The UK government is now mulling a ban of plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers in another attempt to tackle plastic waste. From October 2015, all retailers in England with 250 or more employees were required by law to introduce a 5p charge for all single-use plastic bags. Currently, 74 percent of Calvin Klein’s packaging is recyclable. Asos, which sources more than 40 million plastic mailing bags and 5 million cardboard boxes a year for its orders, has introduced a range of packaging initiatives, including using bags made from 25% recycled content and fitting more parcels on delivery vehicles at a time. Recycling has also been of paramount importance to the company. An Australian based fashion label that prides themselves for their environmental awareness using a variety of eco-friendly packaging options like 100% biodegradable cotton retail bags and sustainable … 2 House of Sunny. Another initiative looking to reduce waste in the fashion industry is packaging service RePack, which aims to provide online retailers with a simple solution to waste. And the company has made some landmark strides towards this effort. Currently, 74 percent of Calvin Klein’s packaging is recyclable. Another initiative looking to reduce waste in the fashion industry is packaging service RePack, which aims to provide online retailers with a simple solution to waste. Tata Harper's outer packaging is composed of 100% post-consumer materials or recycled paperboard. Last month, it switched from polythene mailing bags to a greener alternative made from sugarcane via packaging supplier Duo. Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion. We use recycled paper and recycled bags. It fits with the brand, but helps the consumer understand that the retailer is making a better decision.”, We’re trying to develop ways of delivering clothing without plastic packaging at all. These findings are reflected in Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for cardboard and paper which tend to rate paper as having an overall higher environmental impact than plastic. PVH, the global apparel company that owns Calvin Klein, has committed to having packaging that is made of 100 percent sustainable and ethically sourced materials by 2025. If a brand isn’t yet able to reinvent how its products are made, starting with eco-friendly packaging can be an easy first step to test the market. Create recycling policies. Pregis’ Portfolio offers a number of sustainable packaging solutions, including 100 percent recycled packing paper, Renew cushions with 50 % post consumer recycled content and Renew-S cushions, made from waste of plant-based sources so retailers can protect their shipments from damage, without harming the environment. 31 July 2018. “Retailers need to meet the needs of the changing consumer, particularly as concerns over plastic are more apparent than ever.”. “Once a retailer has made the choice to use a sustainable source, it is also about how it communicates that to customers,” she says. Circule™ sustainable apparel packaging solutions are custom made for your brand and products to ensure your success. ASOS is recognised as a giant in the e-commerce industry, and while few of its products have any characteristics of sustainability, the company has made sure to have mitigation of packaging waste be at the forefront of its environmental policies. The move brought the country in line with existing schemes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and arguably helped spark a wider national conversation about plastic pollution. With ambitions to become a circular fashion business, ASOS has also implemented a closed loop system with their packaging manufacturer to collect returned packaging and incorporate it into the new mailing bags. But is there more that retailers could – and should – be doing when it comes to reducing packaging waste? The plastic packaging it uses for the outer boxes of its chocolate bars is recyclable. This eco-mindset has extended to making order fulfilment as sustainable as possible. This year, PVH expects to reduce plastic use by 68 tons. If the materials are not properly disposed of, this additional packaging may lead to a rise in consumer waste. But now those same values are being extended to their packaging and fulfilment strategies, and mainstream companies are joining them. Customize Circule™ biobased and compostable packaging and accessories to your brand, reduce waste, and you too can help create a sustainable, circular future! They've also saved over 200.000 kg plastic annually by changing to a thinner material for their clothing packaging. In spite of all this increased consumption, online shoppers still care about the environmental impact of their purchases. It currently works with brands including Swedish label Filippa K and sustainable denim company MUD Jeans, and sends customer orders in reusable and returnable packaging. Television viewers were left shocked by the final episode of BBC documentary series Blue Planet II, presented by Sir David Attenborough, which showed animals ingesting plastic packaging. RePack is currently setting up a UK logistics hub to enable it to work with British retailers. Currently, 74 percent of Calvin Klein’s packaging is recyclable. Sustainable Apparel Packaging for the Circular Economy. CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, December 16, 2019— Fashion for Good and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition have collaboratively authored a white paper, “Polybags in the Fashion Industry: Evaluating the Options.” This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the environmental issues surrounding polybags, the relevant considerations around system improvements … Best For … “That is something Pink Boutique has got right with the branding on the new bags that says: ‘give me some sugar’. Beyond the bag, the brand's packaging is made from recycled products too. Cost concerns are often one of the barriers preventing retailers from embracing sustainable initiatives across their businesses, particularly given the current challenges facing the UK high street. We appreciate brands that take risks and champion new ways to produce sustainable packaging. Brands and retailers need to take a look at the wider supply chain and move beyond the goods to embrace sustainable packaging, warns GlobalData. With the uncertainty of in-person retail is amplified by COVID-19, deliveries and the unboxing experiences are becoming one of the primary ways for brands to build a relationship with their consumers. For help and information on where to start with sustainable solutions for packaging your products, check out the Masterclass, "Eco-Packaging for Your Sustainable Brand". Shoppers can then return the packaging for free by post, and are offered an incentive or reward for doing so. While the fashion industry is beginning to embrace the need to operate in a more sustainable manner, their emphasis to date is, more often than not, on the products it produces – footwear and apparel. In that same study, 78 percent of respondents said that companies could be doing more to mitigate packaging waste. And the company has made some landmark strides towards this effort. This is all part of a larger company-wide effort to go completely carbon neutral. Unilever’s recyclable black packagingBlack plastic packaging is a recycling issue in many countries. Get full access to all the fashion industry news and intelligence you need, Browse the archive of more than 55,000 articles, access bespoke in-depth research, read the daily and weekly newsletters in full, receive the print magazine (optional), and gain priority access to Drapers events. Zoe Brimelow, brand director at Duo, which manufactures the sugarcane bags used by Pink Boutique, argues that retailers need to find creative ways to convey sustainability initiatives to customers. Ethics | Fair trade apparel, sustainable cotton, eco-friendly practices, ethical supply chain,… Natural Brands with Sustainable Packaging: Makeup: Aether Beauty Eyeshadow Palettes: This palette is fully recyclable with the removal of the eyeshadow pans and elastic.It contains no magnetic strip or mirror either! When the product arrives, the empty container can be dropped in the mail for return and reuse. Fashion retailers have a part to play in this battle against plastic, particularly as the explosion in online orders means an increasing number of products are sent to customers wrapped in layers of plastic and paper. In a recent survey, 83 percent of consumers said they considered the environment at the checkout screen, including the excessive waste it might be generating, and the increase in their carbon footprint. … Visit our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy to learn more. “As a result, we’re not paying more – we’re just being more economic about how we use the bags.”. In the EU, total packaging waste in 2016 amounted to nearly 87 million tonnes or about 170 kg per person. With more and more fashion retailers moving to ecommerce, the need for better packaging rises. The packaging comes in three adjustable sizes and is designed to last at least 20 cycles. Sustainability | Organic, recycled, & sustainable garments, natural dyes. “As more and more shopping is done online, customers are faced with excess packaging that infiltrates their homes and very quickly becomes a nuisance,” explains RePack chief executive and co-founder Jonne Hellgren. Patagonia has been leading the way in sustainability and environmentally responsible clothing and accessories for longer than this has even been something consumers cared about, and they have robust environmental, social, and fair trade initiatives deeply embedded in their protocols and company culture. As sustainability becomes an increasingly hot topic within the fashion industry, Drapers looks at what fashion retailers are doing to cut down on packaging waste and pollution. Bottletop is a sustainable brand that has luxury fashion at its core. The signature box is made using 90 percent post-consumer recycled material, and from paper that is certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). More information on how to do this can be found in the cookie policy. The company aims to achieve this by upgrading more of its infrastructure to 100 percent renewable energy, including using electric vehicles, biobased fuels in aviation, as well as integrating more reusable packaging. They offer on demand, low-waste shipping solutions. The big thing for us is delivering a shirt without using plastic at all, so that’s something we’re working hard to deliver.”, Spencer does not mince his words when it comes to why the brand is rethinking packaging: “I don’t think customers want all the crap that we send them. Fast fashion giant Zara, for example, now delivers its online orders in 100% recycled cardboard boxes made from boxes previously used in stores. Plus 10% of proceeds go to The Water Project, which provides clean, safe and reliable water and sanitation solutions across sub-Saharan Africa. Based In | London, UK. Even if your fashion brand provides good conditions for workers and creates high quality products using natural or sustainable raw materials, there’s still the problem of packaging waste. The rapid surge in e-commerce sales has led to an increase in package waste. Paper requires more energy to produce than plastic - statistics vary but it is thought to be 3 times higher. This sustainable shoe company has a lot of things going for it, but one of its primary differentiators is the fact that it uses the exact same box for both retail and shipping. In their Frustration Free Packaging initiative, they work with brands on strategies to eliminate supply chain waste and redesign their packaging to be more sustainable while still ensuring they arrive to customers undamaged. The standard corrugated box is 0.7 pounds, compared to .05 pounds for a bubble mailer, according to PAC Worldwide, resulting in higher vehicle emissions and fuel costs. The increase in online shopping, shoppers’ green demands and tight margins: retailers will have their work cut out to satisfy all three, but they must if they hope to thrive in a competitive market. One of the biggest successes to come from this programme is Tide’s new “eco-box,” which uses 60 percent less plastic than their traditional packaging. In 2014 they embarked on a mission to reduce package volume to cut down on waste and lower their carbon footprint by requiring fewer trips to make deliveries. Solutions for eco friendly packaging. Customers can request the new packaging at checkout. What is 'sustainable fashion'? Pregis’ Sharp poly bag systems are another strategy for mitigating waste. Asconsumers become increasingly aware of the impact their online purchasing habits can have on the environment, brands that tout eco-friendly packaging will have a larger market share. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition is a member-based collaborative that promotes sustainable packaging processes using a life-cycle approach. Here are 5 brands using sustainable packaging to make a lasting impact on consumers: PVH, the global apparel company that owns Calvin Klein, has committed to having packaging that is made of 100 percent sustainable and ethically sourced materials by 2025. Currently, 68 percent of their clothing line uses recycled material, and their website has detailed instructions on how customers can recycle their garments when they no longer want to wear them. Beyond using clean ingredients, Alter Eco is committed to using cleaner packaging as well. Concerns about our addiction to plastic have only grown since then. EILEEN FISHER. Calvin Klein PVH, the parent company to Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and other brands, is committed to better sustainable packaging. “All of our packaging has been stripped back to the bare needs now – we’ve even taken away the rice paper that had our brand name printed on it. Signing on to a multiyear supply agreement, the French beauty brand will start to incorporate Loop PET plastic into its product packaging by … Further Reading: Plastic Free July: For Businesses It all started with plastic bags. There’s too much plastic and I think it is in our customer’s DNA to think about sustainability.”. Drapers meets designer Oliver Spencer to chat about the changing menswear market,…, As we enter the twilight of 2020, the distant days of January…, Superdry’s global sourcing and sustainability director Shaun Packe discusses the business's plan…, The challenges of the Covid crisis brought it the best in fashion…, The leaders of some of the high street's biggest names reveal the…. The packaging of clothing will also improve as a result. Kelly Starter, along with a group of fellow surfers started a brand called Outerknown. This small change translated into reducing their impact by 528,000 kg of plastic annually. Calvin Klein PVH, the global apparel company that owns Calvin Klein, has committed to having packaging that is made of 100 percent sustainable and ethically sourced materials by 2025. The need for sustainable packaging comes from the fact that only 14% of the plastic packaging used globally is recycled. And the company has made some landmark strides towards this effort. E-commerce sales jumped a whopping 49 percent in April in response to COVID-19, and since then, online retailers have been scrambling to keep up with the increased demand in shipments. Kelly Slater. It is also heavier to transport than plastic. December 16, 2019. ), Pregis UK Gunnels Wood Road Stevenage Herts, UK SG1 2DG, Pregis NLNijverheidsweg 4,6422PD Heerlenthe Netherlands, Ready to Use (Loosefill) Packaging Solutions, Protective Film for Automotive & Transportation, Protective Film for Building & Construction, robust environmental, social, and fair trade initiatives. The finished sugarcane bag is 100% recyclable. In addition to using more boxes or bags, there is also more in-the-box protection used to make sure the package contents make it safely to its destination. Whereas, more than 40% of packaging ends up in a landfill. The company has incorporated more non-plastic packaging materials and PVH’s overall packaging is now 74 percent recyclable. As well as being a water-efficient crop, sugarcane absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows. “We were doing a rebrand anyway and I started looking into ways we could be more environmentally friendly.”. One of their most recent initiatives, Shipment Zero, was introduced in 2019, and aims to make 50 percent of all of their shipments net carbon zero by the year 2030. By Emily Sutherland Recently, the company modified their signature black and white mailer bags and reduced their thickness by ten to twenty microns. These brands are incorporating sustainable packaging into their fulfilment processes. More and more brands are becoming conscious about their impact on the environment. Much of it is plastic, which is often not recyclable and can take a significant toll on the environment. [Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF)]In the previous series, we spoke of companies like Puma, Lego, KFC, Dell, and Frito-Lay who are opting for sustainable packaging solutions for their products. Packaging choices are considered starting with the design and selection of materials until the product is used 4. To read more on sustainability and the circular model, download Drapers’ report on Solving Fashion’s Sustainability Problem. Many people confuse 'sustainable fashion' with 'ethical fashion', and while the two are unquestionably linked, the concept of sustainability in the industry refers to the effects of the production of clothing on the environment (ethical fashion concerns the way clothing is made - encompassing everything from how the cotton was grown to whether and how … “The cost of the sugarcane bags was about 25% more than what we were paying before, but we looked at all the sizes we were using and then restructured the size range to get the economy we needed,” she says. The Ship In Own Container programme developed by Amazon also encourages brands to reduce packaging waste by redesigning retail packages to be shipping friendly. A big part of the waste crisis is the result of packaging, which the fashion industry is using ever more of in the age of online retail. “We try to be as sustainable as possible in everything that we do and I felt uncomfortable about the number of plastic bags we were using,” explains Pink Boutique finance director Julie Blackie (pictured at the top of the page with Anthony Brimelow, commercial director at Duo). We use cookies to personalize and improve your experience on our site. Featured product: Bio Poly Mailers In addition to sizing boxes and accompanying packaging to the size of the … There have also been some serious success stories, for instance, with Germany recently announcing that it will ban all single-use plastics by 2021 . The outer bag that protects the boxes is made from 55% recycled plastic. And part of that relationship is about honouring the sanctity of the environment. What little plastic the brand uses, such as the plastic resin in the tubes, is as eco-friendly as possible, derived from corn. California-based sustainable fashion brand, Toad&Co, partnered with US startup LimeLoop to replace cardboard boxes and disposable mailers with recycled vinyl packages. You can opt out of some cookies by adjusting your browser settings. It was launched in 2002 by Cameron Saul, along with his father, Mulberry founder Roger Saul. British designer Oliver Spencer has also been tackling waste at his eponymous menswear label. Womenswear retailer Pink Boutique is another fashion business taking a stance on packaging. These bags are made from natural, biodegradable ingredients, and are just as durable as plastic alternatives. The result: some brands ar… (In 2019, Pregis received an FSC Chain of Custody Mix certification for Easypack paper products. Eco-friendly products in the fashion, personal care, and other sectors have been popular for years. View this post on Instagram. And, if you're ready to make the switch, why not check out our handy matrix of eco-packaging suppliers. By using our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Furthermore, the brand uses soy-based ink for its labeling, an ideal choice for sustainable packaging. 11 eco-friendly brands that put the planet first - 99designs In line with parent company Unilever's plan to become more sustainable, Dove announced that it's switching up all of its Dove, Dove Men+Care, and Baby Dove packaging … You can use WP menu builder to build menus, Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our, COPYRIGHT © 2020 EMAP PUBLISHING LIMITED, Better bags: fashion wakes up to eco-friendly packaging, Superdry’s super-ambitious sustainability strategy, Covid business continuity strategies: Peter Wood, AllSaints. “We’re trying to develop ways of delivering clothing without plastic packaging at all,” he tells Drapers. 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