Apparel Online India Magazine July 1st Issue 2018 | Page 16

SUSTAINABILITY HAVE YOUR SAY BREAKING NEWS Tell us your news by emailing at [email protected] To read the latest sustainability news, go to https://apparelresources.com/business-news/sustainability/  ASICS cuts CO 2 emission by 17.5% In its latest sustainability report, Japanese sportswear company ASICS has marked out the progress it has made on the sustainability front. ASICS reduced its CO 2 emissions in 2017 by 17.5 per cent. This significant amount of reduction was achieved by collaborating with EnterSolar, to install one-megawatt rooftop solar panel assemble at a distribution centre in Byhalia, Mississippi. Furthermore, ASICS, in 2017, concluded its scientific research on sustainable materials and manufacturing processes to develop new training apparel that consumes around 50 per cent less water in the dyeing stage as compared to the traditional materials. These apparels were used by Japan’s Olympic team in 2016 and Paralympic Winter Games team in 2018. On the social front, ASICS provided financial help and made donations (footwear, apparel and sports equipment) worth over US $ 774,000, to support local communities. Notably, ASICS also initiated an experimental programme with recycled products manufacturer JEPLAN in Japan to collect used garments and footwear for reusing them into making new fabric resins and fuel, thus promoting circular business model. The sportswear brand is further eyeing to reduce 33 per cent of carbon footprints in its own operations and supply chain carbon emission by 55 per cent by 2030. IKEA to ban single-use plastics Swedish home furnishing retailer IKEA has announced that it will completely eliminate the use of one-time plastic products from its stores and restaurants by 2020. The company’s new policy will be applied in all of its stores across the globe. As a result, IKEA will be banning products such as disposable plastics and garbage bags as well. IKEA will also promote sustainability among its customers through its offerings such as a tap nozzle that will help them save over 90% of water used, and will start selling solar panels in 29 markets (5 at present) in the next seven years. The Swedish company, which operates 418 stores across 49 markets, wishes to become ‘planet positive’ by 2030 and hence it is focusing on the sustainable initiatives. The retailer also aims to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2020, while in another five years, it plans to attain zero 16 Apparel Online India | JULY 1-15, 2018 | www.apparelresources.com emission on deliveries and it will also use only renewable and recycled materials in its production process. Inter IKEA Group CEO, Torbjörn Lööf said that with such a vast customer base and reach, the company can inspire more than a billion people to live their lives within the limitations of the planet. “We are looking to take charge and work with everyone from raw material suppliers to the end customer for this initiative,” he added. Furthermore, IKEA has, over years, reportedly invested around US $ 2 billion in renewable energy and installed 7,50,000 solar panels and set up 416 windmills.