Environmental Sustainability

Ever since the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rules governing climate-related disclosures from all public companies on March 21, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting has become a necessary part for retail company corporate boards to address, especially in today’s environmentally and socially conscious world. Whether it’s understanding how the retailer is combatting…

In 2021, e-commerce boomed. Consumers spent $870.78 billion online last year, and according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), returns resulted in $761 billion in lost sales for U.S. retailers. As we near the halfway mark of 2022, retailers are getting organized around the holiday season to prepare for more online shopping, more delays and…

In episode 351 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Johnny Meagher, senior director of marketing, North America at Wrangler, the 75-year-old heritage American jeans and workwear company. Listen in as Meagher discusses Wrangler's recent launch of a sustainable jean collection for Earth Day (0:58), the role that sustainability plays at the retailer (3:17),…

We’ve all been talking about how shopping patterns and, therefore, shipping patterns have changed since 2020, but what we should really be talking about is the effect that those changes could have on the environment. According to a report from Freightwaves, the total count of final-mile delivery vehicles on the road could increase by 36…

In episode 348 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Ali Mize, director of environmental and social governance (ESG), belonging and corporate philanthropy at Neiman Marcus Group, the portfolio of luxury brands including Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Last Call, and Horchow. Listen in as Mize discusses the release of Neiman Marcus Group's first-ever ESG report,…

Following a successful pilot program, lululemon athletica is rolling out its "Like New" trade-in, resale program nationwide later this month, according to a company press release. The program helps extend the life of the product and "ensures each item gets its full use," the athleisure brand said Wednesday. Customers can trade in gently used lululemon…

Target is getting back into secondhand sales through a deal with resale company thredUP, reports CNBC. The big-box retailer confirmed Friday that it launched a page on thredUP’s website in late March that includes listings of women’s and kids’ apparel, along with accessories. Some items are from Target’s private labels, such as kids’ clothing brand Cat…

Purpose-driven marketing has become a bit of a buzzword (like omnichannel … don’t get me started). However, with an overwhelming 94 percent of consumers saying they value purpose-driven companies, it's imperative for marketers to authentically communicate their brand’s story. These values need to be transparent and reflected across the organization to work cross-functionally. Whether it's…

“Retailers expect more than $761 billion in merchandise sold last year to be returned by consumers.” That's a billion with a "B," and it’s according to the NRF’s Consumer Returns in the Retail Industry 2021 report. Retail returns account for nearly 6 billion pounds of landfill waste and 16 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions…

Fast-growing e-commerce brands understand only too well that "going green" is a thorny ambition. Online shopping is booming with demand accelerated by COVID-19, but offering fast international delivery using air freight will have an impact on the planet we’re all trying to protect. A commitment to carbon neutrality in the supply chain is therefore an…