Adidas Group, the world’s second largest sportswear brand, has made a commitment to end the discharge of hazardous chemicals from within its supply chain by 2020. Over the next seven weeks, the company will develop a roadmap to guide the actions of its supply chain, as well as drive the sportswear industry towards elimination of hazardous discharge.

The announcement is in response to a Greenpeace campaign which highlighted the extent to which hazardous chemicals are used and discharged by the textile industry. Greenpeace’s Detox campaign linked major brands to polluting facilities in China.

In a July report called Dirty Laundry, Greenpeace aired the pollution habits of a couple large textile facilities. These facilities were found to be discharging hazardous chemicals that disrupt hormones, and threaten human health. The brands linked to these facilities included Puma, Nike, Adidas, Lacoste, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Converse, Calvin Klein, and several others. Continue reading ‘adidas joins nike and puma to slowly stop polluting china’s water’ »

The term “sustainability” has fully permeated the corporate world. It seems like every day another company announces it’s published a report. However, even with a report it can be difficult understand the environmental performance of many companies. Timberland understands the need to better communicate its message and to supply information to those who seek it. The company has developed a corporate sustainability report (CSR) portal it calls Timberland Responsibility, where it highlights the company’s goals, progress, initiatives, product information, and other information in an easily accessible format.

Timberland has a history of supporting environmental initiatives, and it is out front when it comes to its own sustainability efforts. In 2008, Timberland Chief Executive Officer Jeff Swartz instituted quarterly reporting on the company’s environmental progress.

Continue reading ‘timberland’s honest and accessible csr’ »

A company is only as green as its supply chain. For many businesses, relying on Federal Express and UPS to deliver packages is an everyday activity. Fortunately for those who use those shipping services, sending packages is getting slightly less damaging to the environment. And for the shipping companies, it’s also getting less costly.

FedEx recently issued its 2010 Global Citizenship Update, and in it the company outlined its progress on sustainable initiatives.

Continue reading ‘fedex and ups make your supply chain a little greener’ »

At AirDye® Solutions, we believe in marrying technological improvements in dyeing with outstanding environmental practices. When another company sees what we see, it’s a great match. With that in mind, we are very pleased to announce our newest partner: Deer Creek Fabrics.

The Connecticut-based company has been in business for decades, and has recently stepped up its sustainable efforts and selection of eco-friendly fabrics. To get a deeper understanding of the company and what excites them about AirDye, we spoke with Steve Lucier, president of Deer Creek Fabrics.

Good for Business (G4B): For those who are unfamiliar with Deer Creek, would you tell us a little about the company?
Continue reading ‘deer creek fabrics introduces eco-friendly fabrics at outdoor retailer’ »

Water and energy. Few people grasp how intertwined those two critical resources have become. Even fewer know that today’s energy production methods consume and contaminate freshwater at a rapid and unsustainable rate. A recent report from the non-profit Circle of Blue sheds light on the issue and warns that the escalating clash between energy demand and freshwater supplies could cripple the world’s two top economies–those of the United States and China.

Both nations have long recognized that energy supplies play a central role in economic strength and quality of life–and each has made energy production a national priority. However, it seems neither country has fully recognized that the pursuit of energy threatens clean water supplies.

it takes water to make energy

In the United States, our energy comes primarily from four sources: coal, natural gas, hydroelectric, and oil. Alternative and renewable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and tidal represent a tiny percentage of energy production. All major sources of energy are heavily dependent on water resources.

Continue reading ‘the nexus of water and energy’ »

For some time, we have covered Marks & Spencer’s (M&S) restructuring and revival plan. That program—called Plan A because the company considers it the best way to do business—is saving the company money. Sustainability is putting M&S on the right path, and the payback is adding up fast.

In fiscal year 2011, Plan A contributed over £70 million ($113.2 million) to the company’s bottom line, up from £50 million the prior year. M&S is working toward its goal of becoming the world’s most sustainable retailer by 2015.

“Plan A is now delivering more for our customers than ever before. It is creating great products with eco and ethical benefits like the world’s first fairtrade vegetable and the Indigo Green fashion range. Over 180,000 people recycled their unwanted clothes with the Oxfam Clothes Exchange,” M&S Chief Executive Marc Bolland said in the company’s press release.

Beyond what it’s doing to involve its customers in the mission, M&S it is making substantial savings through sustainable efforts. Of the £70 million gained through Plan A last year, 19 percent stemmed from energy savings, 15.7 percent came from packaging reductions, 2.9 percent through reduced fuel use, and 1.4 percent in hanger recycling. These are tangible savings, and they have been reinvested in the business.

M&S also is focused on its textile use. As part of its Plan A commitment, the company boosted its use of recycled polyester in general merchandise products to more than 1,900 tons—equivalent to 47 million two-liter plastic bottles.

What’s more, the company plans to source 25 percent of its cotton from sustainable sources by 2015, and then raise that amount to 50 percent by 2020. Sustainable sources are defined as fairtrade, organic, recycled, and “Better Cotton.” Better Cotton is an initiative designed to make cotton production better for the people  who produce it, better for the environment it grows in, and better for “the sector’s future.”

We are very happy to highlight the success of the Plan A initiative. It’s another example of how sustainability can be good for customers, the environment, and business. We continue to wish Marks & Spencer success with Plan A, as well as with the company’s goal of becoming the world’s most sustainable retailer by 2015.

What is the value of nature? Currently, our economic system only values nature’s products—i.e., fish are worth X, timber is worth Y, and agriculture is worth Z. But is nature’s worth really just the value of its products, or is there additional value to our economic system that has not been recognized or quantified?

A recent report titled the U.K. National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA)—assigns economic values to some of nature’s less obvious benefits. The idea is that in order to protect nature’s ecosystem, we need to understand the “value” of it.

“The natural world is vital to our existence, providing us with essentials such as food, water and clean air–but also cultural and health benefits not always fully appreciated because we get them for free,” U.K. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman told the BBC.

Continue reading ‘the value of nature’ »

Here at the AirDye Good for Business blog, we have often urged textile companies to talk more about water scarcity and pollution. All of us in the industry know how water-intensive textile manufacturing can be, yet so few stand up and publicly address the problem. Patagonia is one of the few companies confronting the issue. The company, a steadfast supporter of good environmental practice, has launched a new initiative focused on the impending global freshwater crisis.

Patagonia’s “Our Common Waters” program blends supply chain assessment with consumer education. Some time ago, we praised Merrill’s NADA (Not Any Dye Applied) program for its focus on saving water and averting pollution. However, Patagonia’s initiative is a broader, more inclusive effort.

Continue reading ‘patagonia cares about your water’ »

Information about the health, environmental, or social impact of a company’s products or operations used to be hard for consumer to find. That is changing. As consumers demand more information about the products they buy, new resources are beginning to provide answers. The GoodGuide, which just added ratings for 190 apparel brands, is a perfect example. Founded in 2007, the GoodGuide gives consumers access to a database filled with information about the health, environmental, and social aspects of products.

10% of fashion brands have LCAs

Before rating the 190 apparel brands, GoodGuide researchers spent eight months analyzing each clothing company’s supply chain, product design, corporate transparency, and consumer education. Unfortunately, according to GoodGuide, only ten percent of fashion brands incorporate life-cycle assessments (LCAs) when designing products. Only nine percent publicly disclose the names of their suppliers.

Research and effort are required to determine the sustainability and impact of apparel. For consumers, that research is both difficult and time consuming. GoodGuide is taking a lot of the guess work out of the process. The group already rates household products such as cleaning supplies, personal care items (shampoo and soap, etc.), baby food, toys, cars, even food. Adding apparel is a logical addition.
Continue reading ‘goodguide now evaluates apparel brands’ »

Unifi, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of recycled polyester fabric, has opened a new recycling center to expand production of its Repreve recycled fiber. For Unifi, recycled polyester represents a fast-growing market. Since its introduction in 2006, the Repreve brand has grown from a single recycled fabric into a family of products for the apparel, automotive, seating, and paneling fabric markets.

Over the last two years, Unifi has recycled more than 247 million post-consumer plastic bottles and turned them into Repreve products.

Continue reading ‘unifi increases recycled pet fabric production’ »