Sustainability
Sustainability Commitment
Building Better Programs Through Responsible Manufacturing
At Silk Screen Shirts, we believe responsible manufacturing begins with making thoughtful decisions every day. As a family-owned company headquartered in Carlsbad, California for more than 55 years, we are committed to conducting business in a way that supports our customers, our employees, our communities, and the environment.
Our vertically integrated manufacturing model allows us to design, decorate, warehouse, and fulfill products more efficiently, reducing unnecessary transportation, handling, and waste throughout the production process. While sustainability is an ongoing journey, we continually invest in our people, processes, and partnerships to minimize our environmental impact while delivering the quality, consistency, and service our customers expect.
Responsible Manufacturing
We continuously invest in production technologies, equipment, and operational efficiencies that reduce material waste, improve resource utilization, and maximize production quality. Producing products correctly the first time minimizes unnecessary consumption of raw materials while extending the life of every garment we manufacture.
Manufacturing Under One Roof
Unlike many apparel suppliers that rely on multiple vendors to complete a project, Silk Screen Shirts manages the majority of the production process under one roof at our Carlsbad, California headquarters.
By integrating design, screen printing, embroidery, finishing, quality control, inventory management, fulfillment, and distribution within a single operation, we eliminate many of the unnecessary transportation steps common in traditional supply chains. This approach reduces freight movements between vendors, minimizes packaging and handling, and creates a more streamlined, efficient production process.
Our vertically integrated model not only improves quality, communication, and turnaround times, but also helps lower the environmental impact associated with outsourced production, redundant packaging materials, and multiple shipments. Fewer production handoffs result in a more efficient supply chain and a smaller transportation footprint.
Investing in a More Sustainable Future
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond the products we manufacture. In 2025, Silk Screen Shirts made a significant investment in our Carlsbad headquarters by installing a rooftop solar energy system with more than 200 solar panels, helping reduce our reliance on traditional energy sources while supporting cleaner, renewable energy generation.
As part of this investment, we also installed a new, fully insulated roofing system designed to improve the building's thermal performance and overall energy efficiency. Together, these improvements help reduce energy consumption, create a more efficient manufacturing environment, and demonstrate our long-term commitment to responsible operations.
We view these investments as part of a broader philosophy of continuous improvement—making thoughtful decisions today that benefit our customers, our employees, our community, and the environment for years to come.
Sustainable Product Solutions
We work with leading domestic and international suppliers to offer products that support our customers' sustainability initiatives. Depending on program requirements, we can source products featuring:
Recycled polyester and recycled cotton fibers
Organic cotton apparel
Responsibly sourced and renewable materials
OEKO-TEX®, GOTS®, bluesign®, Fair Trade Certified™, Better Cotton™, and other certified products where available
FSC®-certified paper packaging and reduced-plastic packaging solutions
Our team works closely with clients to identify products that balance sustainability, performance, quality, and budget.
Ethical & Responsible Supply Chain
We expect our manufacturing partners and suppliers to operate with integrity and in accordance with applicable labor, workplace safety, environmental, and ethical business standards. These expectations are reinforced through our Supplier Code of Conduct and our commitment to responsible sourcing practices.
Reducing Waste Through Smarter Program Management
One of the most effective ways to improve sustainability is to reduce unnecessary production.
Our forecasting, inventory management, online ordering platforms, and fulfillment programs help clients purchase the right products at the right time, reducing excess inventory, minimizing obsolete merchandise, and extending product life cycles.
When appropriate, we also offer domestic and nearshore manufacturing solutions that further reduce transportation requirements while improving supply chain flexibility and responsiveness.
Continuous Improvement
Sustainability is not a destination—it is an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement. Silk Screen Shirts continually evaluates new materials, production methods, supplier partnerships, and technologies that allow us to operate more efficiently while helping our customers achieve their own environmental and corporate responsibility goals.
Our Commitment
We are committed to operating with integrity, transparency, and accountability in every aspect of our business. By combining responsible sourcing, vertically integrated manufacturing, ethical business practices, and innovative program management, we strive to create apparel solutions that support exceptional brands while reducing environmental impact.
We believe every project is an opportunity to make smarter choices—for our customers, our employees, our community, and the environment.