Everything we do at ZAJO is done out of love for nature. We believe that there are amazing experiences out there and we want to treat each and every one of you to these moments. That's why for more than 25 years we've been making affordable, premium equipment that virtually everyone can afford and that allows you to enjoy these moments to the fullest.
However, nature is not a given and we are well aware that our responsibility is much more than just showing you the way to the mountains. Our responsibility is to do our best to ensure that the impact of our actions and our production on nature is minimized as much as possible. Sustainability is one of our highest priorities and our actions are based on this.
We therefore carefully analyze all the processes that take place at ZAJO, not only within the production of clothing but also within internal processes, so that this impact of ours is really as small as possible.
In this way, we strive to fulfill our commitment not only to nature but also to you. We promise that we will never say enough to ourselves, and every single day we will look for ways to be even better in these respects.
Although it may not be obvious at first glance, at ZAJO we believe that environmental impact also affects product design, and not just in terms of the amount of material used.
It is our goal to design and produce clothing with clean lines, timeless designs and without specific design elements that will end up as excess waste even after a few years of wearing.
True beauty does not demand attention and we approach the design of our products accordingly.
When it comes to the green approach, sometimes we are forced to say no, because our goal is real change and we focus on the big picture. That's why our top priority is quality and a product that is able to last for many years. Because any product that is no longer able to serve becomes waste.
That's why we strive to produce clothes with the best materials available, we work with renowned manufacturers from all over the world who are able to deliver the highest possible quality, we take great care in quality control and we don't look for any shortcuts.
Every product starts with the selection of the right material. Where possible, we prefer synthetic materials that are recycled and we are constantly looking for possible alternatives that are able to offer comparable properties with less environmental impact. For natural materials such as wool, cotton and feathers, we prefer sources that are able to demonstrate ethical processing principles - which is why 100% of our cotton is organic, i.e. grown without the use of harmful pesticides. And our merino wool is sourced from merino sheep from wild Australian pastures, with a supplier's commitment that only humane methods are used in the shearing process. We refuse to use resources that have their values set in a different way.
Whatever the quality of the product may be, the harsh alpine environment, sharp rocks, twigs or other elements can cause damage. At ZAJO, we are ready to breathe new life into such products - we are ready to help customers repair them at any time, either by providing extra material for patching free of charge or by repairing them with our partner. Products with minimal damage and minor imperfections are no longer discarded from the factory, but we offer them at significantly reduced prices in a specific section in our shop in Galanta, also with a transparent description of the damage.
The world faces many challenges, but one of the most serious is global warming. This effect is having a negative impact on the environment around us and is causing long-term damage where we like it best - in nature. We therefore consider it absolutely essential to confront this problem head-on. It is not time to wait, it is time to come together and do everything we can, whether we are talking about ZAJO as a brand or as a community of people who are united by their love for nature.
Across everything we do, from materials processing, to manufacturing, to sales, to our day-to-day operations, we are doing our best to achieve carbon neutrality. It's a challenge for many years, with thousands of small steps underneath, but it was too late to start yesterday, and even the longest journey begins with the first step. In addition to working on these steps on an ongoing basis and communicating with our partners, we are also working hard to develop a concrete and transparent roadmap that will be our commitment for years to come.
To create a piece of clothing or equipment, it has to go through a long process across several of our partners. This is because the production of a piece of clothing involves the extraction of the material, the processing of the material, the manufacturing of the material and the actual production of the product from this or more materials.
We choose the partners who are responsible for each step extremely carefully - we aim for the highest standards in terms of quality, but also in terms of ethical issues. We refuse to work with partners who use inhumane and painful methods in the extraction of natural materials from animals, we refuse to work with factories that use child labour or do not offer decent working and payment conditions for their employees. We work with manufacturers who have long demonstrated the highest standards in all matters and who are used by the world's most renowned brands.
These processes take place across the globe, with materials processing and production of clothing or equipment taking place in the European Union, East Asia, the USA or Australia. Our long-term goal is to make this entire chain more transparent and to communicate the methods used in the production of ZAJO products. At the same time, we are constantly monitoring developments and are always ready to work with new partners who will be able to guarantee even higher standards in terms of social and environmental impact.
Behind the ZAJO brand are dozens to hundreds of people who work hard every day to meet our goals. We are well aware that the whole brand is based on these people, so we create the best possible conditions for them to work, support them in their education, take care of their mental well-being and support them in their wanderings in nature and sporting activities. Equipment, education, extra free time. We really want to create an inspiring and creative environment in which every single employee feels good and in which they are given endless space for their own development.
Equally important to us are the employees of our partners. That's why we only work with partners who provide their employees with a high-quality and safe working environment, with fair compensation. And who share our ethical values. We think long-term, not short-term.
We reject bribery, any form of discrimination, inadequately long working hours, inadequately remunerated working hours, we support freedom of speech and we will fight hard against any suggestion of child labour.
Apart from those who show disrespect for nature, we are a brand that is open to everyone, regardless of gender, age, health, religion, sexual orientation or skin colour. We reject any suggestion of discrimination, we stand firm against it and we are committed to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion for the long term.
We have long supported, both materially and financially, lesser-known athletes, but also ordinary people who aspire to fulfill their dreams. We are proud to have been behind several successful Himalayan expeditions, including the successful ascent of K2 or Lhotse, but we are equally proud to have supported many young people and aspiring athletes who have been shunned by the media.
Why are we doing all this? Because we want to get people out of the city and into the nature. We want to give them affordable, quality, functional and safe clothing that gets them to their destination and then back home. Whether that destination is Everest or a walk around a lake.
Like many of you, our love of the mountains was instilled in us from a young age, an amazing experience that we don't want to deprive any child of. That's why today we are already looking hard at ways and developing affordable educational programmes for children to introduce them to these values and give them experiences to last a lifetime.
We are convinced that, thanks to this experience, these children will approach nature in later life with greater respect and, in some cases, with an intense desire to change the world for the better.
