Santos by Monica

Santos by Monica (

Private sector

)

#SDGAction57913

Description

Santos by Monica is a sustainable fashion brand redefining the industry through innovative biomaterials, ethical production, and a commitment to reducing waste. Our mission aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals by creating products that prioritize environmental responsibility, durability, and timeless design. Rather than following fleeting trends, we focus on pieces that are meant to last (both in quality and style), encouraging conscious consumption and minimizing unnecessary waste. A key part of our approach is keeping production as close to the material source as possible. Our handbags are made in Mexico, where the biomaterial we use, cactus leather, is also produced. This allows us to reduce transportation emissions, ensure traceability in our supply chain, and support regional economies. For apparel and other products, we manufacture locally in New York, reinforcing our commitment to ethical production and maintaining a close connection to our supply chain. Beyond product design and manufacturing, we are committed to consumer education, transparency, and innovation. We want to redefine how people engage with fashion by introducing more sustainable alternatives and proving that high quality, beautiful design doesn’t have to come at the cost of the environment.

Implementation of the Project/Activity

Sustainability is at the core of how we design, produce, and engage with our customers. Rather than focusing on fleeting trends, we create functional, versatile pieces designed to be worn for years, reducing the cycle of overconsumption. Every product is made with durability in mind– both in material and aesthetic, so that it remains a wardrobe staple rather than a disposable item. Additionally, we actively repurpose excess materials into smaller accessories, such as pouches and keychains, instead of discarding them. This ensures that nearly every scrap of fabric or leather is given a second life. By manufacturing in Mexico and New York, we align our production with material sources and local craftsmanship. This approach reduces transportation emissions, maintains supply chain transparency, and supports ethical labor practices. We also seek to educate our customers on responsible care and longevity, helping them maintain their products for years rather than replacing them seasonally. As we continue to evolve, we are exploring new biomaterials and next-generation fabrics that will further push sustainability forward. Our goal is to continuously refine our processes, ensuring that every step of our supply chain reflects our commitment to long-lasting, ethical, and sustainable fashion.

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

We believe that meaningful progress in sustainable fashion requires continuous learning, research, and collaboration. While we have not yet partnered with material scientists, we are actively exploring opportunities to engage with biotech companies, academic institutions, and material innovation startups to expand our use of next-generation fabrics. Our long-term vision includes playing an active role in developing and integrating new biomaterials that can further reduce fashion’s environmental footprint. Beyond material innovation, we are dedicated to knowledge-sharing within the industry. By openly discussing our sustainable production methods, ethical sourcing, and waste-reduction strategies, we aim to inspire other brands to adopt similar practices. We see sustainability as a collective effort rather than a competitive advantage and are committed to fostering an industry-wide shift toward more responsible design and production. As part of our mission, we also work closely with our manufacturing partners to ensure that they have the tools and education needed to work with new biomaterials and sustainable production techniques. This helps ensure that sustainable fashion is not only possible but also scalable.

Coordination mechanisms

Our initiative is structured around transparency, responsible sourcing, and education– both for consumers and the broader fashion industry. We believe that sustainability isn’t just about the materials used but also about shifting mindsets around consumption and production. Consumer education plays a key role in our governance approach. Through in-store experiences, social media, and community engagement, we empower individuals to make informed choices about the products they buy encouraging conscious consumption and care for long-lasting wear. Beyond consumer education, we are committed to sharing knowledge with brands and industry peers. By openly discussing our production choices, biomaterial adoption, and waste reduction strategies, we hope to encourage more brands to rethink their own sustainability practices. Our goal is not just to build a responsible brand but to contribute to a larger movement toward a fashion industry that prioritizes longevity, ethics, and environmental responsibility. Our decision to produce close to the source is another essential part of how we govern our supply chain. By manufacturing our handbags in Mexico, where our biomaterial is made, we reduce transportation emissions and maintain a high level of oversight. Similarly, by keeping our apparel production in New York, we ensure ethical labor conditions and close collaboration with our manufacturing partners.

Evaluation

We assess our impact through a combination of waste reduction, product longevity, consumer engagement, and supply chain efficiency. One of our key successes has been reducing material waste to under 15% by repurposing excess fabric and leather scraps into small accessories, ensuring that nearly every part of our materials is put to use. Beyond waste reduction, we measure the success of our sustainability efforts by tracking how customers engage with and care for their products over time. Through direct feedback, community storytelling, and product performance assessments, we evaluate whether our designs are truly serving as long term wardrobe staples rather than short term fashion purchases. Sales data also plays a role in understanding shifting consumer behavior. A growing interest in sustainable products signals a positive shift toward conscious fashion choices. Our localized production model is another crucial metric in evaluating our environmental impact. By keeping manufacturing close to material sources, whether in Mexico for handbags or in New York for apparel, we actively reduce transportation emissions while maintaining transparency in our supply chain. Additionally, we contribute to environmental initiatives by donating 1% of sales to sustainability causes and planting trees for every product sold. As we continue to grow, we will refine these impact metrics and explore new ways to track durability, material innovation, and the effectiveness of our education efforts.

Partners

Santos by Monica sources plant-based biomaterials from Desserto, a leader in sustainable alternatives to traditional leather, to craft high-quality, environmentally conscious handbags.

SDGS & Targets

Goal 8

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

8.1

Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries

8.1.1

Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita

8.2

Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors

8.2.1

Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person

8.3

Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

8.3.1

Proportion of informal employment in total employment, by sector and sex

8.4

Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead

8.4.1

Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP

8.4.2

Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP

8.5

By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

8.5.1

Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities

8.5.2

Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

8.6

By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

8.6.1

Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training

8.7

Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms

8.7.1

Proportion and number of children aged 5‑17 years engaged in child labour, by sex and age

8.8

Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment

8.8.1

Fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers, by sex and migrant status

8.8.2

Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation, by sex and migrant status

8.9

By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products

8.9.1

Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate

8.10

Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all

8.10.1

(a) Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults and (b) number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults

8.10.2

Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider

8.a

Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries

8.a.1

Aid for Trade commitments and disbursements

8.b

By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization

8.b.1

Existence of a developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy

Goal 12

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

12.1

Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries

12.1.1

Number of countries developing, adopting or implementing policy instruments aimed at supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production

12.2

By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources

12.2.1

Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP

12.2.2

Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP

12.3

By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses

12.3.1

(a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index

12.4

By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment

12.4.1

Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement

12.4.2

(a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and (b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment

12.5

By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

12.5.1

National recycling rate, tons of material recycled

12.6

Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle

12.6.1

Number of companies publishing sustainability reports

12.7

Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

12.7.1

Number of countries implementing sustainable public procurement policies and action plans

12.8

By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature

12.8.1

Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment

12.a

Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production

12.a.1

Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing and developed countries (in watts per capita)

12.b

Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products

12.b.1

Implementation of standard accounting tools to monitor the economic and environmental aspects of tourism sustainability

12.c

Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities

12.c.1

Amount of fossil-fuel subsidies (production and consumption) per unit of GDP

Goal 13

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

13.1

Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

13.1.1

Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

13.1.2

Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030

13.1.3

Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

13.2

Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

13.2.1

Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

13.2.2

Total greenhouse gas emissions per year

13.3

Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

13.3.1

13.a

Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible

13.a.1

Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025

13.b

Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities

13.b.1

Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

SDG 14 targets covered

Name	Description

Deliverables & Timeline

N/A

Resources mobilized

Financing (in USD)

Investing in sustainable materials, ethical production, circular design strategies, and environmental initiatives (e.g., tree planting, education programs).

Other, please specify

Material Resources – Use of plant-based biomaterials, upcycling waste, and researching new sustainable materials for innovation.

Staff / Technical expertise

Consumer and industry education on responsible fashion, circular design, and sustainability-focused events.