Environmental Sustainability

Zappos has created a new platform for customers who are looking for purpose-driven products, the shoe and clothing retailer announced in a press release Tuesday. The platform, Goods for Good, is a curated experience that features items from over 150 brands, all of which promote meaningful causes, and categorizes the products in five categories: recycled, organic, sustainably…

Rothy's, a San Francisco-based direct-to-consumer footwear brand founded in 2012, is creating and selling shoes that are made from 100 percent recycled plastic water bottles and post-consumer recycled materials. A commitment to environmental sustainability is core to the brand's mission. Taking that commitment one step further, Rothy's recently became one of the first brands to…

Burton will be joining millions of students and workers across the world participating in the Global Climate Strike on Fri., Sept. 20, according to a press release sent to Total Retail. To support the marches that will take place, Burton will close all its offices and stores for 24 hours so employees worldwide can join nearby marches meant to…

When it comes to the apparel industry, there's a “gap” in how much water is used in their manufacturing processes and how much water could be saved. According to an article in Bloomberg, Gap Inc. CEO Art Peck is pushing for his company to reduce water waste and look for ways to reduce water usage.…

Nordstrom announced last Friday that it has launched Sustainable Style, an online shopping category that consists entirely of responsibly made products. The featured items are sustainably sourced, manufactured in factories that meet higher social or environmental standards, and/or give back. The category includes more than 2,000 items from 90 brands, including Nordstrom-made Treasure & Bond, Patagonia, Reformation,…

Walmart is suing Tesla, Elon Musk’s electric vehicle and clean energy company, after its solar panels atop seven Walmart stores allegedly caught on fire, CNBC reported. The lawsuit, which details evacuations, damaged property and inventory, claims breach of contract, gross negligence and failure to live up to industry standards. Walmart is asking Tesla to remove its solar panels from…

Hardly a day goes by without the issue of waste appearing in the media. Its impact on the environment is becoming increasingly visible, driving changes in consumer behavior and threatening companies’ license to operate. A Long-Term ‘Dual Challenge’ for Retailers Retailers have been pushing hard to take on big issues like wasted packaging, plastic, food…

Lab-grown diamonds have become a popular choice among millennial consumers, however, many traditional diamond producers and jewelry retailers still keep lab-grown diamonds in their back rooms. At Spence Diamonds, a 40-year-old diamond retailer, man-made stones are put front and center as the focus of its business, while also still selling earth-mined diamonds. Spence Diamonds reports…

China’s recent ban on importing waste has created a worldwide crisis for recycling programs. In the global scramble for a solution, businesses have come to the realization that recycling is no longer a viable or sustainable option to manage today’s throw-away culture. As awareness deepens, companies are faced with the challenge and opportunity to develop…

“Going green” is officially mainstream. Topics such as global climate change, environmental migration, and the growth of islands of trash that fill our oceans are constant fuel for the news cycle. Consumers everywhere are becoming more cognizant of how their everyday purchase decisions can adversely impact the natural world, whether this means shopping for products…