Plastic products are widely used in the fashion consumer market, such as protective bags in logistics transportation, and different plastic packages in distribution, transportation and exchange. And a large number of fossil fuel industrial pollution along with the production of plastics has undoubtedly brought heavy pressure to the environment.
Michelle Marsh, creative director of Etica denim, said: "In fact, many department stores require brands to purchase and deliver plastic hangers. This conflicts with our brand spirit, but it also makes us realize that we cannot truly achieve the goal of sustainable development only by relying on our own strength. Therefore, we need to work with suppliers, retailers and consumers to find sustainable solutions for all sectors, which is a big step forward for the fashion industry. "
Rory Gopsill, an analyst at GlobalData, said: "Sustainability is an increasingly important issue for consumers, investors and regulators. If some companies do not set strict sustainability goals or cause serious environmental pollution, they will be punished or even resisted."
At the same time, in the past, more and more brands have been trying their best to practice sustainable development through research and development of new materials and product packaging alternatives.
As early as two years ago, the designer Tom Ford, together with the non-profit organizations Lonely Whale and Nike and other co authors, jointly launched the Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize, aiming to help the fashion industry find a fully biodegradable non plastic packaging solution by combining innovation forces.
However, Susan Rockefeller, the judge of the Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Award, stressed in an interview with WWD that "the film plastic made of biodegradable plastic has not been put into use on a large scale. The plastic pollution in the sea is still growing, and more large-scale solutions are still very urgent. The large-scale implementation requires the joint participation of all parties."
Canadian biotechnology company Genecis also reprogrammes bacteria using organic waste; Kenya social enterprise Lwanda Biotech focuses on the treatment of plastic pollution and agricultural waste within the community; Xampla， A derivative company of Cambridge University, inspired by spider silk, converts vegetable proteins such as peas into high-performance plastic substitutes. Sustainability has gradually become an important part of the industry.
Nordstrom, a high-end department store chain from the United States, is one of the retail enterprises currently studying how to deal with plastic waste. Liz Lipton McCombie, director of Nordstrom's corporate social responsibility, said, "In the spring of 2022, in order to reduce the use of disposable plastic in the value chain by 50%, the plastic bags on our shelves will be replaced by paper bags."
Liz Lipton McCombie added: "Through the use of paper bags, we have made great progress in reducing the use of 853 tons of plastic. In addition, we also purchased half of the new bags from domestic suppliers, reducing carbon emissions during transportation. Nordstrom has phased out the use of plastic bags in 241 stores, and we will continue to look for more sustainable alternatives throughout our business. "
However, it is not easy to completely replace plastic products in the short term. Therefore, in addition to the joint participation and input of multiple stakeholders, reducing the use, improving the efficiency of recycling programs, and promoting the use of clean energy in the production process, it may also be a number of innovative solutions that need to be considered and measured during the transition period.
Sujoy Biswas, partner of the management consulting firm Kearney PER Lab, pointed out that "it is impossible to completely replace plastic bags in the short term. As an 'economical and effective' separation medium and protection, plastic bags can reduce costs and ensure convenience, and this effect is difficult to be fully replicated by other materials in the short term."
The retailer Urbn believes that showing respect for human beings and the earth is the two pillars of the company's development. Reducing waste generation, strengthening recycling investment and using cleaner energy are the core of its environmental progress.
Allie Noll, senior manager of global sustainable development of Urbn, said in an interview with WWD: "We will be committed to creating more opportunities in our own supply chain, increasing the use of recycled materials and reducing waste."
By the autumn of 2022, Urbn's direct consumer mail bags will be 100% made of recycled materials. Specifically, the automatic assembly mailing bags directly to consumers are made of 50% of the waste after consumption. Allie Noll said that Urbn is testing new methods and establishing partnerships to help promote recycling solutions for plastics from suppliers.
Nordstrom has set a target of 2025, which includes providing an enterprise grant of US $1 million for textile recycling in the industry, and helping to extend the service life of 250 tons of clothing through donation and resale.
Since 2020, Nordstrom has also been trying to recycle more beauty products through its BeautyCycle project, including mascara tubes, eyelash caps, mascara cans and mascara sticks. The project is operated by TerraCycle. So far, 25 tons of beauty products have been recycled, and the target is to increase the recycling volume to 100 tons by 2025. WWD
Author WWD Editorial Department
Edit Russell
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