Is Qwetch a Sustainable Company? An Eco-Friendly Review

 

Qwetch is a French brand on a mission to provide stylish and sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic. They offer a wide range of reusable water bottles, cups and food containers, perfect for eco-conscious consumers on the go. At Green Tulip, we only work with ethical brands and we have had a relationship with Qwetch since 2017!  Kate, our in-house values coordinator, thoroughly vets each brand we stock, ensuring they meet our high standards for ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility. Here’s what she says about Qwetch:

 

Is Qwetch an Ethical Company? Examining Their Values:

 

1. Labour Practices:

Qwetch demonstrates a commitment to ethical practices throughout their supply chain. They partner with certified suppliers who adhere to social responsibility standards, ensuring fair labour conditions and worker well-being. The products are manufactured in selected factories in China chosen for their social engagement and quality and are compliant with ISO:9001:2008 quality management system standards. The factories are managed very closely by the Qwetch Chinese team. 

Their partner factories are part of the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) fair development program initiated by the Amfori association of which they are members, working for 40 years to ensure that relations between manufacturers and sponsors are transparent and beneficial for all. The BSCI program allows audits of production sites to be undertaken at least every two years in order to establish improvement programs on social, economic and environmental levels.

 Each audit checks working conditions, worker safety, legal minimum wage, etc. In addition, their collaborating factories undertake to respect a strict code of conduct that meets both the conventions of the International Labour Organization and their own transparency requirements.

2. Production:

It is interesting to note that Qwetch stainless steel products are made in China. Now, the label 'Made in China' has long been associated with poor quality, mass production, questionable worker conditions, poor environmental controls and pollution.
 
Our view is that China is one of the countries best placed to produce high quality, stainless steel products efficiently and cost effectively, for a few reasons:
 
Firstly China has an extensive network of factories equipped with the highly advanced technology and machinery required to make a precision, leak proof and insulated water bottle, allowing for efficient and cost effective production.
 
China has huge quantities of iron ore and other raw materials required in the manufacturing process in their own country ensuring a reliable supply without transportation or reliance on another country.
 
Finally, because they have been honing their expertise for over 20 years and continuously improving quality and efficiency, their products are simply the best you can buy. Reliable quality is an important factor in reducing waste and also persuading consumers to swap to a reusable and stick with it for many years. When it comes to water bottles, this precision is a key factor in their functionality. In other words- they are well made, last well and don't leak!

3. Materials:

Sustainability is at the core of Qwetch's product design. Their bottles are crafted from high-quality, food-grade stainless steel, a durable and long-lasting material. This eliminates the need for single-use plastics and reduces overall waste. Design and quality have always been key to the development of any Qwetch product, and they have strict qualitative guidelines for their products. 

Qwetch's Environmental Impact:

1: Sustainable Product Lifecycle:

Qwetch bottles are built to be reused for years to come, significantly reducing plastic waste generated by disposable water bottles. They offer a variety of sizes and styles to suit different needs, encouraging long-term use and minimising the environmental footprint. Their product is a pollutant at first production, but it has an extremely long lifespan, to the point where its carbon impact is very largely positive, and often even better than that of other materials such as recyclable plastic or glass.

2. Carbon Footprint:

In 2021, they calculated their carbon footprint for the first time. To identify all the flows that could generate greenhouse gas emissions, with the aim of reducing them. For the full report and outcomes see Climate on the Qwetch website.  For instance to transition their products' raw materials to 90% recycled stainless steel.

3. Packaging:

Their aim is to reduce packaging to the absolute minimum and to do away with all packaging where feasible. What they use is sustainably sourced and easily recyclable.

4. Spare Parts:

By designing and providing spare parts and replacements, Qwetch ensure the longevity of their products and this, combined with a commitment to studying LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) to further improve. Alternate lids and filters also increase the functionality of each product meaning fewer bottles will ned to be bought.

5. Company Initiatives:

Beyond their products, Qwetch actively supports broader environmental initiatives. They partner with environmental organisations to contribute to sustainability efforts and promote responsible consumption habits through educational content.  Their commitment is shown by their value of Solidarity, where they support projects aimed at restoring damaged ecosystems and encouraging the transition to a zero-waste world. A full list of these projects can be found on Qwetch's website.

 

Transparency: How Open is Qwetch About Their Practices?

1. Certifications:

Qwetch prioritises safety and adheres to the strictest European food safety regulations. This ensures their products are safe for everyday use.

Their partner factories are part of the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) fair development program initiated by the Amfori association of which they are members, working for 40 years to ensure that relations between manufacturers and sponsors are transparent and beneficial for all. The BSCI program allows audits of production sites to be undertaken at least every two years in order to establish improvement programs on social, economic and environmental levels.

 Each audit checks working conditions, worker safety, legal minimum wage, etc. In addition, their collaborating factories undertake to respect a strict code of conduct that meets both the conventions of the International Labour Organization and their own transparency requirements.

Qwetch were awarded B Corp certification in 2022.

B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. In order to achieve certification, a company must: 

• Demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and passing our risk review. Multinational corporations must also meet baseline requirement standards. 

• Make a legal commitment by changing their corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders, and achieve benefit corporation status if available in their jurisdiction. 

• Exhibit transparency by allowing information about their performance measured against B Lab’s standards to be publicly available on their B Corp profile on B Lab’s website.  

Qwetch has won a Gold Medal in the latest EcoVadis assessment, a significant milestone that places them in the top 5% of companies evaluated over the past year. This recognition highlights their unwavering commitment to sustainability, ethical business practices, and social responsibility.

EcoVadis assesses companies across various sustainability criteria, including environmental impact, labour practices, ethical business conduct, and sustainable procurement. It has grown to become the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, creating a global network of more than 130,000+ rated companies.

This achievement marks a notable improvement from their previous Silver Medal status, underscoring the continuous efforts and dedication of the Qwetch team .

2. Communication:

Qwetch is transparent about their values and practices. They have a dedicated sustainability page on their website that outlines their commitment to ethical sourcing, eco-friendly materials, and responsible production. They have a set of Values known as their Commitments and  they actively share their environmental initiatives and achievements through on their website as well as other channels of media. Qwetch's mission is to make sustainable
lifestyles attractive for food and beverages. This mission rests on 5 pillars of environmental and social commitment written in its legal statutes: Manufacturing, Circularity, Climate, Solidarity and Movement.

 

Kate's Conclusion:

Protecting people and the planet has been at the heart of Qwetch’s action since its beginnings. They have formalised this commitment by achieving B Corp™ certification in 2022, and their continuous improvement by their Ecovadis Gold Medal in their latest assessment. 

Qwetch's dedication to ethical sourcing, sustainable materials, responsible consumption and community engagement perfectly aligns with our values at Green Tulip. Their high-quality, reusable bottles, cups and food containers are a fantastic choice for anyone looking to reduce their environmental footprint and make a positive impact.

 

Ready to ditch single-use plastic and embrace a more sustainable lifestyle? Explore the range of Qwetch bottles and food containers available at Green Tulip and join us in making a difference!

 

 

 

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