New Zealand B Corp Duffle partner with online giant Mighty Ape to create a bigger and better positive social and environmental impact.
This brings huge value for the NZ business industry, showing that any corporation, large or small, can collaborate to
create a joint positive impact.
[30/10/2019, Wellington, New Zealand] Duffle are excited to announce their new found partnership with the popular New Zealand online retailer Mighty Ape. This is
the first partnership of its kind for the ethical B Corp accessories brand, who are determined to show New Zealand
businesses that it is possible to operate on a large scale at the same time as creating positive social and
environmental change.
Emily Long, Marketing Director of Duffle says “In partnering with a large retailer like Mighty Ape we are able to make a much bigger impact. We’ll be able to
plant more mangrove trees in Indonesia (where we make our bags), thus restoring vital ecosystems. What’s clever about
mangrove forests is their ability to remove carbon and store it, which is really needed in our current climate! Through
this partnership we’re also able to provide more work hours to talented craftsman (keeping them out of sweatshops) that
will be able to support their families and provide an education for their children”.
Using their business to instigate positive social and environmental change, Duffle produce, make and distribute accessories to help them reverse environmental impact. Each product provides valuable
hours of work to highly talented craftsmen, that previously lost their jobs due to the tradeshift to China. Through
Duffle, they are able to support themselves and their families, and give their children an education. Each product produced
also plants 5 mangrove trees in Indonesia where the craftsman live.
Partnerships such as this are vital to for Duffle to continue this much needed work. Currently stocked in over 40 stores across New Zealand and Australia, Mighty Ape
will be the BCorps first large online retail partnership. They have already planted 180 mangrove trees and provided 198
work hours to craftsman in need, from their first order These figures are set to increase in the lead up to Christmas.
Made up of over 17,000 islands, Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. Among these islands,
there are 135 threatened mammal species, including the endangered Sumatran Tiger and Sumatran Elephants. These islands
also make up 25% of global fish populations. To help protect these islands, Duffle and Mighty Ape have opted to work with Eden Reforestation Projects Indonesia to restore, replant and protect these
vital ecosystems. Prone to environmental disasters, mangrove restoration on these islands is essential to reduce the
effects of flooding, tsunami's and soil erosion.
Gracie MacKinlay, Marketing Manager for Mighty Ape says “We are excited to offer the Duffle range on our website, a product that not only focuses on quality and design but more importantly makes positive changes
to the environment and communities. It's great to see more and more environmentally sustainable products emerging
nowadays, so we are able to offer these options to the public to make a positive impact in some way. We are also looking
at ways to reduce our own carbon footprint. Our purpose-built distribution centre attained the 5 Green Star Industrial
Built v3 rating, it features rainwater reclamation, smart lighting to reduce power consumption, and much more. Our new
packaging machine has eliminated the use of foam chips as void fill in our own packaging. Currently, 30% of our own
packaging is sustainable and we are aiming to achieve 50% by April 2020 and 100% by 2021.”
Duffle hope that other retailers and businesses in New Zealand take notice of their partnership and realise that it is
possible to use business to instigate positive social and environmental change.
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About Duffle
Everything Duffle do challenges the status quo by using business to instigate positive social and environmental change. Making beautiful
bags just happens to be how they do it! They encourage people to wear their values, and cast a vote for craftsmanship
over mass production, climate positive design and a future that envisions a cleaner planet.
Duffle support talented craftsman in Bali, empower local communities, plant trees to restore biodiversity and wildlife
populations, and offset their emissions by 120%, They are using fashion as a force for good, encouraging other
businesses to do the same.
Business highlights:
Certified B Corporation
EKOS certified Climate Positive
Sustainable Business Network Award finalist for ‘Restoring Nature’ 2019
Finalist in the Rotary Kickstarter Award 2017
Finalist in the ExportNZ Excellence in Innovation Award 2018
Featured in a number of publications such as Vogue UK, Good Magazine, Kia Ora and Nadia Magazine
Planted over 10,000 mangrove trees in Indonesia to restore fish supplies, promote biodiversity and provide jobs
to local villages with Eden Reforestation Projects.
Provided over 5,000 workdays to craftsmen in need in Indonesia, most of whom lost their jobs from the tradeshift
to china
Advised & consulted large businesses in producing branded corporate merchandise to help them on their sustainable journey
For more details visit: https://duffleandco.com/
About Mighty Ape
Mighty Ape is NZ’s largest online pure-play retailer, NZ owned and operated. Their headquarters and 9,000 sqm
distribution centre is based in Silverdale, Auckland. They stock over 800,000 products providing overnight and same-day
delivery nationwide.
For more details, visit https://www.mightyape.co.nz/
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