At Underscored, being planet positive means designing for a future where performance and responsibility move as one. It’s not enough for us to simply do less harm, our goal is to create sportswear that actively contributes to a healthier planet.

The apparel industry is one of the most polluting on earth. Every year, billions of garments made from plastic-based fibres shed microplastics, burn fossil fuels, and end up in landfill. We’re here to change that, proving that high performance and environmental integrity can coexist.

From the start, we’ve built Underscored differently:

• We use bio-based materials, derived from renewable sources, free from conventional fossil derived plastics
• We work with trusted partners who meet recognised social and environmental standards, ensuring full transparency from fibre to finish.
• We design for circularity, extending the life of each product through repair, reuse, and recycling.
• We measure, reduce, and offset our carbon footprint at every step.
  Our vision is a truly closed loop, where every Underscored piece returns safely to nature or becomes a resource for something new.
  

Because true performance doesn't stop at how your gear feels or functions. It's about how it lives - and what it leaves behind.

 

Our Materials

Almost all sportswear today is made from synthetic fibres (polyester, elastane, nylon) all plastics derived from crude oil. They’re lightweight and high-performing, but they come with a hidden cost: toxic chemical processes, microplastic pollution, and a dependency on fossil fuels.

At Underscored, we design for a different future, one where high-performance sportswear and planet-conscious materials can coexist. Every fibre we use is chosen for its bio-based origin, its low environmental impact, and its ability to perform beautifully, naturally.

 

Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCFs)

At the core of our collection are man-made cellulosic fibres - materials created from cellulose, the building block of plant life. By reimagining nature’s own polymers, we can produce fabrics that feel refined, perform with integrity, and return safely to the earth.

We source only from sustainably managed forests, ensuring our MMCFs are FSC certified and never linked to deforestation. Each fibre is produced using safer chemistries and more efficient, closed-loop systems, reducing environmental impact without compromising softness, strength, or performance.

 

Lyocell (TENCEL™)

Soft. Breathable. Exceptionally strong. Lyocell is one of the most advanced cellulosic fibres available, and one of the cleanest to produce.

Our lyocell fabrics are created in partnership with Lenzing, using their branded TENCEL™ fibres. Their closed-loop process recycles water and recovers over 99% of the solvent used, creating a truly low-impact fibre that feels as good as it performs.

The result is a luxuriously smooth fabric that wicks moisture naturally, breathes beautifully, and moves with you.

 

Seacell

Seacell is a unique cellulose fibre enriched with seaweed, nature’s own super-ingredient. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, it brings a gentle, skin-friendly quality to high-performance wear.

Seaweed is harvested in a way designed to allow natural regeneration, then spun into fibre using a process similar to lyocell, combining innovation with natural renewal. The result: a bio-based performance fabric that energises the skin and leaves no trace on the planet.

 

Organic Cotton

We use only certified organic cotton, verified by GOTS or OCS standards, ensuring the fibres are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers and produced under fair, transparent working conditions.

Soft yet strong, it’s proof that natural fibres can deliver both comfort and performance, without compromise.

 

Threads

Even the most innovative fabrics can be let down by conventional threads. Many sportswear brands still rely on polyester thread, even when their main materials are more sustainable.

At Underscored, we use Lyocell threads for the majority of our collection, with recycled polyester threads reserved only for high-stretch areas where performance demands it.

While our ultimate goal is to switch entirely to bio-based threads across every product, in the meantime we align with best practice across the industry, choosing recycled content wherever polyester is required rather than relying on virgin fibres.

Every stitch reflects our commitment: a small but meaningful part of creating sportswear that is high-performing, responsible, and planet positive.

Our no-plastic philosophy runs right through our supply chain - from the fabrics we craft to the finishing touches that complete each product.

 

Packaging & Trims

Our material commitment doesn't end with our fabrics, it extends to every component and every detail. From the trims on our garments to the packaging they’re shipped in, we apply the same principle: high performance, low impact, and avoidance of plastic.

We use only FSC-certified papers and card, all bleach and chlorine-free, across our entire packaging range, from durable kraft paper mailing bags to smooth, translucent glassine garment bags that are fully recyclable and biodegradable. Every swing tag is made from FSC-certified card and paper string, finished with a reusable stainless steel pin instead of plastic fasteners.

Inside the garment, the same care continues. Our care labels are made from organic cotton, and all printing uses water-based, non-toxic inks certified by OEKO-TEX®, ensuring nothing harmful enters the environment.

Just like our sportswear, our packaging and trims are designed to biodegrade naturally or be easily recycled, closing the loop and keeping plastics out of the system entirely.
Because being planet positive means thinking beyond the product - it’s about every considered choice that brings it to life.

 

Product Manufacturing

Apparel supply chains are often long, opaque and complex, filled with multiple actors, shifting forecasts and pressure that can lead to unauthorised subcontracting, excessive overtime and weak protections for vulnerable workers.

At Underscored we choose to do things differently. We build long-term partnerships, uphold certified social and environmental standards, and demand full traceability and transparency across every step of our supply chain. We partner only with manufacturers who share our planet-positive values, and we verify this through a rigorous onboarding process, due diligence, ongoing monitoring and capacity-building work.

All of our raw materials and finished products are manufactured in Portugal, a region known for textile expertise, shorter lead times, and higher labour standards. We are proud to work with innovative partners who are investing in renewable energy, employee development, advanced machinery, and digital systems.

We do everything we can to minimise fabric waste during production. Any leftover material is not discarded - it is sent directly to the Valérius 360 recycling facility, where it is transformed into new yarns and fabrics, closing the loop and ensuring nothing goes to landfill.

 

Our Manufacturing Partner – Érius (Valérius Group)

We manufacture our products in partnership with Érius, part of the Valérius Group, a vertically-integrated Portuguese textile hub recognised for sustainability, innovation and circular-economy leadership.

Érius and the Valérius Group operate across knitting, dyeing, finishing, cutting, and garment assembly, delivering end-to-end production entirely in Portugal. Their sustainability credentials are impressive: a dedicated circular unit (Valérius 360) transforms textile waste into recycled yarns and fabrics, and their operations are certified to standards including GRS, OCS, FSC, and more.

Energy efficiency, water-use reduction, and traceability are embedded into their DNA. For example, Valérius 360 has installed photovoltaic panels, LED lighting, smart power monitoring, and aims toward zero water discharge.

By partnering with Érius, we ensure that every Underscored product is made in a facility that values people, planet and performance as much as we do.

What sets Underscored apart is the level of transparency we deliver: from the raw material feedstock right through to the final product, every step of the process can be traced and verified. This is truly revolutionary in the sportswear market, and it allows you to know exactly where your sportswear comes from and how it is made - no hidden processes, no compromises.

You can view the full supply chain for each product, and access all related documentation, via the product page.

 

Shipment & Order Fulfilment - Getting Underscored to You

Our responsibility doesn’t end when a product leaves the factory. The way we move goods matters, from the route our shipments take to the packaging they arrive in. Every stage of fulfilment is designed to reduce emissions, avoid unnecessary waste, and keep our carbon footprint as low as possible.

Overseas production often comes with long lead times and a reliance on air freight - one of the biggest contributors to the apparel industry’s emissions. By manufacturing all of our materials and finished products in Portugal, we’ve kept our supply chain close to home. This proximity means we can ship by road instead of air, drastically reducing the environmental impact of transport and ensuring smoother, faster delivery to our UK customers.

Once our products reach the UK, we’ve partnered with EVRi for last-mile delivery. EVRi is actively working to decarbonise their network through the use of electric vehicles, parcel consolidation, and carbon-reduction initiatives. You can read more about their Environmental, Social and Governance strategy [here].

Every Underscored order is prepared with the same care and principles that guide our manufacturing, minimising energy use, reducing waste, and prioritising responsibility at every step. Orders are packed using our plastic-free, recyclable packaging, made from FSC-certified, bleach and chlorine-free materials, printed with OEKO-TEX® certified, non-toxic inks.

As a company certified by the Climate Change Label, we take full accountability for our environmental impact. We submit a detailed assessment of our operations and emissions and ensure that all unavoidable carbon creation is fully and responsibly offset, using independently verified offsets certified by Gold Standard.

 

Extending the Life of our Products

True sustainability goes beyond how a product is made - it’s also about how long it lasts. In the UK, millions of garments are returned, discarded or sent to landfill each year due to poor quality or fit. At Underscored, we’re determined to change that.

Durability is built into every stage of our design and development process. From fibre selection to final stitch, we create products designed to move with you, season after season. Each garment is wear-tested and wash-tested extensively to ensure it performs under real conditions - maintaining its shape, comfort and quality over time.

Fit is equally important. We’ve spent time refining our patterns to achieve a precise, inclusive fit that supports every body type. Our extended sizing ensures that Underscored products are accessible and empowering for everyone who wears them.

But even the best-made products reach the end of their life eventually. When that time comes, we want to make sure nothing goes to waste. Our takeback service allows you to return worn-out Underscored garments so they can be responsibly processed, whether through recycling, repurposing, or composting where possible. Simply contact our customer service team for details on how to return your items.

We’re continuously working to expand our circular systems, exploring repair programmes, resale partnerships and fibre-to-fibre recycling initiatives, so every Underscored product can live on in some form.

By investing in timeless design, enduring quality, and end-of-life responsibility, we aim to create sportswear that not only performs, but truly lasts - for you, and for the planet.

 

Carbon Footprint - Our Carbon Impact

Being Planet Positive means taking responsibility for the full impact of our operations, from raw materials to your doorstep. At Underscored, we don’t just measure our carbon footprint; we actively reduce, offset, and invest in climate-positive solutions.

We partner with the Climate Change Project and are proud to have received The Climate Label Certification. This means we have set a climate transition budget based on our total annual emissions, dedicating that budget to verified climate solutions while implementing internal decarbonisation strategies to reduce emissions as our business grows.

Because our raw materials come from sustainably managed forests, we’ve chosen to support reforestation initiatives,  in particular the Nica Forest High Impact Reforestation Program. Certified by Gold Standard and the FSC, this pilot program has already planted 360,000 trees, sequestering approximately 98,000 tons of CO₂. Its work is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, actively contributing to Quality Education (SDG 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Climate Action (SDG 13).

We’re also proud to support 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of our annual sales directly to organisations driving tangible environmental impact. This is a powerful way to extend the reach of every Underscored product, supporting organisations creating measurable change for people and the planet.

 

Performance Without Compromise

From the fibres we choose, to the threads we stitch, the packaging we use, and the care we take in manufacturing, shipping, and extending the life of our products, every decision at Underscored is guided by our Planet Positive philosophy. We measure, reduce, and offset our carbon footprint, support reforestation, and donate 1% of sales to environmental organisations, ensuring our sportswear leaves a positive mark on the planet.

It’s this holistic approach that defines Underscored, premium performance sportswear built with integrity. Designed to move, perform, and endure, every piece is made with respect for people and the planet, without compromise.