Impact Report

How Sustainable Is Vustra?

Founded in 2018 in California, USA by Parth Desai and Chintan Intwala, Vustra is a men’s apparel brand focused on ethical sourcing and organic fibers.

Vustra is a men’s apparel brand focused on ethical sourcing and organic fibers.

1. Environmental
Sustainability

Vustra positions itself as a sustainability-first brand, emphasizing certified sustainable materials and ethical sourcing. It discloses fiber certifications and uses organic or upcycled materials, with material composition available at the product level. However, it lacks full-range certification or composition transparency, measurable progress tracking, and formal environmental reporting. Gaps in emissions data, circularity programs, and environmental targets limit overall accountability.
IMPACT AREA 01

Materials
& Sourcing

  1. Vustra sources organic and regenerative natural fibers, including organic cotton, linen.  However, there is no portfolio-wide breakdown to assess preferred fiber share across the full collection.
  2. The organic cotton used is GMO‑free and, according to lifecycle assessments, can use up to around 90% less irrigation (blue‑water) compared to conventional cotton farming. 
  3. The use of organic cotton and linen, all of which are less chemically intensive and often rain-fed, suggests lower land degradation and water stress compared to conventional alternatives. However, Vustra does not disclose any formal land use reduction strategy or biodiversity policy, and does not report on habitat impact, regenerative practices, or deforestation risks in its supply chain.
  4. Claims to source fabrics from leading textile mills in Italy, Turkey, India, and Peru. 
  5. The brand displays several certification logos on its Sustainable Materials page, including GOTS, OCS, OEKO-TEX, GRS, USDA Organic, FSC, and Fairtrade. Also shows participation in sustainability initiatives such as the UN Global Compact and reports using tools like the Higg Index. However, it does not specify which certifications apply to which products, lacks portfolio-level fiber data, and does not provide certification traceability or verification at the product level.
IMPACT AREA 02

Climate
& Emissions

 

  1. States a commitment to a low socio-environmental footprint and using low-impact dyes, but provides no Scope 1, 2, or 3 greenhouse gas emissions disclosure or reduction targets.  
  2. No data provided on carbon emissions measurement, mitigation plans, or use of renewable energy.
  3. Cites a global benefit - 94 million tonnes of CO₂ saved via organic cotton use, but offers no brand-specific context or contribution.
  4. States on polo product pages that “with every purchase of a polo, we will plant a tree in the United States with our partner National Forest Foundation.” However, a search of NFF’s published partner list does not list Vustra by name, suggesting this could either be under a different entity name or an informal/unverified commitment.


IMPACT AREA 03

Water
& Chemicals

  1. Organic cotton is claimed to use 90% less water than conventional cotton, relying primarily on rainfall and mulching. Linen uses 60% less water than conventional cotton and is a drought-resistant crop.
  2. Some products are made of 52% linen and 48% organic cotton, which are generally recognized as water-efficient fabrics.
  3. Vustra claims the use of “low-impact dyes” but provides no verification or details about dye processes or chemical safety. However, some manufacturing partners, such as Raymond, Bez Tekstil, Somelos, and T Tantos Textil, hold certifications like OEKO-TEX and GOTS, which include restrictions on hazardous chemicals such as toxic bleaches and dyes.
  4. Vustra displays logos for GOTS and OEKO-TEX, which have chemical safety standards, but offers no certification traceability or product-level verification.
  5. No published water usage data, wastewater treatment processes, or hazardous chemical reduction targets.
  6. No public Restricted Substances List (RSL) or chemical management protocols disclosed.
IMPACT AREA 04

Circularity
& Waste

  1. Packaging materials were redesigned to reduce plastic. Vustra eliminated 5000 individual polybags, 15,000 plastic shirt butterflies, and 10,000 collar supports, switching to components that are >90% recyclable.
  2. Vustra’s packaging design now uses minimal plastic and focuses on recyclable types only (type 1 and 2 plastics).
  3. Offers a satisfaction-based return policy (“If it’s not perfect, we’ll take it back. Simple!”). But provides no information on what happens to returned items (e.g., resale, donation, landfill). 
  4. No extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs are implemented - there are no take-back, repair, resale, or recycling initiatives in place or announced. 
  5. While it emphasizes timeless styles and durable construction to extend product longevity, no circular design strategies (e.g., disassembly, modularity, or recyclability) are disclosed.

2. Social
Sustainability

Vustra manufactures its products in Fair Trade Certified factories and partners with textile mills and manufacturers that hold widely recognized certifications, such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX. These suppliers are based in India, Turkey, Portugal, Italy, and Peru, and are reportedly committed to upholding ethical trade standards. However, the brand does not publish a supplier list or disclose factory-level details.
IMPACT AREA 05

Animal
Welfare

  1. Vustra uses alpaca wool in some of its products. Alpaca is considered one of the lower-impact animal fibers and is not associated with animal slaughter.
  2. The brand states that the alpaca used is certified by OEKO-TEX and FSC, which focus on chemical safety and environmental standards, but not animal welfare specifically.
  3. Vustra does not publish an animal welfare policy, does not prohibit materials like fur, exotic skins, or angora, and does not align with the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.
  4. No use of other animal-based materials such as leather, silk, or down is disclosed, though this has not been independently verified.
IMPACT AREA 06

Workplace
Practices

  1. The brand does not disclose an employee handbook, internal labor policies, or any commitments related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
  2. No information is provided about voluntary benefits (e.g., paid leave, financial security, or career development programs), nor are there any details on employee turnover or layoffs.
  3. The absence of transparency limits the ability to evaluate how the brand manages workplace practices.
IMPACT AREA 07

Supply Chain
Workers’ Rights

  1. Vustra manufactures primarily in Fair Trade Certified factories, which implies adherence to key labor standards such as safe working conditions, fair wages, and no child or forced labor. 
  2. Its disclosed suppliers - including Raymond (India), Bez Tekstil and Gulsen (Turkey), Somelos and T Tantos Textil (Portugal) - hold certifications such as GOTS and/or OEKO-TEX.
  3. Gulsen is a women-owned enterprise and reportedly shares audit outcomes directly with clients.
  4. As a smaller brand, Vustra has not yet published a supplier code of conduct or participated in transparency initiatives such as the Transparency Pledge or Open Supply Hub.
  5. Independent audit reports and detailed verification procedures are not publicly disclosed, though increased supply chain transparency could further build trust as the brand grows.
•••

Sources

  1. FAQs https://shopvustra.com/pages/faqs# 
  2. About US https://shopvustra.com/pages/about-us 
  3. Blog post - “Refuse, Reduce, Rethink and Recycle - Turning Away From Plastic Packaging”, 22.04.2021. https://shopvustra.com/blogs/threads/refuse-reduce-rethink-and-recycle
  4. Supply Chain Partners https://shopvustra.com/pages/supply-chain-partners 
  5. Sustainable Materials https://shopvustra.com/pages/sustainable-materials-1 
  6. Blog post - “Incorporating Sustainability into Your Wardrobe”, 17.10.2023.  https://shopvustra.com/blogs/threads/fall-fashion-must-haves-the-versatility-of-organic-fabric-blends?srsltid=AfmBOoqhHDbBgmMlLMR7KDrJhwVMq80KPxKrLkcfFbixVVhkzAgCfojL