30% for the environment and oceans
The moment that changed everything
I still remember the dive vividly. Red Sea, maybe 15 meters deep. In front of me, an area that just a few years ago was a vibrant, living coral reef. Now: grey, still, empty. No fish, no movement, just calcium skeletons where an entire ecosystem once thrived.
You read about coral bleaching. You see statistics. But it's only when you swim past it yourself and grasp that this place was teeming with life just a few years ago – only then does it truly sink in.
I didn't emerge as a world-improver that day. But with the certainty that Nookandu had to be more than just waterproof clothing.
Why being merely "sustainable" isn't enough for us
We could make it easy for ourselves. Take organic cotton, print "Made in Germany" on it, and be done with it. We do that too – but that alone won't save a reef.
That's why we donate 30% of our profits directly to projects that start where we spend most of our time: underwater.
Exactly where your purchase goes
This year, we are supporting rrreefs, an ETH Zurich spin-off. They don't build models; they rebuild real reefs – using 3D-printed clay modules that provide coral larvae with precisely the structure they need to grow. Within a few years, a living, self-sustaining reef emerges. Projects are currently underway in Ecuador, Colombia, the Philippines, and the Maldives.
Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean's surface – yet they are home to about a quarter of all species in the ocean. When they die, it's not just corals that die.
What's really inside
We don't just talk about sustainability; we've integrated it into every step we could control.
Material: Exclusively organic cotton or recycled polyester. No "partially," no compromise on the base – if an item isn't made from one of these two, we don't carry it.
Printing Inks: We print with Neo Pigment ECO Rapid from Kornit – vegan, tested for harmful substances, and certified according to the strictest environmental and safety standards. Not just an eco-label to look at, but verifiable.
Shipping: Via DHL GoGreen. CO₂ emissions from transport are reduced and offset – with every order, no matter how small.
Packaging: We ship plastic-free, using recyclable materials. Because the final step to your home counts just as much as everything before it.
Each individual detail is small. Together, they make the difference between a T-shirt with an ocean motif and an item that truly fits the ocean.
No greenwashing, but a plan that adds up
30% is not a discount trick or a PR number. It means that a significant portion of the profit from every item you buy goes directly to reefs that would disappear without this help. We publish where the donation goes each year – transparent, traceable, with no small print.
What we commit to
We won't loudly talk about it every year. But we will do it every year. For us, this isn't a campaign that will eventually end – it's the reason Nookandu exists at all.
So, every item you wear has already made a difference before you even put it on.
