Junior Edition's Values
Little changes to our practices
Junior Edition launched back in 2015. The business has both grown and evolved significantly in that time and we continually review our practices and edge ever closer towards our dream of creating a fully sustainable business.
We have been working with recyclable packing since the days of packing orders in our spare room at home but always felt that there was more we could, and should, do. In January 2021 we published our commitment to no longer purchase any plastic packaging. We now reuse supplier packaging where possible to prevent waste and we supplement this with sustainably sourced recyclable cardboard boxes and paper bags, padding, infill and craft tape. To keep our distinctive and recognisable brand we initially swapped our stickers and tissue paper for printed craft paper tape and now have swapped to hand stamped recycled paper and card packaging.
In 2017 we opened our bricks and mortar store in the heart of Brighton’s North Laine and since that time have not sent any waste to landfill. We use Paper Round to handle all of our waste which is either recycled or incinerated to generate energy.
In 2019 we expanded into a warehouse space in Newhaven’s Enterprise Zone. Our unit is purpose-built and super-insulated reducing the need to heat or cool the premises and is manned by a talented team sourced and based locally. Both the warehouse in Newhaven and physical shop in Brighton use Valda to provide 100% renewable energy.
Fair working conditions
It is our aim in 2022 to comfortably guarantee that everyone involved in the production of the products we sell at Junior Edition receives fair payment for normal working hours in safe working conditions.
Whilst at present a great number of our brands are certified Fairtrade (and we have the assurance of ethical practices from everyone that we work with), we are working hard with our suppliers to provide evidence and guarantees to help us build the provenance of our products and customer trust through complete transparency.
Sustainable environmental practices
The vast majority of our manufacturers have taken measures to guarantee their organic credentials and sustainable practices, certified by organisations such as Organic Content Standard and Forest Stewardship Council (you can find a comprehensive list of standards at the bottom of this page).
We are adapting our buying practices and shifting focus to supporting small volume artisan produced brands as well as our popular high-volume names. Brands like Felt So Good and Misha and Puff who work incredibly closely with small teams of talented craftsmen and women, based in locations such as Nepal and Peru making the most beautiful products by hand but in much smaller quantities.
Embracing new technologies
The manufacture of conventional cotton and traditional man-made fibres has a hugely detrimental effect on our eco system, damaging waterways and ruining surrounding soil and air quality. The majority of the brands we have chosen to work with use organic cottons which are kinder to both the environment and young skin as well as linen, cupro and recycled polyester. Pioneering brands such as Mini Rodini invest heavily in bringing environmentally friendly versions of existing fabrics to market with modal and tencel lyocell replacing viscose and econyl, an innovative nylon yarn made from abandoned fishing nets, being used to create all of their UV clothing lines.
Reducing the need for chemicals
Reducing the use of chemicals in the manufacture of children’s clothing is also high on our agenda and traditionally this has proven especially challenging in the manufacture of outerwear. Clothing items with water-repellent qualities often contain fluorocarbons which come with a host of environmental and human health concerns.
All of the outerwear we sell utilises new and ground-breaking technologies. Gosoaky waterproof and water repellent jackets for example are treated with Bionic-Finish® Eco which is an environmentally friendly alternative, free from potentially dangerous chemicals.
Local Logistics
In 2024 we swapped our legacy company vehicle to a new fully electric vehicle which is charged using 100% renewable energy.
Global logistics
As an online retailer with significant global reach we are responsible for shipping parcels worldwide, unavoidably creating a measurable carbon footprint. Where possible, we rely on road delivery services but regrettably it is not currently commercially viable to pass on the significant uplift in shipping costs and delivery times to further reduce air travel. Our shipping methods and delivery partners do however remain under constant review. We now offer the option of donating to One tree Planted to help create a healthier climate, protect biodiversity and help reforestation efforts around the world. All by planting trees!
Purchasing unwanted items
We have decided to no longer offer Clearpay as a payment option. In practice this did not sit comfortably with our ethic, due to the increased carbon footprint the additional returns were creating.
We kindly ask for our customers to consider the accumulation of air-miles when ordering items they likely intend to return. We have put a dedicated customer service team in place to can help measure items and offer expert advice before purchasing in order to help reduce the volume of items that might otherwise need to be sent back to us. Please contact us at help@junioredition.com and we will endeavour to come back to you within 1 working day.
Useful links
Below are links to further information on internationally recognised ethical standards:
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