Started in 2021 in Ireland, Bon+Berg focuses on slow fashion – well-made underwear that is ethically sourced and responsibly manufactured.
Reimagining sustainable undergarments
Founder Siobhán Dunphy originally was trained as a mechanical engineer and holds a Ph.D. in regenerative medicine. Working long hours in laboratories over the years, however, she realised that she could never find a set of underwear that fit well, was comfortable, and reflected her sustainable values.
In addition, Dunphy became disillusioned with the impact of fast fashion on women in low-income countries, who often bear the brunt of long hours and low wages to produce cheaply made garments. It was when Dunphy focused her analytical skills on quality clothing and sustainable supply chains that Bon+Berg was born.
Incorporating sustainability at every turn
Bon+Berg’s bras and bottoms incorporate sustainability at every point in the value chain – from the soft TENCEL Modal x Micro fabric and its environmentally responsible pulp-to-fibre production process, to the compostable packaging and carbon-neutral shipping provider that delivers the goods to customers. In fact, the company makes sustainability a key brand differentiator as it communicates with customers, encouraging them to embrace slow fashion and avoid greenwashing.
“Our garments strive to be good in every way possible: responsible, ethical, and sustainable,” says Dunphy. “And that responsibility is an essential part of what customers have come to expect from the Bon+Berg brand.”
Our garments strive to be good in every way possible: ethical, sustainable, and fair-trade. | And that responsibility is an essential part of what customers have come to expect from the Bon+Berg brand.
Elevating transparency with a Digital Product Passport
To further connect with customers, and help them understand the depth with which Bon+Berg embraces environmental and social responsibility throughout its manufacturing process, the brand wanted to elevate its sustainability transparency with a Digital Product Passport (DPP). An emerging technology format that is soon-to-be-required for companies that distribute products within the European Union, a Digital Product Passport provides next-level detail on sustainability attributes about Bon+Berg’s garments.
Capabilities usedSimplifying DPP creation with a no-code platform
In order to create its Digital Product Passport, Bon+Berg turned to PicoNext, which simplified the assembly of environmental information through a no-code platform. The resulting Digital Product Passport for Bon+Berg underclothing not only highlights key areas defined in the E.U. legislation – like recycled content, environmental impacts, presence/absence of substances of concern, carbon footprint, care instructions and more – but also goes beyond, showcasing the social impact of the product and offering details on product environmental audits and certifications too. The goal is to create a circular economy for products – one in which they are reused and recycled – rather than produced and disposed of.
The Digital Product Passport powered by PicoNext shows step-by-step information on how raw materials are sourced and transformed through the manufacturing process – and also includes information on the recycled materials used in the packaging and the carbon-neutral delivery providers that transport the products to customers’ homes. The result is an increased level of substantiation for the company’s environmental claims, which in turn elevates the trust Bon+Berg’s customers have in the brand.
“We’ve worked hard to align our supply chain around sustainability,” Dunphy notes. “And our Digital Product Passport helps collect all that information in one place for customers – helping them to see how our products are different from others they might come across.”
We’ve worked hard to align our supply chain around sustainability. And our Digital Product Passport helps collect all that information in one place for customers – helping them to see how our products are different from others they might come across.
Using public ledgers for data security, traceability, and persistence
Bon+Berg’s Digital Product Passport records its product information on a distributed public ledger, which is secure and tamper-proof. One benefit of using a blockchain for this type of sustainability information is that it is traceable, as well as persistent. As required by E.U. legislation, the product information will be available for consumers regardless of the future status of the company or its technology vendors.
In addition, the Bon+Berg Digital Product Passport uses a sustainable blockchain, which is optimised for minimal electricity consumption and has a carbon-negative footprint. The company used the Minting capability of the PicoNext platform to register its product information on a public ledger – including a brand video that engages customers by telling the story of its Aura bra line. The company then used the DPP Data Events capability in PicoNext to associate additional sustainability information with its blockchain entry.
Simplifying sustainability transparency for customers
To make it simple for customers to view the Digital Product Passport information, Bon+Berg used the Token Explorer capability of PicoNext, which renders information from the public ledger in a turnkey, easy-to-access, timeline-based web format. Customers simply click on a link to view the Digital Product Passport, and sustainability data is automatically retrieved from the blockchain – including images, links to social impact partners, and details about suppliers – without the need to download or install additional apps. Using the Token Explorer, Bon+Berg was able to display this DPP information to customers quickly, without needing to hire developers or write code.
We’re pleased that our Digital Product Passport drives transparency with customers, and shows them exactly what we’re doing to be environmentally responsible.
Looking towards a sustainable future
In the future, Bon+Berg is looking to expand its Digital Product Passports to further differentiate its sustainability brand promise and communicate its actions to customers. Because its DPP is on a public ledger, it provides a foundation for potential future brand engagement, including exclusive gated content for customers, as well as special offers and loyalty promotions. For now, though, Bon+Berg’s Digital Product Passport helps the company stay a step ahead of emerging regulatory requirements, which companies are navigating as the E.U. rules continue to form.
“We’re pleased that our Digital Product Passport drives transparency with customers, and shows them exactly what we’re doing to be environmentally responsible,” says Dunphy. “And for us, that responsibility is a core part of our brand: Bon, which is French for good, and Berg, which is German for mountain – a symbol of the nature that will hopefully rejuvenate us for many years to come.”
