Eddie Bauer sets comprehensive sustainability goals

A direct-to-consumer outdoor brand is establishing new benchmarks to reduce its environmental impact.

SPARC Group, parent company of Eddie Bauer, is partnering with corporate responsibility and sustainability consultants Shift Advantage, to develop a new sustainability roadmap. Following are highlights for the plan in a number of key areas across the enterprise:

Apparel & Gear

• Create apparel and gear with the smallest possible environmental footprint.
• Protect the outdoors from the impacts of climate change and the loss of biodiversity and habitat.
• Ensure places of business, apparel and gear, and outdoor experiences Eddie Bauer facilitates are inclusive, accessible, and safe.
• Build apparel and gear that can be used many times for many purposes, and can be passed down from one generation to the next.

Materials

• 50% of cotton fiber will be certified organic cotton, organic-in-conversion cotton, or recycled cotton by 2025; with the long-term goal to reach 100% by 2030. 
• 50% of polyester and nylon fiber will be made of recycled content by 2025; with the long-term goal to reach 100% by 2030.
• 50% of rayon, modal, and lyocell fibers will be made from recycled content or agricultural waste inputs by 2025; and the remainder will be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified fiber from sustainable wood sources.
• 100% of down and feathers used will continue to be Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified.
• 50% of fabrics will be Bluesign approved by 2025; with the long-term goal of reaching 100% by 2030.

GHG emissions

• Measure the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions (carbon footprint) of  operations and our apparel and gear by 2023 and set aggressive targets to reduce GHG emissions with a focus on the materials used in apparel and gear.
• Reduce GHG emissions from operations by powering corporate headquarters and branded stores with at least 80% renewable electricity by 2025, and 100% by 2030.

Packaging

• Reduce average product packaging weight per item by 30% by 2025, with a long-term goal to reduce packaging weight by 50% by 2030.
• 50% of all plastic packaging by weight will be post-consumer recycled (PCR) content by 2025.
• 100% of all paper-based packaging will be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified by 2025; 50% (by weight) will be Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) content by 2025, with the long-term goal of 100% PCR content by 2030.

Harmful chemicals

• Develop and implement a Restricted Substances List (RSL) program by 2023; with a long-term goal of resolving 100% of RSL failures by 2030.

Ecosystems & habitats

• Plant 100,000 trees per year and, starting in 2022, support one "Tree Equity" project per year through an ongoing partnership with American Forests.

Circular business models

• Launch programs for product rental, used product resale, product repair, and/or upcycled apparel and gear by 2023; and establish targets for growing these programs.

"As an outdoor brand born in the Pacific Northwest, a focus on the environment has always been at the center of Eddie Bauer's mission and it continues to be, with the renewed priorities and goals we are setting for apparel and gear," said Damien Huang, Eddie Bauer CEO. "We recognize the vital importance of preserving our natural resources and doing our part to ensure our business practices are supporting a sustainable future."

SPARC's Eddie Bauer team will also sign up for the Outdoor Industry Association's Climate Action Corps. Companies that join commit to measure, plan, and reduce GHG emissions and share progress annually. To learn more about Eddie Bauer's sustainability efforts for apparel and gear visit eddiebauer.com/campaign/sustainability.

Eddie Bauer operates more than 200 stores in the U.S., Canada, Germany, and other international markets.