Paapii is a Finnish design company built on sustainability, Finnish craftsmanship and positivity. For us, responsibility means making ethical and sustainable choices. The well-being of the environment, our employees and our customers is at the heart of every decision we make. We continuously work to find the best possible solutions for our production, guided by a strong set of values.

Sustainability means continuous improvement – we strive to create products of the highest possible quality that are made with care for the environment. All our garments are made from certified organic cotton and sewn at our own sewing factory in Finland, as reflected by the Key Flag symbol. At Paapii, we believe that positivity and the joy of creating inspire fresh, creative ideas that shine through in the quality of both our design and production. We hope our products spread joy, as they are designed to inspire and nurture creativity.

Finnish Production and Financial Responsibility

Paapii is a Finnish company, and it is important to us that all our garments are made in Finland at our own clothing factory in Kokkola. Having our own production means quality, flexibility, responsible and ethical manufacturing, and creating jobs in Finland. We choose our partners with the same care that we put into our own production. We aim to work with partners as close to home as possible and value long-term relationships that allow us to develop our industry together. Read more below about Paapii’s own production and our partners.

Our Own Production

Local production has been important to Paapii from the very beginning, as it allows us to ensure that our garments are made responsibly. Since July 2017, all Paapii clothing has been manufactured at our own clothing factory in Kokkola, Finland. The textile and clothing industry has a long history in Kokkola. Although large clothing factories no longer operate in the area, the expertise and skills remain. We believe this local know-how is valuable and worth preserving. Maintaining sewing skills in Finland and Kokkola supports our values. Having our own production also gives us flexibility, allowing us to manufacture just the right quantities based on demand and our customers’ wishes.

Our goal is to establish a stable position as a Finnish clothing manufacturer. One of the greatest advantages of our own production is that we can make changes quickly and put good ideas into practice straight away. Our own production also enables responsible decision-making. Thanks to open communication and a short production chain, we receive prompt feedback on anything that is not working as it should. This means we can make a real difference in areas such as working conditions, energy sources, the use of plastic and transportation methods.

You are warmly welcome to visit our factory shop and sewing factory to see where all Paapii garments are made! We would be delighted to show you around and tell you more.

Paapii’s factory and factory shop is located at PaaPii Design, Terminaalikatu 7, 67700 Kokkola, Finland

Contact our customer service by email at asiakaspalvelu@paapiidesign.com or by phone on +358 50 3101 443.

Our factory shop and customer service are open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

Our Partners

When sourcing materials and services, we aim to prioritize responsible local and Finnish partners. However, the textile industry involves long and complex supply chains. Cotton fibers, for example, are often produced on the other side of the world. That is why we strive to ensure that each stage of fabric production brings the material closer to Paapii’s factory in Kokkola, avoiding unnecessary back-and-forth transportation. Although cotton fiber is often produced in Asia, we choose European fabric manufacturers in low-risk countries that are geographically and legally closer to us.

We value long-term relationships with a carefully selected group of partners. As much as 97% of the fabrics used in Paapii’s clothing production are manufactured in Lithuania. We began working with a Lithuanian factory in 2014, and the following year, it became Paapii’s main production partner.

Paapii products are sold primarily through our own online store and factory shop. You can also find our products through retailers around the world. Paapii products are now sold in more than 30 countries. All orders are shipped directly to our customers from Paapii’s factory in Kokkola, Finland.

How Is the Price of a Paapii Garment Made Up?

It is important to us to support local employment, which is why we want to explain how the price of a Paapii garment is made up. As an example, we have used the price breakdown of a children's T-shirt. Approximately 97.2% of the price of a Paapii children's T-shirt sold in Finland stays in Finland. You can compare this figure with the price of a T-shirt from a Finnish brand that is manufactured abroad and sold in Finland, of which approximately 80% stays in Finland. The price of a Paapii children's T-shirt consists of the following: production costs account for 23.3%, the brand's share is 18.05%, the retailer's share is 40.3%, and VAT accounts for 19.35%.

Production costs – 23.3% Production costs include the cost of the garment's materials and the sewing work carried out in Finland. All Paapii garments are sewn at Paapii's own sewing factory in Kokkola. Most of Paapii's fabrics are manufactured for us in Lithuania.

Brand – 18.05% The brand's share covers costs such as salaries, design and marketing. It also includes other expenses, including rent and insurance, machinery, equipment and software, as well as financial administration.

Retailer – 40.3% The retailer's share covers costs such as the fixed costs of running a shop, salaries and marketing expenses.

VAT – 19.35% of the price The standard VAT rate in Finland is 25.5%. VAT is added to the selling price of a product or service.

Environment and Climate

Nature is a great source of inspiration for Paapii. This is reflected in our designs, imagery, material choices, selection of partners and everyday decisions. We want to take responsibility for the environment by working towards emission-free operations and creating the conditions for sustainable development. Read more below about product design, materials and certifications, garment care, recycling and repairs, energy, packaging and shipping, and Paapii's carbon footprint.

Materials and Certifications

We use only clean, Eco-friendly and certified natural materials in our production. Around 97% of Paapii garments are made from organic cotton jersey and sweatshirt knit. Our organic cotton knit fabrics are manufactured for Paapii in Lithuania at a factory certified by GOTS and OEKO-TEX. The fabrics travel directly from Lithuania to Paapii’s factory in Kokkola by van, and together we pack them straight into Paapii’s warehouse.

The GOTS certification ensures that fabric is produced organically and ethically throughout the entire supply chain, taking into account the well-being of the environment, animals and workers. GOTS applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. These include the right to organize, fair wages, employment contracts and occupational safety, while prohibiting child labour. OEKO-TEX, in turn, ensures that the fabric is safe for the environment and even sensitive skin, and that it does not contain harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, pesticides or heavy metal residues. Both certifications are monitored by independent third-party organizations.

Merino wool products account for around 3% of Paapii’s production. Our merino wool fabrics are knitted by Orneule in Orivesi, Finland. All the merino wool we use is mulesing-free. A small proportion of our clothing collection is also made from jacquard knit, which consists of 100% organic cotton. This fabric is knitted for Paapii in Denmark.

In 2019, we switched to using YKK Natulon zippers in our products. These high-quality zippers are a more environmentally friendly alternative because they are made from recycled plastic. The sewing threads used in Paapii garments are made from 100% polyester, as we have found this to be the best option in terms of durability.

Paapii’s product range also includes wooden and paper products. Our trays, cutting boards and trivets are made for Paapii in Pieksämäki, Finland, from Finnish birch veneer. An environmentally friendly melamine coating is added to make the products resistant to heat and abrasion. Our postcards and gift packaging are produced for Paapii in Pietarsaari and Lahti, Finland. The paper used for our postcards is FSC-certified and carries the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

Care, Recycling and Repair

Longevity is reflected, among other things, in Paapii’s signature colour palette, which remains consistent from season to season. This timeless palette makes it easy to combine older and newer fabrics and garments. Textiles should not become outdated simply because a season or year has changed. A consistent colour palette also makes it easier to repair and alter garments.

Paapii’s sewing pattern books and fabrics provide the instructions and materials needed for creative sewing projects. Our playful prints and colours can be combined in countless ways – the only limit is your imagination. Through our pattern books, we want to encourage our customers to sew their own clothes and develop a better understanding of garment care, repair and quality. Paapii’s repair patches also offer a fun and easy way to mend clothes. Read more about caring for Paapii fabrics and garments here.

Well-cared-for garments can also stand the test of reuse, and we hope that Paapii clothes are passed on when they are no longer needed. Paapii also runs its own PaaPii Second Hand group on Facebook, giving customers an easy way to pass on Paapii products and garments sewn from Paapii fabrics. In this way, we aim to extend the useful life of our products as much as possible and keep good things in circulation. Click here to join the PaaPii Second Hand Facebook group.

If your Paapii garment becomes damaged despite proper care, or if you notice a defect in a product, please contact our customer service at asiakaspalvelu@paapiidesign.com. Your feedback helps us monitor and improve quality and correct any defects.

Energy

Paapii uses 100% green energy. Approximately 50–60% of all the energy used by Paapii’s premises is generated from two renewable energy sources: solar panels on the roof collect solar energy, and a geothermal heat pump provides additional energy. The remaining electricity used by Paapii is purchased from Kokkola Energy. This electricity is also green energy, backed by a European Guarantee of Origin (GO) certificate. The certificate guarantees that Paapii’s electricity is generated entirely from renewable energy sources. The electricity Paapii uses is bio energy produced from waste wood generated as a by-product of the forest industry. The raw materials are sourced mainly from forest owners in the surrounding region.

Carbon Footprint

PaaPii Design Oy’s carbon footprint for 2019 was calculated in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards. The calculation was carried out by an independent expert organisation, Clonet Oy. The aim was to establish a baseline for our carbon footprint so that we could monitor how our emissions develop over time and take the necessary steps to reduce them.

Paapii’s annual emissions in 2019 totalled 479 tonnes of CO₂e. We are already very close to carbon neutrality in our own operations, as only around 1.5% of our total emissions come from our own activities (Scopes 1 and 2).

Of Paapii’s total emissions, 471.46 tonnes of CO₂e per year are indirect emissions. For Scope 3, the calculation included emission sources for which reliable baseline data could be obtained with a reasonable amount of effort. These sources included the production of yarns and fibers, fabric manufacturing, the production of other products for sale, consumables, packaging materials, transportation of materials and products, waste transportation, employee business travel, commuting between home and work, the use phase of products, and end-of-life disposal.

The most significant sources of emissions arise from fiber and fabric production, the use of sold products, and the transportation of raw materials. The single largest source of emissions is organic cotton. Emissions from organic cotton production amounted to 298 tonnes of CO₂e, accounting for 62% of Paapii’s total emissions. The calculation also included emissions generated during the use of products and after they are no longer in use – stages that are often excluded from company-specific carbon footprint calculations.

Inspired by these results, we have expanded our calculations to determine the carbon footprint of every Paapii garment.

Packaging and Shipping

100% of the packaging materials used by Paapii are recyclable. All orders from the Paapii online store are shipped in plastic-free paper mailing bags that require no additional filling or tape. The paper bags keep products securely and sustainably packaged while taking up no unnecessary space during storage or transport. Paapii’s mailing bags are made from Finnish paper certified by FSC or PEFC. The paper is natural, recyclable and biodegradable. The bags feature Paapii’s distinctive Gates of Pohjola-pattern, making them delightful enough to reuse as storage bags, for example. The adhesives and printing inks are food-safe, so the bags can also be reused as compost bags, for instance. We stopped using plastic packaging materials in 2019.

Garments arriving from production are not individually wrapped in plastic bags. Instead, they are folded directly into storage boxes in our warehouse, where orders are picked and packed for customers. This has helped us reduce plastic use while saving both time and the environment. Although we have stopped using plastic ourselves, some fabric deliveries still arrive wrapped in plastic. We reuse some of this plastic to protect larger shipments, while the rest is recycled.

At our factory shop, all purchases are packed in Paapii’s Finnish-made paper bags bearing the Key Flag symbol. The bags are so lovely that they can also be used as gift bags. When they have served their purpose, they can be recycled with other paper waste. Our packaging materials certainly have more than one use!

We want to help our customers find the right product for them, partly to avoid unnecessary returns and the additional transportation they involve. Each garment in our online store has its own size chart to help customers assess whether the garment will fit and whether they will like the fit. You can also find a body measurement chart in the top-right corner of our online store to help you choose the right size. By staying actively connected with our customers through social media, email and our online chat, we make it easy to ask questions about our products, especially when choosing the right size feels challenging. We encourage thoughtful purchasing decisions and therefore do not offer free returns on orders from our online store. Returned items are inspected and then put back on sale.

Customers can also choose a carbon-offset delivery option when ordering from our online store.

Social Responsibility

Employment

Paapii employs around twenty people who together form a close-knit working community known as the Paapiilaiset. Our team brings together people of all ages, as we believe there is so much we can learn from one another across generations. Being part of the Paapiilaiset means cherishing openness and trust and embracing people from all walks of life and the diversity of what it means to be human. In an open and welcoming atmosphere, we dare to be bold, creative and successful. Every member of the Paapii team contributes to building the company’s future.

We want our workplace to be safe and healthy for everyone at Paapii. That is why occupational health and safety are an integral part of our everyday work. We care for our employees by fostering an atmosphere and working environment where everyone feels comfortable and supported. Annual assessments of workplace safety and occupational health services help us ensure that our practices remain up to date.

Customers and Community

We also want to do our utmost to protect our customers’ health and safety. Our fabrics are OEKO-TEX® certified, ensuring that they are safe even for sensitive skin. Through our marketing, we aim to convey a natural, healthy and positive image that celebrates humanity in all its diversity. We want our imagery to represent people of different sizes and appearances. Protecting our customers’ privacy is also important to us. Our customer database is stored on a password-protected server, accessible only to authorized individuals.

We are grateful and delighted that a community has grown around Paapii’s fabrics and clothing. We often ask this community for opinions and feedback on our products. Social media and the Facebook groups managed by Paapii allow us to connect directly with our customers. We share ideas, find inspiration and admire one another’s creations. We also want to encourage our customers to follow their own wonderfully unconventional paths, where creativity knows no bounds!