SUITSUIT INSPIRED BY | Behind the scenes of our sustainability journey

At SUITSUIT, sustainability has always been at the forefront of our priorities. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look, where our sustainability manager, Annabel, shares her insights and explains the core pillars of our sustainability strategy. We're also excited to talk about our recent B Corp certification and what it means for the future of SUITSUIT. 

Can you describe your role as a sustainability manager? 

“Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to change my role as product manager to sustainability manager. My interest in sustainability grew significantly when I joined the project group for the B Corp assessment. When I was offered the chance to take on this role, it felt like a natural next step. Currently, I’m focused on major upcoming projects, including the development of a comprehensive sustainability policy.” 

What was SUITSUIT’s first step towards sustainability? 

“SUITSUIT was founded with a vision for sustainability from the very beginning. While most suitcases were still wrapped in plastic, we introduced reusable suitcase covers as our first step towards reducing waste.  

However, we realised that more was possible. During the COVID period, we had a moment of reflection – we wanted to contribute more to the world. It felt like a logical step to explore how we could improve ourselves. Through our external sustainability consultant, Nina, we came into contact with B Corp, which felt like a step in the right direction for us.” 

-> Read more about our story. 

There are many different certifications. Why did you choose B Corp? 

“The B Corp certification represents companies that uphold the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. B Corp businesses take accountability for their actions and are fully transparent about their impact. To be part of the B Corp movement, you are assessed on the social, economic, and environmental impact of your company.  

This aligns perfectly with our purpose: ‘we're in business to empower women through travel’. Everything we do at SUITSUIT ultimately stems from this purpose, so it’s only natural that our sustainability strategy, and therefore the choice for B Corp, is connected to it.” 

What was the journey to certification like? 

“In August 2023, we filled out the BIA (B Impact Assessment) for the first time, using all the information we had at the time. This clarified what we were doing well, but more importantly, it highlighted where we could still improve – which was confronting but also eye-opening.  

We started gathering evidence and explored possible improvements in each discipline. This ranged from small adjustments, such as placing a rainwater barrel outside our office to water the plants, to larger changes, like enhancing the packaging for our products. Although we had already been working on this, the ambition to become B Corp certified gave us an extra push. 

In April 2024, we felt ready to officially submit the B Impact Assessment. It was a nerve-wracking moment, but it went smoother than we had expected. We had prepared well and were able to answer B Corp’s questions confidently. In July, we received the news that we were officially B Corp certified!” 

What are the most notable milestones since you started this journey? 

“The first thing that comes to mind is our Natura collection. How can we bring our products along on our sustainability journey? We dedicated a lot of time to researching how much recycled PET we could use without compromising the quality of the suitcase. Since PET production emits a lot of CO2, using recycled PET is much better for the environment. 

The suitcases in the Natura collection are made of 96% rPET (a combination of pre- and post-consumer PET). The bags and accessories are even made entirely of recycled PET. 

We also examined the certifications and documentation available to ensure we’re telling consumers the true story behind the sustainable improvements that were made.” 

-> Read more about the facts & figures of the Natura collection. 

“Another major milestone is, of course, our B Corp certification. It’s been rewarding to see how all the small changes are now falling into place, and the path ahead is becoming clearer. This makes my job even more enjoyable every day!” 

How does sustainability contribute to SUITSUIT’s purpose? 

“Our purpose, ‘we empower women through travel’, is something we continually work on. We do this by supporting women who travel, but we also believe it's important to consider how you can incorporate this mindset while travelling yourself. For example, by giving back during your journey – to local women’s communities or local entrepreneurs. This form of reciprocity is very important to us. 

We aim to set a good example during our travels and hope to inspire women. Last year, we travelled to Namibia and chose Penduka Village as one of our photoshoot locations: a women’s community that advocates for women’s rights and equal opportunities. During our stay, we took part in various workshops and became part of this community of women. We pay close attention to where we travel to for photoshoots and how we can give something back to the community. 

In the coming months, we will be launching a major project that will further shape our purpose and emphasise the socio-economic aspect of women’s empowerment. Unfortunately, I can’t share more details just yet, but we will be revealing more soon!” 

Are there any more big changes on the horizon? 

“Absolutely! We have big ambitions and are always moving forward. Every three years, we are reassessed by B Corp. This provides a great motivation, as we want to present new improvements at that time. One of our biggest projects is addressing our CO2 emissions. Last year, we mapped out our CO2 footprint and, together with our external consultant Nina, looked at which areas we could make long-term improvements. 

Additionally, we will continue to integrate our purpose and sustainability vision into everything we do at SUITSUIT, especially by emphasising the social and economic side of sustainability. 

It’s important to remember that sustainability takes time. I often have to remind myself of this, as it can be one of the most frustrating aspects. We need to carefully consider the pros and cons of every decision. The question of whether a change is truly more sustainable, and especially whether it’s durable, keeps coming up. Sustainability is a continuous process that is never fully completed, but I’m excited to see what the future holds."

If you have any questions or suggestions about our brand, B Corp, or our sustainability vision, please feel free to get in touch. We’d be happy to answer your questions!