at szade, we care more about relationships than we do about revenue and more about genuine sustainability than we do about greenwashing. everyone knows that all long-lasting relationships are built on honesty, openness, and a willingness to share and learn, which is exactly why we’re starting this way with you. our goal with szade is to bring the freshest frames in the best colourways to our community in the most sustainable, resourceful, and accessible way we can and we’d like to share a little more about why and how we do what we do.

at szade, we take a holistic approach to sustainability. what we do is important, but we wanted to focus on how we do it too. our design studio and entire team operate within a repurposed chocolate factory in melbourne, australia. our brand ethos and philosophy of using existing resources to innovate and create led us to this unique space.

our design, digital, logistics and operations teams at our melbourne hq have been committed to the cityswitch energy efficiency program since 2017, and szade has supported this continued partnership with initiatives to strive for better, cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy to power our business.

our office takes a holistic approach to sustainability, ensuring that even the most mundane aspects of the business are conducted ethically for the preservation of the planet's resources. these include ;

- minimising paper and cardboard use via practices such as printing controls and an active policy of the total reuse of cardboard boxes in our warehouses.

- reusing materials where possible ; this is very much in line with our unique recycling process and brand philosophy to minimise material consumption and waste.

- recycling 90% of waste to minimise landfill disposal ; including composting organic matter for our friends in our on-site worm farm!

- continued work on increased energy efficiency including introducing various automated lighting, heating and cooling systems in our premises along with efficient light fittings.

- responsibly sourced recycled paper used in all offices.

in 2020 we partnered with our neighbours who share this amazing space to install a 265kWp solar panel array on the roof, which powers our business with renewable energy.

we want to talk about something that’s often overlooked in the fashion industry ; accessibility. brands, designers and corporations are now aware of the importance of inclusivity, diversity and sustainability when marketing their products, but few address accessibility, which is one of the most important, core values of our world here at szade. accessibility means making sacrifices like have a smaller profit margin so that our sustainable products can be accessed by the greatest number of people.

how can a sustainable solution possibly have a positive real-world effect if it comes with a premium and costs more than non-sustainable alternatives? by working hard to keep our product as sustainable as possible while delivering them at the most accessible price, we can give more people the power to choose to buy better for the planet.

we do this so that when you’re at the checkout deciding which frames will look the most fire with your fit, you’re able to also decide between a recycled and non-recycled alternative. if you’re reading this right now, it’s because you’ve either made that choice or thinking about it. whatever you choose, the fact that we’re having this open dialogue about conscious consumption and that we’re able to provide a sustainable option for you without compromising aesthetic value is what’s important to us.

whether it's our cardboard shipper, the tag and card inside the case, our catalogues or brand cards, every piece of printed material is made from certified recycled paper and cardboard. we don't use single use plastics for stuffing and wrapping, and each frame is presented in recycled tissue to protect them during the packing process.

our signature szade sunglass cases are made to last. we decided quality and longevity were the most important attributes of our protective cases. they're designed to last and be reused again and again... no matter what you decide to put in there! to minimise material use, we encourage you to reuse your case for your next pair of szades... and the one after that too!