BESTSELLER is contributing USD 3 million, equivalent to DKK 19 million, to the Regenerative Fund for Nature, which supports local sheep farmers and shepherds in their work to regenerate natural areas and strengthen living conditions in South Africa.
The funds will go to an ongoing project in the Eastern Cape, where local pastors and farming communities are working with the Regenerative Fund for Nature and the international NGO, Conservation International, to improve grasslands, animal welfare and soil resilience to erosion and climate change.
The Regenerative Fund for Nature supports projects that are based on local knowledge and existing practices. It was established by Conservation International and Kering in 2021 with Inditex joining in 2023. BESTSELLER is now joining the fund as a partner.
The Eastern Cape is an area of great biodiversity and great importance for water resources in the region. Here, Conservation International has been working with local partners for several years to resume traditional grazing methods that can strengthen both natural areas and living conditions for the people who live in the area.
"Over the past five years, our work in the Eastern Cape has shown measurable benefits for the shepherds and their land," says Virginia Keesee, who leads Conservation International's global fashion and nature initiatives. "BESTSELLER's support will help us spread the impact across the region."
The work with the Regenerative Fund for Nature is one of several examples of how BESTSELLER works with nature and biodiversity as an integrated part of their sustainability strategy Fashion FWD, and their broader efforts in the value chain. The protection and restoration of nature is closely linked to the long-term stability and robustness of the raw materials on which the textile industry depends. At the same time, the impact on biodiversity is complex, and initiatives are therefore developed with a focus on cooperation, local anchoring and continuous learning rather than uniform solutions that are adapted to the local context.
Photo credit: Whitney Hassett
Conservation International is an international, non-commercial environmental organization (NGO) that works with nature conservation in collaboration with local communities, scientists, companies and authorities.
The organization is behind the Regenerative Fund for Nature, a global fund that supports agricultural projects with a focus on nature conservation, regenerative farming methods and long-term impact.
The fund was established in 2021 together with Kering. In 2023, Inditex joined as a partner.
BESTSELLER contributes financially to the fund as a partner. The projects are developed and run locally in collaboration with Conservation International and local actors.
The project in South Africa focuses on regenerative grazing practices, including rotational grazing, in collaboration with shepherds. The methods can contribute to the restoration of grasslands, the reduction of erosion and improved carbon sequestration in the soil.