Strict Products Standards

Strict Product standards

When considering a new product, we look at it from several sustainability-related angles and ask the questions laid out below, which also have health-related criteria mixed in. We consider both positive screening criteria – i.e., desirable attributes – and negative screening criteria – i.e., undesirable attributes. We verify these criteria through discussions with the supplier in question, ideally in person with high level company representatives, and when possible during an on-site visit to the supplier’s facilities. We seek to develop long-term trust relationships with suppliers who are actively and openly interested in helping the environment and who consider environmental criteria in the manufacture of their product(s).

For products sourced from local suppliers, but manufactured elsewhere, we rely heavily on discussions with, and representations of, the local supplier because it is generally not possible to contact the actual manufacturing facility directly (confidential business information). Again, we seek to develop long-term trust relationships with our local suppliers, and we choose suppliers who are actively and openly interested in helping the environment and who consider environmental criteria in the manufacture of their product(s).

For our in-house products, we have met most of the suppliers and have close trust relationships with all of them. For the ones close to us, we have visited their facilities.

Here are sustainability related questions we ask when deciding whether or not to source a product from a particular supplier:

Every product at ECANDI is:

  • Free from all known or suspected toxins
  • Cruelty free
  • Made without exploitation or harm to people or animals
  • Natural fibres are Certified Organic, grown and processed without chemicals
  • Verified for all claims such as ‘organic’, ‘cruelty free’, ‘bamboo’, ‘biodegradable’
  • Longer lasting than the alternative, thus saving resources and pollution
  • Made by a reputable person or business with a story to tell

Plus, we consider whether the product and its ingredients are:

  • Eliminating single use plastic
  • Simple and uncomplicated, as close to the natural state as possible
  • Made in Kenya – Supports local economy, less carbon miles
  • Grown and manufactured in a sustainable way
  • Vegan
  • Plastic and Packaging free
  • Biodegradable
  • Recycled or assists recycling
  • Resource-efficient or reducing consumption
  • Designed to be recycled or responsibly disposed of at the end of its life
  • Inspiring love for the environment