Fwd: GCS: Significant Others - Nau

November 9, 2007

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Nov 09, 2007

GREEN CHIP COMPANY

COCKTAIL FACTOID

Nau's logo reads the same upside down as it does right-side up - an allusion to the company's desire to turn the traditional business model on its head.

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Looking for a gift that'll please your partner(s)?

The Bite

Get them a gift from Nau, the sustainable outdoor clothing brand that donates 5% of the purchase price to a nonprofit organization (customers get to choose where donations go during checkout). It's a win-win: Better the world by bettering your better half's wardrobe.

Company Background

Nau opened its doors in March 2007 under the premise that each piece it creates must be functional, beautiful, and sustainable. Through its Partners for Change program, it's also setting an example for other businesses by donating a portion of its profits to - and raising awareness about - organizations such as Conservation International and Mercy Corps that are working to solve environmental and social issues. You can even follow the program's progress, and your part in it, online. Designwise, Nau's clothes are edgy and multipurpose. Chief Sustainability Officer Jil Zilligen, says " We're urban dwellers who love the outdoors, so we make clothing that keeps us moving between the two. " The fall line includes sleek, recycled-poly jackets and sexy, eco-merino dresses, so you can look stylin' for your hike and your coffee date without needing to change in between (just remember your aluminum-free deodorant).

Why Care

Nau purchases renewable energy credits (such as wind) for 100% of its electricity use in stores and HQ, and carbon offsets 100% of employee travel and product transport.

The company donates 5% of gross revenue (more than 70 times that of most Fortune 500 companies, which average 0.07% of sales) to charities through its Partners for Change program.

Nau worked in partnership with manufacturers to develop 43 all-new eco-fabrics, such as recycled polyester and corn-based cloth.

The company shares its sustainable technology (its new fabrics, for example) with competitors, free of charge.

Nau is transparent about its practices, publishing a section on its site called Grey Matters where you can read about its eco-initiatives.

Keeping It Real

Nau produces most of its line overseas. It's necessary to stay competitive, says Zilligen, but " it's also very much because that's where the technical expertise exists. " A third-party audit ensures that labor requirements are met. Also, its rainproof gear uses a finish that isn't very eco-friendly, so Nau's working hard to find an alternative.

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