LIVING
IOTA PROJECT
iota first and foremost is a social business, with a commitment to the wellbeing of both the planet and communities they call home. They empower the underemployed through skill-building, and help nurture and preserve traditional techniques.
SUSTAINABILITY PURPOSE
The vision behind iota is to establish a movement that allows different people from around the world to learn a technique of traditional hand-craftsmanship, by providing them employment and allowing them to earn an honest living. This idea contains a social responsibility and a way to maintain traditional arts by extenuating the importance of knowledge and skills. It also portrays the belief that regardless of the infinite possibilities that technology offers, people still seek for a personal and unique hand print.
Established
2014
Headquarters
Tel Aviv, Israel
First Certified
2019
Employees
6
Categories
Homeware
Website
Distribution
Worldwide
A WORD FROM THE CO-FOUNDERS
Imagine if every designer, architect, artist chose a product based on social impact within a house, an office, or any other project they are working on - the world would inherently become a much better place, and the industry would adapt. It is political and social, knowing how and where something came into being makes iota more invested in it, so much so that we become more responsible makers.
SHULA MOZES & TAL ZUR
CO-FOUNDERS
Case study
PEOPLE MANAGEMENT
SOCIAL
iota's extensive human resources policies include dedicated training and skill-building as well as the right to collective bargaining. These guide employees in their crochet and knit shop designs, while also supporting in-house communication strategies, business development, and social impact policies. iota also provides its staff ample opportunities to inform operational and strategy policy changes. All employees have bi-annual meetings with the CEO. Open strategy discussions occur in bi-annual staff meetings, and during individualised meetings with line managers. Inspirational lectures on social rights, and arts and crafts among other topics also encourage frequent exchanges of ideas.
Case study
SUSTAINABLE SOURCING
ENVIRONMENT & GOVERNANCE
iota actively supports fair working conditions and empowerment in its supply chain. By collaborating closely with its business partners, the company develops the skills of homeworking women, who have faced barriers to enter the labour force, to hand-knit rugs, bags, and other textiles. iota engages with its key supplier, the Turkey-based Sector 7, through monthly meetings. Their partnership, alongside several deep-seated supplier relationships, also has a basis in third-party certifications such as the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and the NEST assessment/training programme for small workshops. NEST already covers 70% of iota’s suppliers through regularly conducted ethical audits.
Case study
UN SDG ALIGNMENT
GOVERNANCE
iota's commitments and contributions to the UN SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) reinforce its own line of business. Working for gender equality (SDG 5) stems from being an all-female enterprise which supports underemployed/unemployed women who face numerous barriers to join the workforce. Striving for inclusive growth (SDG 8) is tied to promoting community development. By 2025, iota seeks to expand opportunities by establishing an apprenticeship programme. The commitment to reducing inequalities (SDG 10) in Turkey and elsewhere is primarily gender-focused and locally based. IOTA Project also encourages sustainable consumption (SDG 12) by producing artisan product lines, which are set to include 75% of recycled materials by 2030.
