Environmental Sustainability

In episode 462 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Lauren Benton, general manager, U.S. at Back Market, a verified refurbished technology marketplace. Listen in as Benton provides an overview of the business (1:00), its process for sourcing quality used devices (1:55), and Back Market's first Impact Report showcasing its sustainability efforts (3:55). She…

Environmentalist Jay Westerveld coined the term "greenwashing" in 1986 while visiting Fiji. The hotel he was staying at had a policy that urged guests to reuse their towels to “save the environment,” but he ultimately uncovered it was to save on laundry expenses. Now, in the age of social media and information overload, brands even…

Globally, private brand sales are soaring. According to Nielsen IQ, in the U.S. alone these brands now comprise 17 percent of all retail sales. But when it comes to sustainability, particularly for packaging, the picture is a little murkier. Retailers’ private brand product managers tend to focus on the bottom line for differentiation to steal market…

Archive, a branded resale technology platform, recently partnered with New Balance to launch in-store trade-in at nearly 100 participating U.S. retail locations. As the natural progression of the New Balance Reconsidered program, which launched earlier this year, customers can now bring in their gently worn footwear to receive a voucher towards their next purchase at New Balance locations.…

Starbucks will pilot a reusable cup program in Petaluma, CA starting in August, the company announced Tuesday in a press release. Partnering with NextGen Consortium, a global consortium that aims to address the world's single-use food packaging waste by advancing the design, commercialization and recovery of packaging alternative, Starbucks will swap single-use cups for reusable…

Earlier this year, Walmart announced that it reached its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons across its product chain earlier than expected. Achieving this milestone six years ahead of schedule not only demonstrates the company’s steadfast commitment to sustainability but also sets a compelling example for others to establish and…

For food retailers and grocers, it’s critical to be cognizant of the fact that consumers are increasingly making purchasing decisions with an eye toward sustainability. Data from Capital One’s Shopping Research Report reveals that more than 177 million U.S. adults are considered eco-friendly shoppers in 2024, up 7.44 percent year-over-year. American consumers are expected to…

Multiple global regulations set to take effect in the coming years have made traceability an imperative for retailers and brands. These include the Digital Product Passport, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and the New York Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act, to name a few. While companies are aware of the importance of traceability,…

The New York Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (Fashion Act) is back on the agenda of the New York State Legislature. Introduced in 2022, and then reintroduced in 2023, the bill seeks to level the playing field among fashion companies by requiring improved due diligence on both environmental and human rights issues. The Fashion…

Environmental sustainability, transparency and supply chain traceability have become critical concerns for the fashion industry worldwide. In the United States and Europe, as well as globally, consumers and lawmakers are increasingly demanding accountability from fashion companies. Existing fashion regulations, especially those pertaining to consumer safety, often place the burden of responsibility on buyers and struggle…