Clothing Waste
Clothing that is rejected by us due to quality concerns or returned to our stores by customers due to a fault is either returned to the supplier, sold on to ‘jobbers’ or given to charity (see Our Communities).
In 2010 we trialled a system at our head offices with a clothing and footwear recycling partner, I:CO, part of the SOEX group. This organisation aims for a ‘cradle to cradle’ approach to recycling.
The trial was successful and in 2010-11 we recycled just under 14,000 kilograms of waste using this system.
Care labelling
There is a good opportunity to influence our customers when it comes to advising them on how to care for their clothes. We actively promote washing at lower temperatures, which can save up to 40% of the energy used to heat water.
We also minimise product that can only be dry cleaned in the group. On selected dry clean only products, we advise customers to ‘Be green when you dry clean’ by using the cleaner ‘Green Earth’ option, rather than the traditional ‘perc’ (perchloroethylene) process.
Product packaging
In 2009-10 we carried out an extensive review of our packaging, from tissue paper to polythene bags, to save over 500 tonnes of excess packaging across the Arcadia brands.
The outcomes of this packaging review are now communicated to suppliers via our brands’ Product Presentation handbooks.
There are still opportunities to make further improvements. For example, one of our footwear technologists is working on reducing shoe-box packaging.
Sustain
Sustain is Topshop’s project to incorporate concepts of sustainability such as local sourcing or eco-fabrics into their ranges.
Topshop has been working on a ‘Reclaim to Wear’ project with the founders of the pioneering ‘up-cycling’ brand From Somewhere. The objective is to reclaim a percentage of what is typically considered to be pre-production waste and to ‘up-cycle’ these fabrics and materials into new, original and unique styles.
Within the fashion supply chain, there exists a wealth of fabrics and materials that, if left unchecked, are destined for shredding or landfill. This can be overbought cloth, print strikes, off cuts, fabric flaw rejects, colour batch rejects etc. We are challenging ourselves to map where this waste material exists, to collate it and to look at the design process in a new way, using fabrics that already exist rather than manufacturing them to meet the design concept. The Topshop Reclaim to Wear range should be launched for Spring/Summer 2012.
Topshop is also increasing its offer of organic cotton this year. In 2010-11 it ran the ‘Baxter’ jean in the Moto range in organic cotton and sold over 15,000 pairs, demonstrating a clear demand for this option. The plan is to grow this range.
Topshop is also investigating new technologies in the production of denim, with mills and laundries that reduce the amount of water used in the finishing processes, along with new treatments that reduce energy and chemical consumption. We are committed to working towards being able to offer the customer a sustainable choice in Topshop’s Moto range.
Homegrown is Topshop’s ongoing campaign to support British manufacturing.
Topshop is committed to supporting and promoting local skills and British manufacturing wherever possible. As such, we are building a ‘talent bank’ of hand knitters from the UK for special collaborations and one-off projects. We plan to actively expand this as well as communicating our Made in UK message.
Topshop is collaborating with Izzy Lane, an inspiring designer based in Yorkshire, to produce a range of coats and knitwear. Izzy rescues sheep and lambs from slaughterhouses to use their wool in her collections.
Images courtesy of SOEX
