our mission
We are committed to using our business as a force for good by taking responsibility for our impact on the planet, people and products we create.
Becoming a B Corp is an important step in our conscious journey, but it does not end here. We continually learn and take action to reduce our footprint while maximising social impact. By being transparent about our journey and conscious choices we make, we aim to create positive change and hope to inspire others to do the same.
We focus on three key pillars — Planet, People, and Product — to guide you on our conscious journey. As we learn and grow, our practices will evolve. We will update this page with any news, so keep an eye on us.
“We are committed to minimising our impact, by making conscious choices and by offering high-quality styles for a wardrobe that will last.” — Barbara Brenninkmeijer, founder by-bar
Embracing transparency
At by-bar, transparency is at the heart of everything we do. By sharing our product journey and conscious choices we make, we aim to inspire positive change and invite you to join us in shaping a more mindful future.
We believe every piece in our collection tells a unique story, from its origins and craftsmanship to the people that brought it to life. By sharing these stories, we hope to strengthen the connection between our products and those who wear them, making conscious choices easier and meaningful.
From this collection, we are taking a bold step forward. We’re introducing QR codes on a first selection of items, allowing you to trace the journey of your product. From its origins to your wardrobe.
Together, let’s create a more conscious world.
our commitments
Reducing our impact by increasing the use of low-impact materials
Mapping our entire supply chain to ensure maximum transparency
Ensuring our supply chain meets our social and environmental standards
Embracing a more circular approach to extend the lifespan of our products
Giving back to the community through donations to charities and social projects
Measuring and reduding our carbon print
our milestones
In-house sustainability team
Since the beginning of 2022, we have established a dedicated sustainability team solely committed to realising our sustainability objectives.
B Corp™
Since July 2024, by-bar has officially become a B Corp-certified company. B Corp-certified companies are committed not only to profit but also to making a positive impact on people and the planet.
learn more about our B Corp journey
Product journey
Early 2024 we launched tex.tracer, an innovative platform that brings transparency to every step of our production chain. 44% of our current summer collection now has a QR code, which allows you to follow the journey of your item and get to know the people behind the product. In our upcoming winter collection, this percentage will already increase to 89%. This is how we make conscious choices together
Measure CO2 emissions
At by-bar, we take responsibility for our impact. That’s why we measure our CO₂ emissions from air travel and direct emissions (scope 1 and 2) annually. To offset our emissions for 2023, we invested in a Climate Neutral Group project in 2024. This initiative provides low-income households in India with sustainable cooking appliances.
antic jackets
Since 2012, our antique collection has been a beloved part of our collection. These unique, upcycled styles are handmade from traditional Indian blankets, lovingly worn for generations. Each piece tells its own story. Barbara and her team carefully select the blankets and transform them into beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces that take on new meaning within our collection.
discover here
renewable energy
We switched to renewable energy sources in our warehouse, resulting in a 35% decrease in our CO2 emissions.
fiber index
In 2023, we introduced our fiber index to help our design and production team make more responsible choices. For instance, we have shifted to incorporating more recycled materials.
mission-led company
Since 2023, by-bar is a mission-led company, prioritising responsible practices. We see it as our responsibility to make a positive impact on the planet and people through everything we create.
Becoming B Corp marks an important step in our journey toward high social and environmental standards, and we are incredibly proud of this. Being a B Corp embodies the essence of our conscious journey: working together to create positive impact, always seeking responsible alternatives, and collaborate with our partners to become more sustainable.
meet the people behind by-bar
At by-bar, we choose not to participate in Black Friday; instead, we celebrate Conscious Friday. This initiative aims to raise awareness and inspire our customers to make conscious choices.
Our commitment goes beyond products. We see it as our responsibility to make a positive impact on the planet and people through everything we create. By being transparent about our journey, we aim to inspire positive change and invite you to join us on our conscious journey. Together, we can make a difference.
our pilars
We are comitted to provide more insights and transparency into our journey towards becoming a more sustainable brand. We focus on three pillars, which will guide you on our conscious journey: Planet, People, and Product.
Our CO2 Footprint
At by-bar, we measure our direct emissions (scope 1 and 2) annually, as well as the emissions from our air travel. We offset these by investing in a climate project that contributes to a better world. Our biggest challenge? Mapping our indirect emissions (scope 3). In 2025, we aim to start measuring our full footprint, enabling us to make even more conscious and sustainable choices.
Footprint Calculations
We have begun measuring the environmental impact of a selection of recurring styles within our collection, in collaboration with Tex.tracer and bAwear. By analyzing the footprint per product—from raw material to final product—we gain better insight into where the greatest impact lies. We use these insights to make more targeted sustainable choices in the future, during the design process, in fabric selection, and throughout our supply chain.
Chemical management
All our suppliers have signed our list of restricted substances, which is based on REACH guidelines. This helps us prevent the use of harmful substances. Together with Bureau Veritas, we test selected items to ensure their safety. We update our list every year, always prioritizing the safety of people and the planet.
Low impact denim
We are aware that denim has a significant impact on people and the environment. That’s why at by-bar we opt for certified organic cotton and use sustainable washing technologies that save water, energy, and chemicals, to significantly reduce our impact. Currently, 73% of our denim falls into the low-impact category. By 2026, our goal is to classify 100% of our denim as low impact.
Green energy
At our headquarters, we currently use over 35% renewable energy sourced from GreenChoice. Our goal is to eventually transition all our office energy consumption to 100% renewable sources.
Packaging
In 2025, we made the switch to more sustainable packaging. All our shipping packaging is now made from 100% FSC-certified and recycled paper. Our polybags get a second life in our warehouse and, when no longer usable, are responsibly recycled through our waste partner Van Happen.
Long-term relationships
Personal, long-term relationships with our suppliers and partners, such as agents, retailers, photographers and of course our own employees, are very important to us. We work closely together and visit suppliers regularly to strengthen these connections. Together, we pursue ambitious sustainability goals, always seeking responsible alternatives and collaborate to become more sustainable.
Good working conditions
Ensuring good working conditions across our supply chain is a top priority to us. Currently, 85% of our partners meet third-party standards such as Sedex, BSCI, SA8000, ICS, and Fair Wear. We are actively collaborating with the remaining partners to improve their practices, as we believe in collective growth to make a lasting positive impact.
Transparancy
From early 2024 onwards, we’ve partnered with the transparency platform tex.tracer to gradually map our entire supply chain. This platform helps us better monitor who is involved in making our products — and under which conditions. At this moment, 90% of our tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers are already included in tex.tracer. Our goal is to have 100% of our tier 1, 2 and 3 partners traced and mapped by 2025. Step by step, we are building a fair and transparent chain.
Code of conduct
Ensuring good working conditions across our value chain is a top priority. All our tier 1 suppliers have signed our code of conduct, committing to uphold our social and environmental standards.
Female led company
Founded by women, by-bar is proud to actively promote equality and empower women. We strive to foster a culture of feminine strength, self-awareness and joy — within our team, with everyone we collaborate with, and the community we serve.
A wardrobe that last
By choosing sustainable materials and timeless designs, we create pieces that are made to last for years. We’re happy to share care tips and encourage repairing instead of replacing — whenever possible.
The journey of our product
Transparency is at the heart of by-bar. In early 2024, we introduced tex.tracer, an innovative platform that brings transparency to every step of our production chain. Today, 44% of our current summer collection includes a QR code, allowing you to trace your item’s journey and meet the people behind the product. In our upcoming winter collection, this figure will already rise to 89%. Together, we make more conscious choices.
Growing our use of low-impact materials
Step by step, we’re increasing the share of low-impact materials in our collections, such as organic cotton and recycled polyester. This helps reduce our environmental footprint without compromising on quality or style. In our current summer collection, 47% of the materials are made from these responsible choices. Our target: 60% by 2026, and a full transition to low-impact materials by 2030. Curious what we use? Discover more in our fibre index.
Mono-materials
Currently, 57% of our spring/summer collection consists of mono-materials. That means a product is made from a single material, such as 100% cotton or 100% linen. This choice makes resource use more efficient and simplifies recycling within a circular system.
Circularity
We are actively exploring circular business models at by-bar, taking greater responsibility for product care, reuse, repair and recycling. Stay tuned for the latest updates.
Conscious Styles
Helping our customers make responsible choices is key to us. Look out for our green brand icon — it highlights items made with at least 50% low-impact materials or environmentally friendly production methods. Explore our conscious styles and make a positive impact with us.
Antic styles
Since 2012, our antic collection has been a beloved part of our offering. These one-of-a-kind, upcycled styles are handcrafted from traditional Indian blankets that have been lovingly used for generations. Carefully selected by Barbara and her team, each blanket is transformed into a new by-bar piece — with a story all its own.
We are blessed with a dedicated team of talented and passionate people who work with the same passion and always give the very best they’ve got. Together, we make things happen.
most asked questions
This means we meet high standards for social and environmental impact across five key areas: governance, environment, workers, customers, and community. Additionally, it reflects our commitment to using business as a force for good. Being a B Corp is a milestone we are very proud of, but it is certainly not the end goal. It provides our team and our partners with a shared purpose and motivation to continually improve.
by-bar’s commitment to reducing our environmental footprint starts with measurement. Each year, we track our Scope 1 and 2 emissions, covering direct emissions from our office, stores, and business travel. To offset these emissions, we invest in a Climate Neutral Group project and have made additional improvements, such as switching to renewable energy for our warehouse.
Our roadmap includes plans to measure our Scope 3 emissions, our main challenge, at both total and product levels. Scope 3 covers emissions outside our direct control, primarily from our supply chain. In preparation, we are already taking meaningful steps to reduce these emissions, such as reducing air shipments, increasing our use of low impact materials, and implementing low-impact packaging.
Since the beginning of 2024, we partnered with Tex.tracer, a transparency platform that enables us to map the entire journey of our products, from cotton field to the final item, working closely with our suppliers at each stage. Starting next summer (2025), many of our products will feature a QR code, allowing you to trace their journey. This approach lets us share our transparency efforts and gives you an inside look into each product's story.
We are committed to ethical and responsible production at every stage of our supply chain. We work only with suppliers who meet our social and environmental standards, with all partners signing our Code of Conduct for fair working conditions. Larger suppliers undergo third-party audits by organisations like Sedex or BSCI, while smaller suppliers complete our self-assessment. Tex.tracer enhances transparency, helping us monitor compliance closely and drive continuous improvements.
Each season, we set goals to increase our use of low-impact materials, such as recycled, organic, and upcycled fibres. We use a fibre index to identify the most sustainable options, allowing us to make conscious choices that reduce our environmental footprint. Currently, 31% of our collection is made from lower-impact materials, and our upcoming Spring/Summer collection will raise this to 46%. We are committed to increasing this percentage annually.
At by-bar, we measure our Scope 1 and 2 emissions, those are our direct emissions. This includes emissions from our office, brand store, warehouse, and business travel. Our main challenge is measuring Scope 3 emissions, which represent the largest portion of our footprint, especially within our supply chain. To address this, we have set a goal for 2025 to measure our entire Scope 3 emissions. This will enable us to monitor and reduce our impact more effectively.
We are committed to sourcing wool and leather responsibly, with greater transparency through our partnership with Tex.tracer. To enhance our practices, we are increasing the use of certified Responsible Wool in our collections. As of November 2024, we have obtained certifications under the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS), and Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS). While not all our wool products are certified, this step allows us to expand our use of Responsible Wool and ensure a fully certified and traceable supply chain. For leather, we collaborate with certified tanneries and are focused on continually improving our standards in this area.
Yes, we actively support charitable causes. We regularly contributing to social projects and community initiatives that reflect our values, aiming to give back and make a positive impact beyond our business. Over the past two years, we have donated around €45.000 to organisations such as Quiet Breda, the local food bank, and Ukraine relief efforts and to sponsoring a sports club in our hometown. Recently, our team also participated in a SUP Cleanup event in the Breda canals, collecting 75 kilos of waste while paddleboarding.
We believe sustainability is a shared responsibility and encourage our team to engage in our environmental and social goals. Employees participate in projects like clean-up events, sustainable practice workshops, and responsible consumption initiatives. Our sustainability specialists have set goals for each team, ensuring accountability in reducing our collective impact. By fostering a culture of sustainability, we empower our employees to make a positive impact within the company and beyond.
Customers can contribute to sustainability by choosing quality, conscious made clothing and extending each item's life through care, repair, and recycling. At by-bar, we offer tips to make products last. Look for our 'conscious choice' logo online for lower-impact items and use our size guide to reduce returns. When it is time to part with a piece, consider reselling, donating, or passing it on to someone who will enjoy it. Making conscious choices can make a big impact.
Tex.tracer is a transparency platform that enables brands to trace the full journey of their products, from raw materials to finished goods, supporting transparency and sustainability. With Tex.tracer, customers can access detailed information about the materials and processes behind each product. From next summer (2025), many products will feature a QR code, enabling consumers to make informed choices about the environmental impact of their purchases.