CSR

At Bongusta we are committed to being responsible in everything we do. From the materials we use to the suppliers we work with, all the way down to our packaging - our approach is based on knowledge and staying curious.

Within Bongusta, we define Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as follows.

• Conducting our business in a socially responsible and ethical manner
• Providing highly reliable, quality products
• Using certification relevant for our products
• Supporting, respecting and learning from the suppliers we work with
• Circular packaging: reducing the amount of packaging used and increasing material reuse

PRODUCTS
At Bongusta, our primary focus is to manufacture reliable quality products: Products that are not only beautiful and durable, but can also be use a long time.
We use relevant certifications for our products, which means that our suppliers and production facilities meet strict environmental and social standards throughout the production process.

Our Bongusta Care Club provides our customers with useful advice on the care for and wash their Bongusta products, so they last as long as possible. We also encourage our customers to recycle or donate their Bongusta products when they no longer want them.

MATERIALS & CERTIFICATIONS
The search for the right materials is a huge part of our design process and we always seek to use the best components. We partner with suppliers who are compliant and honest, and who live up to either SA8000, BSCI, ISO 9001 or SEDEX standard.

• Naram
  Our Naram terry series, consisting of garments, bags and towels, is produced in an SA8000 and ISO 9001 certified factory under OEKO-TEX® certified processes. OEKO-TEX sets high safety standards for materials tested for harmful substances.
  
  
• Chindi Rugs
  The word 'Chindi' means leftover in Hindi.  All our Chindi Rugs are woven by hand from leftover material, primarily cotton, but other fibers may occur due to the nature of leftover fabric. This means that all our Chindi Rugs strive to be no-waste products.
  
  
• Cotton
  The cotton we use for hand-quilting our products, such as bed covers and poplin pillows, comes from SEDEX certified suppliers. Our cotton is all unbleached, and if dyed, we use azo-free dye with compliant processes. Azo-Free dyes offer enhanced colour fastness, versatility, and meet the demands of the EU.
  
  
• Organic Cotton
  For all our Naram shirts, pants and shorts we use organic cotton. Organic cotton is a natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre that benefits the cotton producers and the environment by avoiding the harmful effects of toxic pesticides. From end of 2024 all our fashion products will also be certified with the international organic standard GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard).
  
  
• Wool
  The wool used in our our wide range of hand-tufted rugs is a mix of imported cashmere and New Zealand wool. Our supplier is SEDEX certified. All our hand-tufted wool rugs are hand-made by skilled Indian artisans.
  

SUPPLIERS
Our suppliers are carefully selected based on their expertise and commitment. We only work with suppliers that comply with standards such as SA8000, BSCI, ISO 9001 or SEDEX, and we regularly inspect our production facilities to ensure compliance with certifications, well-being and safety in the workplace.

Besides our head quarters in Denmark, Bongusta consists of an Indian team as well. Led by business woman, Bhawna Ji, who is based in Delhi, the Indian Bongusta team brings an extensive experience of working at all levels of our supply chain.
Being present in India gives Bongusta the advantage of being hands-on during product production. We are provided with daily insights to all labour practice sensuring that the working conditions are of a higher standard than those required by Indian law.
The established wage scale regulatory for artisans and craftworkers in India is based on their work. At Bongusta, we have decided to only work with suppliers who pay more wage than the one required by the Indian regulatory. In addition to this, we help pay for medication and medical care if needed.

PACKAGING
The majority of our packaging is made from recycled materials and can be repurposed or recycled after use.
Our cardboard box packaging is FSC™-certified, and our polybags are made from LDPE plastic (PE04), which stands for low-density polyethylene. This plastic comes in the form of shopping bags, highly-resistant sacks, and crushed bottles. 
Additionally, a significant amount of our products is flat-packed, a space efficient packaging method that reduces fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions during shipment.