All consumer-facing packaging will be 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable.
We will have phased out single use virgin plastic wherever possible
Every year, we use a huge amount of plastic packaging; for our polybags, for wrapping, for how we present our fashion products to our customers. Our biggest consumption of plastics is for polybags. Annually, it is estimated that we use more than 175.000.000 polybags to protect the clothes we sell, plus more than 4 million shipping bags and at least 60 tons of transparent shrink wrap film for wrapping pallets.
Our switch to recycled polybags will save an estimated 1,750 metric tonnes of virgin plastic per year. Our polybags are made from certified recycled polyethylene (PE).
A key way to reduce our consumption of plastics and packaging and to support innovation of new materials is to set up design criteria to support high quality recycling of plastics. These criteria constitute our BESTSELLER policy for plastic packaging which covers all our activities from sourcing from our suppliers to selling to our wholesale and retail customers.
The vast majority of paper-based packaging are recyclable. But it provides challenges when it is combined with other material to form composite multi-layers.
Every year, we use a significant amount of paper-based packaging. Our biggest consumption is for shipping boxes of our fashion products. Annually, it is estimated that we annually use almost 13 million shipping boxes– equalling more than 7.000 tons of paper-based packaging material.
Every year, BESTSELLER also uses a significant amount of pallets and paper. A key way to ensure that all that our paper-based packaging materials are produced in a responsible way is to include design criteria in our sourcing requirements. By doing so, we also help to optimise the quality and quantity of paper-based packaging that can be reused, recycled or composted, and thereby reducing our CO2-emissions and waste.
All packaging materials including for shoes and accessories, bags, tags and labels are included in our policies, which is line with the new French and Italian packaging regulations.
BESTSELLER is on track to substitute all polybags made of virgin plastic used for packaging with certified 100 percent recycled alternatives by the end of the year. The new polybags are made of 100 percent recycled polyethylene (PE) certified by Global Recycling Standard and are also designed for subsequent high-quality recycling.
Fibres and materials are essential to fashion. Year round we create accessories and garments made from a range of natural and man-made fibres that can be cut and sewn into clothing.
BESTSELLER is naturally committed to sourcing and using materials that are proven to have less impact on the environment with a reduced water, energy and chemical footprint.
We’re reducing our environmental impact through innovation: We need to innovate and invest to become circular by design. That’s why we’re investigating and scaling early-stage fibre developments, working cross-sectoral for a circular economy and focusing on regenerative practises.
Innovation in textiles is strategically important for BESTSELLER and through Invest FWD and our involvement in Fashion for Good, we’re exploring innovative material solutions and help bring them to scale.
We’re preparing our products for the circular future envisioned by the EU. Therefore, we have developed our Circular Design Guide.
The guide is an internal document for all designers and product developers across brands on how to design and create with circularity in mind – but made publicly available to inspire others.