SHIPLEY, England — March 15, 2021 — In its commitment to reduce environmental impact by including more natural, renewable materials into its product offering, The North Face has partnered with HD® Wool Insulation to introduce a sustainable alternative to man-made and down insulation for the new Heritage collection.

Made for adventurers in and out of the city, the spring Heritage collection features the men’s and women’s Rokstoker jacket and men’s Gilet vest made with HD Wool Insulation, and behind the classic styling of these garments is a modern sustainable story.

HD Wool Insulation is 100-percent natural, renewable, and highly durable. Furthering its excellent temperature regulating and moisture management properties, HD Wool Insulation is actively supporting farmers to start the ReGenerative Agricultural process by having their land subjected to an annual Ecological Outcome Verification set forth by the Savory Institute to show progress in Land to Market objectives. The wool that is used to make HD Wool Insulation is fully traceable back to the farm upon which it is grown.

“We are thrilled to partner with such an iconic brand that shares our passion for sustainability and care for the earth,” said Jo Dawson, CEO, H. Dawson and HD Wool insulation. “We take sustainability very seriously and we see ourselves, and consumers, as custodians of shepherd’s wool, which when managed well can aid in the reverse of climate change”

According to Sustainable Brands research, consumers today want brands to meet their sustainability needs whilst still providing the style, comfort and performance they expect from them. Pillars of these sustainability concerns include land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and emergency efficiency.

In 2019, Sky Ocean Ventures, a £25 million impact-investment fund committed to accelerating young companies and entrepreneurs who are developing ideas that can help eliminate plastic pollution, invested in HD Wool Insulation, recognizing that its product can be used as a replacement to synthetic polyester insulation, which can shed microplastics that pollute our oceans and rivers.

Posted March 15, 2021

Source: HD® Wool Insulation

TOKYO — March 15, 2021 — YKK Corp.’s emissions reduction targets have been approved by the independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement — limiting global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

With the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050, YKK’s target submission for scope 1¹ and 2² emissions is a reduction of absolute emissions 50 percent by 2030 from a 2018 base year. This exceeds the minimum ambition for 1.5°C pathway defined by the Absolute Contraction approach and is therefore considered ambitious by SBTi. Furthermore, YKK’s target submission for scope 3³ emissions is a reduction of absolute emissions 30 percent by 2030 from a 2018 base year, which also exceeds the minimum ambition defined by the Absolute Contraction approach and thus is ambitious.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets. YKK is currently the only zipper manufacturer to have its emissions reduction targets approved by SBTi.

The certification by SBTi is just one more way that YKK is demonstrating its long-term commitment to protecting the environment. YKK released its Environmental Charter in 1994 which proclaimed “harmony with the environment” as being the highest priority of its business activities. That same year, YKK launched the NATULON® zipper, its first zipper to be made with recycled material.

Since that time YKK has continued to lead both through its commitments to sustainable action and developing more environmentally-friendly products. In March 2020 YKK signed the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, which sets the goal for the fashion industry of 30 percent aggregate reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. YKK confirmed that commitment in October 2020, with the release of its Sustainability Vision 2050, the company’s roadmap for addressing climate change, material resources, water resources, chemical management and human rights, and aligned its efforts with ten UN SDGs. The story of the Sustainability Vision is told through the company’s Sustainability Journal, which was published in February 2021.

On the product front, YKK has innovated with its GreenRise™ zipper, which uses plant-based polyester, achieving a 30-percent reduction in petroleum usage, and its NATULON Ocean Sourced™ zipper, which is made from ocean bound plastic waste.

“YKK aims to be a company that grows sustainably with society,” said Hiroaki Otani, president, YKK Corp. “That is why we have set ‘Better products at a lower cost and greater speed, more sustainably’ as our motto for the next four years. At the core of all our business activities is the ‘Cycle of Goodness’ corporate philosophy, which expresses YKK’s spirit of prospering together with all stakeholders. I believe this concept includes sustainability. YKK’s most precious stakeholders are nature and the environment.”

¹ Scope 1: Direct GHG emissions occur from sources that are owned or controlled by the company, for example, emissions from combustion in owned or controlled boilers, furnaces, vehicles, etc.; emissions from chemical production in owned or controlled process equipment.

² Scope 2: Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from consumption of purchased electricity, heat or steam.

³ Scope 3: Other indirect emissions, such as the extraction and production of purchased materials and fuels, transport-related activities in vehicles not owned or controlled by the reporting entity, electricity-related activities (e.g. T&D losses) not covered in Scope 2, outsourced activities, waste disposal, etc.

Posted March 15, 2021

Source: YKK

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — March 11, 2021 — Southern California-based global lifestyle brand UGG® — a division of Deckers Brands — recognizes the importance of protecting the planet for future generations. Building on FEEL GOOD., the brand’s sustainability platform launched in October 2020 to articulate its long-term goals and commitment to people and the planet. To commemorate this important program, UGG proudly introduces the dual-gender Plant Power Collection. Addressing the issue of carbon emissions, a key driver of global warming that threatens our oceans, atmosphere, and overall way of life, the collection features three footwear styles thoughtfully crafted with carbon-neutral, plant-based materials.

“At UGG, we are committed to doing our part to combat climate change,” said Andrea O’Donnell, President, UGG & Koolaburra by UGG of Deckers Brands. “Our design team took inspiration from our iconic styles and created new silhouettes made from carbon-neutral, plant-based materials. The resulting Plant Power Collection tells a story about what is possible, and it is an exciting step in on our journey towards a more sustainable future.”

“Lenzing is proud to collaborate with UGG on their UGGplush™ technology using TENCEL™ branded Lyocell fibers,” said Robert van de Kerkhof, chief commercial officer, Lenzing AG. “Our sustainable wood-based fibers are an excellent choice for the environment, and a natural choice for products that require comfort and breathability. We are committed to supporting brands like UGG who have set sustainable commitments that support both people and the planet.”

Recreating the iconic look and feel of the UGG brand’s ever-popular fluff franchise, the Fluff Sugar Platform and Fluff Sugar Sandal feature eye-catching design elements, platform outsoles, and responsibly sourced materials. Derived from renewable sugarcane, the SugarSole™ foam outsole allows for reduced dependency on fossil fuels by replacing petroleum-based materials; sugarcane is a rainwater-dependent resource that removes CO2 from the atmosphere and does not require irrigation. The feeling of UGG comes from fluff made with plant-based TENCEL-branded lyocell fibers, made of wood pulp converted into regenerated cellulosic fibers sourced from responsibly harvested trees. The trees are grown in sustainably managed forests that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), two leading organizations promoting sustainable forest management.

The dual-gender Neumel Natural also adapts the iconic look and feel of the brand’s best-selling Neumel chukka with plant-based materials like cozy lining with TENCEL Lyocell. Its handcrafted, small-batch soles are made of LACTAE HEVEA® latex harvested from the Hevea rubber tree. The Neumel Natural’s upper is woven from an environmentally-preferred blend of 55-percent cotton and 45-percent hemp.

Future Intent

The Plant Power Collection is just the beginning. UGG is continually working to make its products better for both consumers and the planet by seeking and using innovative materials, and has targets to increase its use of recycled, repurposed, regenerated (plant-based), renewable (bio-based), and certified fibers by 35 percent by 2027.

The brand’s most used textile fiber is repurposed wool, which is harvested from signature Twinface sheepskin then woven into UGGpure™ proprietary technology. UGGpure is a more responsible material because it reduces the use of virgin wool, uses less water, less energy, and emits less CO2 when compared to virgin market wool.

UGG has also created UGGplush™, which combines the brand’s signature UGGpure wool with TENCEL Lyocell woven into a recycled polyester backing. The brand plans to increase the use of TENCEL Lyocell fiber as it furthers its commitment to continue to increase the use of more sustainable materials whenever possible.

Packaging

Through reduction and adaptation of its packaging, UGG has so far saved more than 1,716,603 trees. As an extension of its efforts to reduce excess packaging, UGG will ship styles from the Plant Power Collection in their own containers to eliminate further layers of postal packaging. Material information will be printed directly onto the FSC-certified tissue paper rather than an insert card, decreasing the total amount of paper used.

Posted March 11, 2021

Source: UGG