List of favored materials at KAP :
Alpaca: natural biodegradable animal fibre made from alpaca (or llama) shearing. Low ecological footprint as it does not require chemical treatment for processing. It can be an alternative to cashmere or conventional wool.
Vegetable alternatives to leather such as Pinatex (pineapple), grape, apple, cactus, corn, etc., which are biodegradable and/or recyclable: these materials are very often mixed with plastic or synthetic materials. In this case, plastic or other recycled materials should be preferred. These materials are an alternative to animal leather for vegan people (or not).
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cashmere: natural animal material from cashmere goats. Certified cashmere certifies an eco-responsible production, i.e. a more reasoned culture, the breeding of small herds in the respect of the goats vs. the traditional intensive breeding degrading certain natural resources and without certainty on the conditions of the animal.
Hemp: a natural plant fibre that is recyclable and biodegradable. This plant adapts to many different soils and climates and generally grows in 3 months. It requires little fertilizer and pesticides because it is a very resistant plant. Hemp is a good alternative to conventional cotton* because it requires 4 times less water (for the same amount of production). All the components of hemp are recovered after harvesting. France is the leading producer in the world.
Organic cotton: a natural vegetable fibre that is recyclable and biodegradable. It is an alternative to conventional cotton because its cultivation does not use toxic products and saves up to 91% of the water needed. Labels such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), the most common, ensure the transparency of the supply chain as well as the respect of the environment of the employees.
Jute: a natural plant material that is recyclable and biodegradable. Its cultivation requires a lot of rainwater, which is why it is mainly found in South Asia, India and Bangladesh, but requires little fertiliser and pesticides. Jute is generally used as an alternative to conventional cotton*.
Organic wool and certified wool: natural animal material. Wool is produced by shearing sheep once a year in spring. To estimate its ecological impact, various factors must be taken into account, such as the conditions under which the sheep is reared, the manufacturing process and the products used to process the fibre. This is why it is preferable to opt for organic and/or RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) certified wools that attest to the traceability of animal conditions and respect for local ecosystems. Organic and certified wools are an alternative to conventional wool.
Lenzing™ Ecovero™ (registered trademark by the Lenzing company): artificial chemical fibre of vegetable origin (wood pulp) and secondarily transformed by a chemical process. It is biodegradable and comes from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Pan European Forest Certification) certified sustainable forests. This material is an alternative to viscose*.
Cork: a 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable material. Originally, cork comes from the cork oak tree, and it is the bark that is harvested every 10 years or so, without the tree being felled or damaged or dying as a result. Cork is generally used as an alternative for sneaker soles.
Flax: a natural fibre that is recyclable and biodegradable. Flax production requires few agricultural inputs and does not need irrigation, rainwater is sufficient. The cultivation respects and even improves the quality of the soil and the following crops by 20 to 30%. All processing steps are mechanical and not chemical. 80% of its world production is in Europe, mainly in France. Flax is generally used as an alternative to conventional cotton*.
Lyocell or TencelⓇ (trademarked by Lenzing): an artificial chemical material made from eucalyptus trees, ensuring that the tree comes from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified and sustainably managed forests. Its fibre is biodegradable and is treated with a natural, non-toxic solvent. Lyocell is a more environmentally friendly alternative to viscose*.
recycled materials (cotton, wool, cashmere, EconylⓇ (= recycled nylon), etc.)
upcycled materials
Mohair: an animal raw material from a natural and renewable resource. It is the name given to the fur of Angora goats. Its production is ecological provided that its manufacture is respectful of the environment and that the conditions of breeding of the animal are respectful. The RMS (Responsible Mohair Standard) label ensures animal welfare and respect for the land that feeds them. This can be an alternative to cashmere or conventional wool.