The warming of our climate is the most pressing environmental issue we face, and the biggest risk to our business. Taking action to prevent the climate warming above 1.5C is crucial to prevent more frequent and severe weather events, such as storms, floods, fires and the resulting poverty and dislocation of millions of people.

Modibodi believes all businesses have a responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate change literacy - including us.

With our partner Carbon Neutral Modibodi will complete its first carbon audit, giving them oversight of their greenhouse gas emissions from their headquarters, warehouses, distribution to customers - the brand footprint.

The next step will be to map and understand the product emissions from extraction to product construction. Modibodi has begun the process of gathering further data from the suppliers to make this happen including an initial life cycle analysis.

By the end of 2023 Modibodi will be a carbon negative business.

Modibodi put two different styles of their underpants through the LCA to measure the carbon emissions and water use of each product. We chose a Classic Bamboo Bikini in a Light-Moderate absorbency and a Recycled Seamfree Full Brief in a Heavy-Overnight absorbency*. The results highlighted the highest emissions points within our value chain.

• The LCA shows that raw material creation from growing, extracting and processing into fabrics create the most carbon emissions.
• The second highest emission created are customer energy use for washing.
• Transport is an important part of the emission reduciton plan. Using sea freight compared to air significantly reduces emissions.
• Customer washing is the most significant factor for water use followed by water used for growing and husbandry of raw materials.

Switching to reusable underpants can have a huge impact on reducing carbon emissions. One person’s yearly use of disposable tampons produces 8.2kg of CO2 emissions or for a pad user 16.8kg of CO2 emissions.

We compared the absorbent gussets in our underpants to disposable single use products over four years to give the most like for like comparison. The results showed that Modibodi gussets create significantly fewer carbon emissions with a Heavy-Overnight gusset and a light-moderate gusset creating 60% and 70% fewer carbon emissions than equivalent pads and tampons.*

*Based on 8 pairs of classic bikini Modibodi merino gussets over four years compared to equivalent tampons and pads.