FEATURE
PHILIPPINE RETAILING
The Sustainability
Game-changers:
Are you ready too?
With more people becoming aware of the environmental implications of their actions and
consumption, a lot of consumers are now leaning towards companies and brands who
have taken action, no matter how small their stance is in reducing wastes—especially
single use plastic and straws.
M
ore and more people are prudent in
choosing the brands they patronize and engage with.
According to The Pulse of the Fashion Industry report
published by Global Fashion Agenda, Boston
Consulting Group and Sustainable Apparel Coalition,
75% of consumers surveyed view sustainability as
extremely or very important. In result, more than a
third of consumers report they have already switched
from their preferred brand to another because it
credibly stands for positive environmental and/or
social practices, while more than 50% of consumers
plan to switch brands in the future if another brand
acts more environmentally and socially friendly than
their preferred one.
Moreover, in terms of responsibility on moving forward
to a more sustainable world, Kantar TNS reported in
their survey of 1, 260 people, 63% are concerned
about the quantity of packaging they buy, but believe
that manufacturers hold the accountability of
lessening the packaging, 22% from younger and 48%
from older generation (65 and up) think that the role
is for the manufacturers.
So, what are global brands doing in terms of acting on
these environmental issues? And are you already doing
this within your company or plan to do so? Read on to
learn some of the latest actions taken:
Adidas
One of the largest sportswear manufacturers in the
world, Adidas, targets to produce 11 million pairs of
shoes made from recycled ocean plastic. The plastic
waste materials used for the shoes are collected by
their partner organizations in partnership with Parley
6
for the Oceans, a community of creators, thinkers,
and leaders who aim to address major threats towards
the oceans.
Aside from this, Adidas is also committed to using
only recycled polyester materials for their products
by 2024. Half of their 900 million items are made of
polyester.
Inditex (Zara)
Biggest fashion retail brand Zara has also pledged to
use only sustainable fabrics in all their collections by
2025. In an effort to lessen waste and energy usage,
all of their cotton, linen, and polyester used will be
organic, sustainably-sourced or recycled.
The first batch of their green collection is released
recently, called Edited, is composed of denim pieces
which are sustainably-made and are customizable.
Aside from creating sustainable items, the company
also promised to utilize renewable energy for 80% of
its power needs by the same deadline and aims to
cut out all single plastics from all customer sales by
2023.
Fast Retailing (UNIQLO)
Japanese fast fashion brand Uniqlo has also
committed to jump into the bandwagon as its parent
company Fast Retailing announced that they will
reduce single-use plastic bags by 85% next year,
which is equal to 7, 800 tons of plastic.
As replacement, the company will introduce
eco-friendly paper shopping bags and will rethink
product packaging. The move has been initially rolled
out this month in 12 markets including Japan and
eventually to all its 3, 500 stores worldwide.