Responsibility report 2024 (Infine Oy)

Transparent responsibility in the Alpaca Royal collection

Country of origin of materials: Peru
Country of manufacture: Finland, Lithuania
Certificates from the value chain: Responsible Alpaca standard, Fair trade, USDA organic

Ruukki's alpaca products are natural, undyed and not treated with chemicals. The products are designed and manufactured in Finland as our own production, by domestic partners and some in Lithuania, because they cannot be manufactured in Finland for technical reasons. The aim in the design is to ensure that the clothes have the longest possible life cycle. They are designed to be timeless, versatile and stylish, and to last a long time.

Ruukki Spinning Mill, together with the sustainability technology company Infine, carried out a comprehensive sustainability analysis for its Alpaca Royal collection, with the aim of shedding light on the product throughout the entire value chain. The result is a comprehensive picture of the sustainability of alpaca products. We brought together ten sustainability factors from the Alpaca Royal value chain. By shedding light on the value chain, we also set an example for the sustainability of the clothing industry.

We will first highlight the factors that raise the sustainability of Alpaca Royal products to a higher level than their peers. Then we will review the risks at the heart of sustainability work. However, transparency is an important factor in Alpaca Royal's production so that nothing is unclear to the consumer.

1. Responsible material sourcing

The alpaca wool in the collection is durable, undyed and not treated with chemicals. The wool comes from Peru and its production chain complies with the Responsible Alpaca standard. This guarantees animal welfare as well as ethical and sustainable production methods. Alpaca wool is naturally recyclable and reusable.

2. Minimizing waste

Ruukkin Kehräämö takes products at the end of their life cycle and processes them into new materials. This approach reduces waste and the consumption of non-renewable resources. The products are also knitted into shape, which means there is no waste.

3. After-sales service and lifetime warranty

Repairing and extending the product's life cycle is made easy with our own maintenance service. Extending the product's life cycle keeps the resources used to manufacture it in circulation for longer, reducing the need to utilize new resources. The products have a lifetime warranty.

Liability risks with Alpaca Royal products.

Even if a product has third-party certifications, the country of origin also has its own risks, which can be minimized with certifications, but cannot be completely eliminated. Therefore, being aware of these risks is part of responsibility.

1. Corruption and human rights situation in the country of origin

Alpaca wool comes from Peru, on the other side of the world. When operating in Peru, special attention must be paid to the human rights situation and possible other risks, such as corruption. For example, the Corruption Perception Index, which measures the level of corruption in different countries, assesses the risk of corruption in Peru as significant.

The situation can be improved with third-party certifications and audits. Alpaca Royal products have the Responsible Alpaca certificate, which guarantees good conditions for the breeders to make a living and raise alpacas. The producer thus supports the indigenous way of raising alpacas as a means of livelihood.

2. Optimizing water use in the country of origin.

The availability of clean water is a global sustainability issue, and in Peru, the country of origin of alpaca, clean fresh water is scarce. Alpaca wool always involves some water use, and optimizing water use, proper treatment, and recycling will increase operating conditions in the future.

At the same time, alpaca wool reduces water usage, as alpaca wool is not dyed anywhere. All colors come from the alpaca's own dyes, which significantly reduces water usage.

Carrying out a responsibility assessment

The sustainability assessment for Ruukkin Kehräämö was conducted by: InfineInsight . The independent sustainability panel consists of leading experts who ensure the reliability of Infine Insight's data collection and rules.

Using a third party in sustainability assessment means that an independent third party sets targets and monitors their implementation. This ensures that in addition to monitoring the producer, the third party monitors the operations and acts as a kind of certifier that the value chain is operating in accordance with the requirements.