Target Hits a Bullseye Introducing Sustainability to a Mass Market

Target is on the forefront of marketing when it comes to sustainability. With green commercial production and their ban on sand blasted jeans, Target is evolving the way they communicate with their consumers.

Focusing on social responsibility Target features brands like Method, Burt’s Bees and Yes To on their blog. These brands emphasize their actions; what they do rather than what they do not. Words like “anti” are left out and a more positive focus on the benefits of their products are highlighted.

Companies that feel the pressure of wanting to sell socially responsible products but worry about their sales falling short could take a cue from Target, who have hit the mark. To read the full story please click here.

Shaping Sustainable Fashion

The production, use and eventual disposal of most clothing is environmentally damaging, and many fashion and textile designers are becoming keen to employ more sustainable strategies in their work.  Shaping Sustainable Fashion provides a practical guide to the ways in which designers are creating fashion with less waste and greater durability.

Based on the results of extensive research into lifecycle approaches to sustainable fashion, the book is divided into four sections:

• Source explores the motivations for the selection of materials for fashion garments and suggests that garments can be made from materials that also assist in the management of textile waste.
• Make discusses the differing approaches to the design and manufacture of sustainable fashion garments that can also provide the opportunity for waste control and minimization.
• Use explores schemes that encourage the consumer to engage in slow fashion consumption.
• Last examines alternative solutions to the predictable fate of most garments – landfill.

Illustrated throughout with case studies of best practice from international designers and fashion labels and written in a practical, accessible style, this is a must-have guide for fashion and textile designers and students in their areas.

Force of Nature: The Unlikely Story of Wal-Mart’s Green Revolution

Wal-Mart—the world’s largest, arguably most powerful corporation—has long been plagued by terrible PR and a never-ending slew of lawsuits.  Enter Jib Ellison, river guide turned corporate consultant, determined to convince executives that making a profit and building a sustainable business are not mutually exclusive and would, in fact, confer a powerful competitive advantage.

Ellison has instituted a project at Wal-Mart called “The Index” that challenges suppliers to root out inefficiency and waste.  Packaging has shrunk, saving millions of gallons of water, millions of pounds of cardboard, not to mention diesel fuel.  Wal-Mart’s sheer size, coupled with its lowest-pricing mission, means that producers are forced to take steps toward sustainability—and make natural, organic, and earth-friendly products widely available.

Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Humes offers a stirring story of how ecologically responsible practices are increasingly benefiting the bottom line, and how as Wal-Mart goes global , the biggest retailer in the world is, slowly but surely, encouraging a change for the better.  A fascinating, fair-minded look at the congruence between environmentalism and business, and the behemoth at the intersection.

 

 

A Billion Acts of Green

In celebration of Earth Day, we’d like to encourage you to join the the world’s biggest online climate action movement!  A Billion Acts of Green allows you to show your commitment to the earth by pledging an “Act of Green”.  It can be as simple as setting up a compost in your home, riding your bike to work daily to offsetting your flights.

What are you waiting for…..sign up today to make your commitment in making our world a better place to live!

Building a Business With a Social Mission

Eric Ryan, co-founder of method – a company providing green home and personal care cleaning products – believes that meaning in work is central to a strong corporate culture.

“Having a purpose larger than profits has been key to our success. By contrast, most corporate values are just that – the values of the corporation.  No matter how much ambition, camaraderie, and loyalty an employee brings to work, no one is taking those corporate values home to share with friends and family.  But those same values become immeasurably more meaningful when they’re tied to a higher purpose.”

He recently shared his thoughts and practices on building a business with a social mission with Fast Company.  To hear what he has to say and to be inspired, click here.

Nike Paves the Way

In an effort to further industry sustainability efforts, NIKE Inc.released its Environmental Apparel Design Tool, based on Nike’s Considered Design Index.  The release of the tool aims to accelerate collaboration between companies, fast-track sustainable innovation and decrease the use of natural resources such as oil and water.

Designed and built by Nike over seven years, with a six million dollar investment, the software-based Environmental Apparel Design Tool helps designers to make real time choices that decrease the environmental impacts of their work.

Recognizing the decline of natural resources and the need to move to a low-carbon economy, the tool is a practical way to rate how apparel designs score in reducing waste and increasing the use of environmentally preferred materials while allowing the designers to make real time adjustments.

Nike is committed to open innovation and welcomes others building and improving on this tool.

“This tool is about making it simple for designers to make the most sustainable choices right at the start of the product creation process.  Over the past four years it has proved to be invaluable at Nike and has helped us create products with a higher sustainability standard,” said Hannah Jones, Vice President of Nike Sustainable Business and Innovation.

“By releasing the tool we want others to improve on it and we hope to inspire further collaboration to create global industry standards for a level playing field, encourage widespread industry adoption of sustainable design practices and have more sustainable products available for the consumer.”

In the last year alone, Nike doubled its use of recycled polyester,  saving 82 million plastic bottles from landfill.  If all apparel companies committed to converting one third of their polyester garments to recycled polyester, the demand for recycled polyester would be greater than the annual production of plastic bottles, diverting PET bottles from landfill.

“Nike’s decision to open-source this design tool is a win-win because it leverages important intellectual capital to benefit an entire industry,” said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres, a leading coalition of investors and environmental groups that works with companies like Nike to address sustainability challenges.  “Whether for sneakers or cars, it is hugely important to integrate water, chemical, energy and waste considerations into all product design.  If all apparel companies use this tool, the impacts could be breathtaking, from less-clogged landfills to expanding our sustainable material industries.”

Mike Barry, Head of Sustainability for Marks & Spencer, who has worked closely with Nike for several years on sustainability issues, said:  “As a company committed to developing a sustainable business, we welcome this type of industry collaboration.  The Nike tool will help apparel companies and retailers design more sustainable product.  We firmly believe that sharing knowledge like this helps us all move towards a more sustainable future faster.”

These efforts come after Nike’s announcement earlier this year about the GreenXchange (GX), a Web-based marketplace where companies can collaborate and share intellectual property which can lead to new sustainability business models and innovation.  Nike committed to placing more than 400 patents on GX for research, demonstrating its belief that the best way to stimulate sustainable innovation is through open innovation.

Wal Mart – Jolly GREEN Giant?

Not long ago Wal-Mart announced their global commitment to sustainable agriculture in which they aimed to help small and medium sized farmers expand their businesses, get more income for their product and reduce the environmental impact of farming.  Wal-Mart pledged to make it’s Faded Glory brand  100% more sustainable.  Now, just a few months later, reports from India indicate that the retail giant may be cutting back on it’s use of organic cotton.

Anil Jain of Venus Garments stated, “We had a considerable good order for organic garments from Wal-Mart last year which is has not continued for this year.”  Although sizeable orders continue to come in from Wal-Mart, it’s Spring 2011 line is made up of a mixture of both conventional and organic cotton as opposed to 100% organic cotton.

According to one advisor at Ecotextile News, the most likely reason behind Wal-Marts decision to cut back on their sustainability commitments has something to do with the record high costs of cotton.  Five years ago, organic cotton was selling 20 – 25 cents per pound more than conventional cotton, whereas today organic cotton is 5 – 7 cents more per pound.

Some industry leaders have suggested that any cut backs by Wal-Mart may last only a short while until the prices return to reasonable rates.  Either way, downsizing of Wal-Marts organic cotton commitment will be a disappointing blow to Indian organic cotton farmers.

Shaping Tomorrows Industry

This years RITE Group Conference takes place on October 6th at Central Hall Westminster in London UK.  Organizers have confirmed that exhibition space has been sold out and that a line up of notable figures from the fashion and textile industries will be speaking.  Speakers include;

• Vicky Murray of Forum for the Future
• Sara Giorgi of Brook Lyndhurst
• Anna Harvey of Marks & Spencer
• Dorothy Maxwell, Global View Sustainability Services
• Paul Hulme of Huntsman Textile Effects
• Tom Podkolinski of  Finisterre Outdoor and Surfwear
• Thomas Ursem of Rabobank

This years theme, “Shaping Tomorrows Industry”, focuses largely on sustainability touching on subjects such as;

• Fashion Futures 2025: Making Sense of Uncertainty.  Scenarios for the Future of the Industry
• Reducing the Impact of Textiles on the Environment – A Chemical Manufacturers View
• Consumer Attitudes and Behaviours Around Textile Purchasing, Use and Disposal.
• Global Cotton Production: Trends and Challenges in sustainability
• Sustainability in Textiles – Progress and Next Steps?
• Ethical Sourcing Issues

The goal and vision of RITE Group as stated on their website is to develop and provide advice and fact based information to reduce the negative environmental effects of the production, use and disposal of textiles and to drive forward the sustainable and ethical production of textiles and apparel throughout the global supply chain.  They provide a forum for different sectors of the textile industry to share views and best practice and our success is based on the facilitation of discussions between industry, retail, academia, media, scientists, designers and government.

The Buzz on Bamboo

Due to its luxurious softness, smooth hand, flowing drape and easy price – bamboo has gained entry into the apparel and fashion industry.  It’s being touted as the latest and hottest sustainable eco fabric but some are starting to question this.

There’s no denying that bamboo is wonderfully beneficial for the planet.  It does not require the use of chemical pesticides,  requires very little water to grown and it does not require replanting after harvesting because its vast root network continually sprouts new shoots.  It’s not until we begin to look at the manufacturing processes that the “eco friendly” luster is tarnished due to the use of heavy chemicals, many of which are toxic.

Bamboo is pulped using traditional kraft pulping technology which is notoriously toxic.  The bamboo fibre is ground up and treated with chemicals that turn it into a liquid pulp.  The liquid is then pressed through a spinneret. The extruded streams of liquid harden into fibers that are then woven together to make bamboo fabric.  Rendering bamboo from a plant to a yarn involves a chemical process – the same process that is being used for conventional rayon and viscose which are a ‘regenerated cellulose fiber’s made by man.  This process is highly polluting and involves carbon disulfide emissions.  Breathing low levels of carbon disulfide can cause tiredness, headache and nerve damage and it has been linked to neural disorders in workers at rayon manufacturing facilities.

The Federal Trade Commission recently sued four small bamboo-clothing manufacturers earlier this year, citing them for false labeling.  The companies had used language such as “natural,” “biodegradable,” and “antimicrobial.”  The FTC said, “Bamboo fabric isn’t natural since it’s a textile developed by chemists.”  The agency also stated that the biodegradable and antimicrobial qualities of the plant don’t survive the manufacturing process.  The FTC released the following article based on their findings – “Have You Been Bamboozled by Bamboo Fabrics?”.

CRAILAR Advanced Materials provides an alternative to the pollution caused by traditional cellulose pulping for the textile market.   The CRAILAR pulping process is a much gentler process when compared to Kraft pulping and produces a pure cellulose with properties that exceed those of the best pulps on the market.  The processing chemicals used, while not certified organic, are almost completely recycled.  In fact, over 95% of the chemicals we use are recycled and reused while the balance is consumed during the process.  Unlike many of the so-called eco fibers (bamboo and soy for example) which rely on dirty technology to process them, our patented CRAILAR Advanced Materials process is not only gentle on the fibre itself, but is also a much cleaner and sustainable approach to regenerated cellulose yarn.

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A Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose

America’s “Greenest CEO” continues to inspire with the release of his new book, Confessions of a Radical Industrialist.

Ray Anderson is more than just the founder of Interface, the worlds largest manufacturer of modular carpeting, he is also a pioneer and hero of corporate sustainability.

For years, Anderson’s company had manufactured carpets using a toxic, petroleum-based process, releasing immense amounts of air and water pollution and creating tons of waste. It wasn’t until 1994, after reading the book, The Ecology of Commerce, that Anderson had an epiphany – “I read it, and it was a spear in the chest, an eye-opening , earth-shaking, life-changing experience.”

Soon after, Anderson became know for his advanced and progressive stand on industrial ecology and sustainability.  Anderson’s company cut greenhouse gas emissions by 82 percent, eight of ten Interface plants have achieved the 100 percent renewable energy mark, and the company uses 100 percent recycled yarn for carpets. While implementing these green initiatives, the company increased sales by 66 percent, doubled earnings, and raised profit margin.

Ray Anderson has been named one of MSNBC Top 15 Green Business Leaders in 2007, one of Time Magazine’s Heroes of the Environment and he’s been featured in two groundbreaking documentaries – The Corporation and The 11th Hour.

Don’t forget to grab a copy of his new book!