After the revelation of Made for Change CSR and Sustainability Report 2022 by VF . GroupDavid Quass, senior director of sustainability, VF International EMEA, explained to The SPIN OFF the most innovative and sustainable initiatives the US is holding that drive their most popular brands, such as Vans’ Center for Sustainability project, Timberland’s Timberloop recall program and The North Face Renewed initiative.
David Quass
What new product and brand initiatives has VF launched as part of its most recent sustainability strategy?
In 2022, the Vans brand launched the Sustainability Hub, a digital destination where consumers can learn more about products, materials, commitments and sustainability goals. as well as how Vans is adjusting its business to focus on more sustainable development . The Hub exists to amplify and reinforce the efforts Vans is making to reduce its footprint.
Vans also revealed the new VR3 product line and labeling. When consumers shop for the brand in-store or online, Vans shoes, clothing and accessories feature a new logo, the VR3 Checkerboard Globe logo is made up of at least 30% renewable and recycled materials sourced from The original is responsible for creating that product. VR3 is Vans’ commitment to sourcing 100% of their top four CO2 impact materials—cotton, leather, rubber and polyester—from responsibly sourced renewable and renewable sources. mandate by 2030.
What new projects does Timberland focus on, as part of VF’s commitment to sustainability?
Timberland kicked off the Timberloop program in January 2022 in the United States. As a result, Timberland collects items for resale, helping to keep products from going to landfill. Products returned through the Timberloop recall program or refurbished for sale on a dedicated website or items that cannot be repaired are disassembled so that usable parts can be recycled. made into new materials.
Timberland Earthkeepers by Raeburn f/w 2022
In the framework of the Earth Day celebration in 2022, Timberland also announced new initiatives to further its vision. For example, it launched The Timberloop Trekker City Hiker, the brand’s first shoe designed in a circular shape. This city hiking shoe has a unique sole construction whereby the outsole can be easily removed and disassembled for recycling at Timberloop’s collection facility.
The Timberloop resale site is already operational in the United States, allowing consumers to purchase repaired or refurbished Timberland products through the Timberloop program.
Later this year, Timberloop’s product recall program was expanded to Europe. The program was launched last April in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy, and has also been expanded to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. , Switzerland.
The VF Sustainability Report also talks about the Traceability Map. What exactly are they, and what is their purpose?
We know the biggest impacts occur at the farming, extraction and processing stages of raw materials in the supply chain. Therefore, the more data we have on suppliers operating at these levels, the more opportunities we have to improve workers’ lives and environmental impact.
After completing an initial pilot to map ten iconic products across different VF brands in 2018, we begin to scale this work across our global supply chain. by tracing the full 100 VF brand products and publishing a traceability map for each of them, for 960 suppliers. This is essential to move on to the next stage.
We have now set an ambitious goal of fully tracking the supply chains of five key materials—cotton, leather, wool, natural rubber and synthetics—from Tier 1 to Tier 5 by year 2028.
truck
VF’s in-depth traceability approach gives our stakeholders confidence in VF’s knowledge and ability to monitor each level of our global supply chain.
Our comprehensive traceability program leverages cargo volume data, country risk maps, supplier surveys and environmental and social risk data to generate business intelligence valid and feasible.
What are the main achievements that the team has achieved in terms of cyclicality in 2022? And what are its future goals?
Developing and promoting methods that support the circular economy vision requires a partnership between VF and our brand portfolio.
VF and our brand portfolio are driving initiatives in line with the guiding principles of circularity: minimizing fossil-based, non-renewable, virgin inputs; support the regeneration process; reuse materials and products as long as possible; and reduce the amount of waste entering the landfill stream. We are embracing circularity by working across the end-to-end value chain and product lifecycle, focusing on the well-being of the environment and people.
Can you mention any brands that focus on these goals?
VF has been working to reduce resource consumption and eliminate waste through adopting cyclic design philosophies and starting to focus on iterative thinking at every stage of product creation.
Coat from Cordura Advanced Fabrics x Napapijri . collaboration
In addition to the Timberland Timberloop program I mentioned earlier, in 2022, Napapijri continues to expand its Circular Product Line to include a wider range of fully recyclable, Gold-certified clothing from Cradle to Cradle. To support this fully circular and recyclable product offering, it developed a withdrawal system that incentivizes customers to participate in the circular economy.
Also focused on expanding VF’s portfolio of brands’ product lifecycles and providing value through after-sales services, re-commercials, repair services and recall programs the product is The North face brand’s TNF Renewed platform with the mantra “Give your device a second chance with The North face North Face Renewed. It’s been tested, washed, adjusted and ready to go. move again – again.”
The North Face, “It’s More Than A Jacket” campaign
In addition, our brand Smartwool wool socks recently launched a proactive new product. Knowing that socks are one of the most thrown away items, Smartwool aims to achieve 100% circularity by 2030.
On Earth Day 2021, Smartwool has partnered with the Return on the Second Cut Project sock recall to give products a “second cut” to life and help create a more circular supply chain. The project represents a pillar in the brand’s ambitious ten-year social impact roadmap.
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