Stella McCartney has released its 2021 Impact Report and identifies among the areas the brand aims to achieve its Net-Zero carbon goal in its direct operations and across its entire supply chain (Range). en 1, 2 and 3), in 2040.
In addition to the corporate impacts, the report also outlines many of Stella McCartney’s ongoing and future initiatives, including goals to achieve its circular business model ambitions. circular business and innovations in packaging, stores and global offices as well as water management.
Stella McCartney at Dubai Design Week
“When I launched Stella McCartney in 2001, I had a single mission: to create beautiful, desirable clothes that people would love to wear, made from materials that would not harm their fellow humans. ta,” explains the designer when presenting the achievements of 2021.
Since 2013, the brand has used natural capital accounting methods to measure its total environmental impact and assign a monetary value to them – from the cultivation and extraction of raw materials to manufacturing. products to running stores and offices. That amount for 2021 accounts for 3.1 million euros, a figure lower than in 2020 of 5.3 million euros, although not entirely comparable because a completely different situation mostly occurs due to COVID, though already a remarkable achievement.
Following the end of its partnership with Kering Group in 2018, Stella McCartney refined its natural capital accounting methods to incorporate more data from supply chain partners to better reflect the use, sourcing and production of raw materials. This trend continues with the 2021 Impact Report, and the latest results also show that greenhouse gases have overtaken land use to become the brand’s top environmental impact group, with the most impacts. due to the extraction of raw materials.
Future goals
Among the goals the company is setting to achieve is Net-Zero carbon in its direct operations and across its entire supply chain (Scopes 1, 2 and 3), by 2040, according to the company. our commitment to the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative and in line with the latest climate science and the Paris Agreement.
Stella McCartney sneakers at Dubai Design Week
SBTi provides a clear roadmap for companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, helping to avert the worst effects of climate change. Such goals are considered “scientific-based” if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting warming. globally at 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
To avoid and reduce emissions, the company is involved in a variety of measures including supporting REDD+ projects around the world, including the Southern Cardamom project, which conserves 497,000 hectares of tropical rainforests and mangroves important, as well as offsetting carbon for fashion shows and business trips. through proven programs.
Traffic impact
In addition to the company’s direct operations for 2021, 83.6% of the impact comes from moving goods from the warehouse to retailers, wholesalers and customers by road, rail and air. are not.
Stella McCartney aims to optimize shipping through specialized management systems and the involvement of the supply chain network. Emissions will be reduced throughout the supply chain through better planning to identify and plan the most energy efficient routes for road, air and sea transport.
This will include better planning of product delivery times to reduce air freight requirements due to short delivery times, as well as better consolidation of cargo around the world – specifically in terms of return logistics to reduce the number of shipments required, and they will create a preferential shipping policy internally to encourage lower impact choices, both within the supply chain their own as well as on business trips.
A matter of materials
“We carefully select all of our raw materials, from the way they deal with their production systems, to the way they are processed and manufactured into the finished product. We prioritize certified materials, replacing traditional materials with certified organic, recycled or responsibly sourced materials, including textiles and packaging,” the report explains. prefer.
Stella McCartney Mylo bag at Milan Design Week
For these reasons, the company has begun the transition to renewable sourcing by focusing on sourcing methods that positively benefit the climate, biodiversity and people.
Since cotton is Stella McCartney’s most used material in 2021, with 78% of that coming from organic sources with a lower environmental impact, they are currently investing in regenerated cotton and projects. regeneratively cultivated wool such as Nativa and ZQ.
Other top fabrics are polyester and polyurethane, forest-friendly viscose and brass.
Stella McCartney will continue to invest in circular, nature-based and renewable solutions, including the SOKTAS regenerated cotton project in Turkey – a project Stella has led since 2019, in partnership with LVMH.
They continue to invest in materials innovation and have introduced new low-impact materials such as the Mylo-mycelia-based leather substitute – a significantly lower-impact alternative for even animal skins. 100% synthetic materials and alternatives – and will introduce other lower-impact material innovations next year.
A circular approach
Adopting circular business models is central to reducing the use of raw materials, as well as more consciously sourcing and manufacturing products. For these reasons, the brand relies on a range of strategies to prolong the product life cycle by focusing on the design of the collection to prolong the life and, at the consumer level, provide service. In-store repairs, such as through their Clever Care labeling system, provide information on proper care instructions specifically regarding washing, temperature control, drying, ironing and dry cleaning. Along with that, they also encourage resale through their partnership with The RealReal, which offers premium resale services in the United States that facilitate multiple life cycles for their apparel and accessories. I.
Photo: Stella McCartney s/s 2023
Stella McCartney s/s 2023
Pack it up!
The company is also working to reduce and optimize the use of packaging in operations, such as eliminating pallets and reducing plastic packaging.
It is working with partners to develop cleverly designed alternatives that use innovative new materials to replace single-use plastic and packaging. This ambition is supported by its participation in the Tom Ford Plastics Innovation Award and its commitment to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Plastics Pact – projects that seek to find innovative, disruptive alternatives to plastics. and single-use packaging.
Social sustainability
The Impact 2021 report also outlines recent approaches and activities to support people in its supply chain, ensuring every worker is respected, appreciated and heard.
Working together for global change
Stella McCartney believes it is important for a company to measure, disclose and act to not only reduce but also reverse environmental degradation. Each company’s impact results can be useful to inform sourcing decisions, innovation design and research, and change implementation.
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