OUR CORPORATE & SOCIAL RESPONSIBLE PILLARS
At SportPort™ we innovate by making bold decisions throughout every part of our organization.
From choosing sustainable fabrics based on credible industry certifications to donating a portion of revenue to causes we care about. We believe that the choices we make directly impacts those around us which is why we believe in the power of sharing our values to educate, inspire and support our global community.
Join us as we walk you through our story.
PILLAR #1: INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
SportPort™ takes a holistic approach to innovation & technology. We seek revolutionary solutions to help solve big problems.
SportPort™ is the first women’s athletic apparel company to create, design and patent a pocket that can be used to carry our cell phones safely during a run or during exercise. This incredible design also helps to prevent potentially harmful EMFs from entering our bodies. The technology has been tested and approved by Cetecom. An independent test and certification service provider – leading in the field of market approvals in the telecommunications and information technology sector.
Kim Highfield, the founder of SportPort™ set out to get the patent in 2011 after her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Only about 1% of women applied and received a patent during this year. Over the course of 10 years, SportPort™ is still to this day a woman-owned and operated, privately held company.
In addition to SportPort’s patented technology, SportPort™ partners with companies around the world who have developed cutting edge technology that make our sportswear what it is today.
PILLAR #2: RAW MATERIALS
The first step in designing apparel is choosing a fabric. A fabric is composed of raw materials, think Polyester or Nylon. This process is crucial to the lifetime of the garment and to the environment.
One of our favorite fabric suppliers, Polartec, is the premium provider of innovative and sustainable textile solutions. By sourcing fabrics from reputable brands, SportPort™ ensures fabric quality is a priority throughout our design process. Furthermore, select fabrics developed by Polartec are Bluesign & Oeko-Tex certified, which are great eco-friendly alternatives to conventional fabrics of their kind.
Wearing activewear fabrics with stretch is a key component to movement. We are proud to say that most of our products are made with LYCRA®. A renowned fiber known for its quality and durability. Considered the most recognized brand of spandex fiber in the world today. People choose it for its exceptional elasticity, lasting shape, and the comfortable fit it delivers to all types of apparel.
SportPort™ uses fabrics such as Recycled Polyester whenever possible to make use of recycling existing plastic which ultimately decreases the need for more virgin based materials such as petroleum.
PILLAR #3: TEXTILES
SportPort™ is taking part in supporting sustainable initiatives by choosing quality fabrics with credible industry certifications.
We pride ourselves on quality by strategically choosing textiles that perform and meet up to our standards. Our textiles are designed to perform. Their performance characteristics are considered in the sourcing process and their certifications are validated.
A few of our favorite certification organization are as follows:
Oeko-Tex® focuses on making products that are harmless to health, environmentally friendly and manufactured in a fair way.
Bluesign® traces each textile’s path along the manufacturing process, making improvements at every stage from factory floor to finished product. Bluesign® changes the environmental impact of textiles for good.
While shopping, click into a product you like to see which products and/or textiles have these certifications above.
PILLAR #4: GARMENT MANUFACTURING
Garment manufacturing is a key element in a Corporate & Social Responsible supply chain. Certain certifications & audits help verify that manufacturers are operating in a responsible manner with quality at the forefront.
At SportPort™ we collaborate with garment manufacturers that abide by our Global Code of Conduct & Ethics. We encourage a safe work environment and applaud those who have gone the extra mile to obtain certification. A few factory audits and certifications that our manufactures have obtained are highlighted below!
Workplace Conditions Assessment (WCA) is a factory audit, provided by Intertek, that provides on the ground support and expertise to help companies manage Supply Chain Due Diligence specific to social and labor conditions, health & safety, environment, and business practices.
ISO 9001 is the internationally recognized standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It is the most widely used QMS standard in the world, with over 1.1 million certificates issued to organizations in 178 countries. In simple terms, ISO 9001 certification provides the basis for effective processes and effective people to deliver an effective product or service time after time.
SportPort™ also supports ‘Made in the USA’ whenever possible. From textile production to garment production.
PILLAR #5: NON-PROFITS
Supporting ethical and sustainable manufacturing is only one part of doing “good” business. Going the extra mile means donating to organizations who are paving the way on many fronts.
For SportPort™ our work is not done when we successfully make a garment. We believe our work has just begun. We believe that using apparel as a tool to drive positive change.
SportPort™ has supported the Environmental Working Group for almost a decade. We believe in their proactive stance of protecting the environment from harmful chemicals and poisonous pesticides.
For every purchase made, SportPort™ will let you donate 5% of the sale to organizations such as Stand Up To Cancer, 1% For the Planet and/or Feeding America. We let you choose to give the 5% to an organization of your choice or we let you split the 5% amongst them all!
SportPort™ has also partnered with Giveback Box is a nonprofit organization that helps you donate used household items such as clothing to those in need and it is completely FREE!
