Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

What are SDGs and Why Does Piper & Skye Care?

In 2015, all 193 member states of the United Nations adopted a historic 15-year plan to address the world’s most pressing challenges. This resulted in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): a comprehensive roadmap designed to achieve peace and prosperity for people and the planet.

Each Goal targets a specific area of global concern, ranging from climate change and biodiversity loss, to social inequality and economic growth. Within these 17 Goals are 169 specific ‘Targets’ which are quantifiable sub-goals that provide clear metrics for progress.

What is Piper & Skye Doing?

While the SDGs were established by governments, the reality in 2026 is that meaningful progress is impossible without the private sector. Business operations, from supply chain logistics to material innovation, possess the scale required to drive systemic change at the global level. At Piper & Skye, we have dedicated resources to evaluating every facet of our brand from our supply chain, to labor relations, to product design, against the SDG framework. While Piper & Skye contributes to many of the global goals, we have identified three Primary Focus SDGs where our business model drives the most significant, measurable impact in 2026. By focusing deeply on three primary SDGs we aim to ensure that our presence in the luxury market serves as a catalyst for ecological restoration, social equity, and the betterment of the human experience on planet earth.

How Piper & Skye Is Contributing To The SDGs

SDG #2: End Hunger, Achieve Food Security, Improve Nutrition, and Promote Sustainable Agriculture

Support for Amazonian Fishing Communities - The flagship material of Piper & Skye’s luxury handbags, Pirarucu (Arapaima Gigas), is a giant Amazonian fish that has served as a vital food source for indigenous Amazonian communities for millennia. Traditionally the skin was considered a waste product that was discarded or burned. By instead purchasing these skins and handcrafting our sustainable handbags from this food by-product, Piper & Skye has generated a consistent revenye stream for local Amazonian fishermen to buy food and other necessities.

A Healthy Pirarucu Population Is Food Security - By partnering exclusively with suppliers who enact certified community-based management practices to produce our signature Pirarucu leather, we are able to guarantee the healthy management of pirarucu fish populations, thereby securing this food supply for years to come.

Our Pirarucu Supplier Shares Our Values - In 2025, we committed to buying pirarucu exclusively from Nova Kaeru in Brazil. This company works closely with local organized fishing cooperatives, and collaborates intensively to improve living conditions, foster social empowerment, and protect biodiversity.

Pirarucu Will Be Our Flagship Material in 2026 and Beyond - Despite the addition of other eco-restorative materials such as alligator and python, Piper & Skye continues to produce the vast majority of our styles in pirarucu with it comprising 75% of bags sold by volume in 2025. Even though some styles use a different primary material (e.g. the primary material of the Rio Bag is raffia), pirarucu is frequently used as a decorative trim.

SDG #8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work

At Piper & Skye, we believe that true luxury is defined not just by the quality of the product, but by the dignity and well-being of the hands that craft it. Within our own internal walls and those of our suppliers, we champion decent work and inclusive economic growth in every facet of our operations. In 2025, our philanthropic arm, Safe Transitions, expanded globally to protect more women from domestic abuse and human trafficking. Below is what Piper & Skye is doing to achieve this SDG. When those around us succeed, so do we.

Target 8.5 - Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, with equal pay for work of equal value.

Piper & Skye Is A Great Place To Work - Piper & Skye is committed to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy to discrimination and harassment, ensuring a culture defined by safety and mutual respect. This commitment extends to economic equity as we provide equal pay for equal work and maintain wages at or above the industry average. These commitments are engrained into the very fabric of Piper & Skye via our Internal Code of Ethics and Business Code of Conduct.

Our Manufacturers Share Our Values - At Piper & Skye, our internal ethos of 'Responsible Luxury' extends to every link in our supply chain. We demand the same unwavering commitment to decent work and fair pay from our partners as we do from ourselves,. This alignment is not optional; compliance with our Manufacturer Code of Conduct is a binding contractual obligation. This code of conduct mandates a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and forced labor, prohibits child labor, and ensures workers are free from discrimination. Furthermore, it requires that wages and benefits meet or exceed national legal standards or industry benchmarks. To verify compliance, Piper & Skye reserves the right to inspect supplier premises and conduct audits at any time without notice.

Target 8.7 - Eradicate forced labor, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labor.

Protection For Victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Abuse - Established by Piper & Skye Founder Joanna MacDonald, Safe Transitions relieves shelter overcrowding by securing private housing for survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking. Acting as a bridge between shelters and property managers, the charity facilitates a dignified transition by covering the full cost of rent and furnishings for a one-year apartment lease, empowering women and their children to rebuild their lives in safety.

We Have The Right To Audit Suppliers and Manufacturers - Central to our legally binding Supplier and Manufacturer Codes of Conduct is the non-negotiable principle of fair and dignified treatment for all employees. We enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy towards child labor, modern slavery, human trafficking, and forced labor, and explicitly prohibit workers being required to lodge 'deposits' or identity papers. To accomplish this, we prioritize partnerships with suppliers who have achieved, or are actively pursuing, recognized sustainability certifications such as B Corp, the Leather Working Group (LWG), and Positive Luxury. Piper & Skye retains the right to conduct compliance audits without notice.

Target 8.8 - Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers

There is a High Bar to Become One Of Our Manufacturers - Strict adherence to our Manufacturer Code of Conduct is not merely an expectation, but a binding contractual obligation. This extensive framework vigorously protects labor rights, ensures workplace health and safety, and enforce a zero-tolerance policy for child and forced labor. Prior to initiating any partnership, we prioritize suppliers who have achieved or are actively pursuing recognized third-party sustainability certifications, specifically B Corp, the Leather Working Group (LWG), and Positive Luxury. Piper & Skye retains the right to inspect facilities and conduct compliance audits without notice.

Change Starts from Within - Piper & Skye is dedicated to cultivating a positive and inclusive internal work environment where every team member regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or religion, is empowered to bring their full, true selves to work. We uphold a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination, harassment, and bullying, ensuring a culture defined by safety, dignity, and mutual respect.

SDG #12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

The 'Take-Make-Waste' economy of the 20th century fueled hyper-consumption, leaving landfills clogged with fast fashion intended for a single season. Piper & Skye rejects this linear model and has instead adopted a circular one. In every step of the product life cycle from material selection to handbag design concepts and end of life use, we embed circularity and source reduction principles to eliminate waste before it is created.

Target 12.2 - Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

We Only Use Truly Sustainable Materials - Our stringent Material Selection Criteria is designed to ensure that solely the most sustainable natural resources are used in the production of Piper & Skye handbags. Only if all five of the below criteria are met, can a material be used in production. As of the end of 2025, only pirarucu, alligator, and python have met this standard.

The species must be: a) Used as a food source somewhere in the world, b) In over-population in its natural habitat, or c) Considered an invasive species.
The skins and leathers would be considered a waste product unless passed-on to designers and artisans
Management of the species is overseen by a governing body (e.g. CITES, Fish and Wildlife Licensing, etc.) which seeks to ensure a healthy and thriving ecosystem
There is no undue suffering in any form during the process of culling, fishing, or otherwise.
The material is sourced only from suppliers that align with our goals to reduce hazardous and toxic chemicals used in the tanning, dying, and manufacturing processes.

Honoring What We Borrow From Mother Nature - Sustainable and efficient use of natural resources is our responsibility when we borrow from Mother Nature. At Piper & Skye, we accomplish this through three central pursuits:

Dematerialization Through Source Reduction: Every Piper & Skye design is rigorously assessed to minimize components and material usage. For example, through this dematerialization process, we redesigned our Braemar handbag by replacing its heavy internal structuring with a lightweight backing. This delivered a comparable luxury product while using significantly less material.
Product Versatility: To combat overconsumption and the resulting waste, we design for utility and longevity. By engineering handbags with interchangeable components such as crossbody straps, we create multi-functional pieces that extend the product's useful life and reduce the consumer's need to purchase multiple items. Less consumption is the epitome of sustainability.
Small Batch Production: Piper & Skye rejects the volume-driven models of fast fashion. By utilizing small-batch production runs, we maintain an incredibly lean inventory system that drastically reduces the risk of unsold product ending up as waste in landfills.

Target 12.4 - Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil

12x Lower Carbon Footprint Than Bovine Leather - Pirarucu, the flagship material of Piper & Skye, was selected for its significantly reduced carbon footprint when compared to traditional handbag materials. As a food by-product that is typically discarded, pirarucu boasts a carbon footprint of just 53.96 kg of CO2 equivalent per square meter.

Our Materials Are Free From Harmful Chemicals - Our manufacturers are required to complete a 'Free-From List' confirming that their products are free from certain chemicals over 1000 ppm including formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, bisphenol A, and heavy metals. Our pirarucu supplier, Nova Kaeru, uses an organic metal-free, chrome-free tanning process with a blend of biodegradable substances. Our supplier of wild American alligator and python has confirmed they only use REACH-approved dyes.

Target 12.5 - Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

3 Year Repair & Maintenance Policy Extends The Life of Our Bags - Piper & Skye handbags are designed for longevity, and supported with an industry-leading repair and maintenance policy. that offers complimentary repairs to hardware, straps, and stitching for three years after purchase. When our product does finally reach the end of its useful life, our use of biodegradable materials such as Pirarucu leather (re-integrates back into nature within 120 days) guarantees that there is no negative environmental impact.

Minimization of Waste Is A Design Feature - The most effective way to manage waste is to prevent its creation entirely. At Piper & Skye, we view waste and pollution not as inevitable by-products of manufacturing, but as design flaws to be eliminated.

Dematerialization Through Intelligent Design: Every Piper & Skye design is rigorously assessed to minimize components and material usage. For example, through our dematerialization process, we redesigned the Braemar handbag by replacing the heavy internal structuring with lightweight backing. This delivered a comparable luxury product with significantly less material, which ultimately mean less waste.
Product Versatility: To combat overconsumption, we design for longevity and utility. By engineering handbags with interchangeable components such as crossbody straps, we create multi-functional pieces that extend the product's useful life and reduce the consumer's need to purchase multiple items.
Small Batch Production: Piper & Skye rejects the volume-driven models of fast fashion. By utilizing small-batch production runs, we maintain an incredibly lean inventory system that drastically reduces the risk of unsold products ending up in landfills