Leading apparel company VF Corporation will eliminate all single-use plastic packaging, including polybags, by 2025.
The company has announced its 2025 Sustainable Packaging Goals. The company’s global packaging goals are an example of how it can leverage its scale for significant impact. In just one year, it could potentially eliminate as many as 100 million polybags from its packaging waste.
Given the magnitude of plastic packaging waste in today’s world, the focus on sustainable packaging is a critical component of VF’s global sustainability strategy.
Apart from eliminating all single-use plastic packaging, VF’s Sustainable Packaging Goals also target all remaining packaging will be reduced, originated from sustainable sources, and designed for reuse or recyclability.
All single-use plastics in product packaging will be 100 per cent recycled and bio-based content or a combination of the two by 2023.
All paper-based packaging will be recycled content (minimum 80 per cent, where performance allows), third-party certified virgin content, or a combination of the two by 2023.
VF will commit to leadership in crucial industry coalitions and policy initiatives to build circular packaging infrastructure that will enable its 2025 pledge.
All non-essential, single-use plastics for which there is a viable product alternative will be eliminated from VF’s offices, throughout its direct operations, and from all company-sponsored events by 2023.
Jeannie Renné-Malone, VP, Global Sustainability for VF said, “With a portfolio comprising some of the world’s most iconic apparel and footwear brands, we recognise we play an important role as environmental stewards and can serve as a catalyst for industry movements that drive positive change.”
All VF-owned distribution centres will be zero waste by 1 April 2021. VF also seeks to implement sustainability best practices in its internal and external sponsored events.
The company is committed to working with retailers and industry peers to support the development of collection platforms and recycling technology.
Various brands of the company do have their specific targets like its icebreaker® brand has an ambitious goal to be plastic-free by 2023, eradicating synthetics from its entire product collection within 3 years.
Similarly, Timberland® brand has outlined a vision for its products to have a net positive impact by 2030. By designing 100 per cent of its products for circularity, the brand will work towards zero waste. And, by sourcing 100 per cent of its natural materials through regenerative agriculture, the Timberland® brand will contribute to its net positive impact on nature.