.

The mattress is 3 cm thick, which is exactly the right thickness to keep small bums off the cold floor. The grip, temperature regulation, resilience and high-quality are all reasons why this specific foam is used for the production of ByAlex playmats.

Fair production of all ByAlex products

All ByAlex products are manufactured in an ethical and sustainable manner. This means that the materials sourced for production are made of the best quality, and that individual aspects of the products live up to the standards of the above-mentioned certifications.

Not only are the materials sustainably produced, but the final products  are made in an ethical fashion by seamstresses working in an old school in Croatia. The certifications mentioned ensure that she is able to do her work without it having any effect on her health. And off course they are getting a fair wage for the work they do for ByAlex. 

To avoid overstock, the fabrics are printed in small batched. At the moment the mattress covers are made of polyester, I know this adds to the plastic soup situation, but I’m currently working on providing an option to fight this by collaborating with GUPPYFRIEND.

GUPPYFRIEND is a washing bag that extends the lifetime of your textiles. Fewer fibres break and the bag itself doesn’t let any fibres through. Instead the fibres are captured by the bag and can be easily removed. This means that those fibres don’t enter or contribute to the plastic soup situation.

Want to read more about my fabric choices, read the article about the process of making the fabric water resistant and the article about my choice for polyester fabrics. 

ByAlex cares for the pleople, the planet and our next generation