US-based department store company Macy’s, Inc. has announced initiatives that would help it meet its long-term sustainability goals and promote circularity throughout its value chain. Earlier this year, Macy’s became a part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation community, focused on accelerating and enabling the transition to a global, circular economy.

The company also joined FABSCRAP, a non-profit in New York City that helps ensure that the fabric waste – an unavoidable part of the design and development process – is reused, upcycled, downcycled and recycled responsibly, according to a press release by Macy’s. Macy’s aims to advance its sustainable product by offering to include circular solutions and services, prioritising opportunities that extend the life of a product.

US-based department store company Macy’s, Inc. has announced initiatives that would help it meet its long-term sustainability goals and promote circularity throughout its value chain. Earlier this year, Macy’s became a part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation community, focused on accelerating and enabling the transition to a global, circular economy.

“As a leading, omnichannel retailer, we understand the role we play in creating a more equitable and sustainable future for all. We are committed to promoting a more circular economy across our value chain,” said Keelin Evans, vice president of sustainability at Macy’s, Inc. “Our efforts are focused on providing sustainable and ethically produced brands, products, and services to our customers, while reducing our impact on the environment through operations. We’re going to achieve this through our guiding social purpose platform, Mission Every One, and an enterprise-wide collaboration with partners, designers, suppliers, logistics partners, entrepreneurs, colleagues and customers.”

Over the past year and a half, the company has also introduced several initiatives to reduce, reuse, and recycle across its private and market brand product offerings and operations.

To reduce waste, Macy’s Private Brand team has embraced technology that allows the scaling back of the number of physical samples required from suppliers without impacting fit, colour, and other design considerations. This process has significantly decreased textile waste. In 2019, 5 per cent of samples were digital and by the end of the 2022 development season, 61 per cent of all samples were made virtually. This shift actively keeps products that would otherwise not have use, out of landfills.

Macy’s has also adopted best practices to reduce packaging, including standardising the size of packing cartons and minimising packaging materials. Auto-boxer and auto-bagger technology enable Macy’s to create unique packaging fitting odd or oversized items and reducing box volume and waste up to 50 per cent. In 2022, virgin plastic mailer bags were edited to include 35 per cent recycled content, reducing the thickness of the bag by 20 per cent. As a result, virgin plastic input was reduced by more than 50 per cent. All cardboard used by Macy’s fulfilment centres is FSC certified and is comprised of 35 per cent recycled content.

Through its partnership with Give Back Box, Macy’s customers can contribute to the responsible lifecycle of their clothes, toys, and other pre-loved items by downloading a pre-paid shipping label from Macy’s website and sending them to be donated for resale and recycling.

Additionally, both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s offer accessible care instructions and programmes to help customers extend the product life and reduce water and electricity use.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)