Nordstrom to donate $1m to textile recycling innovation, reduce single-use plastics under new sustainability goals

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Apr 21, 2020

Department store chain operator Nordstrom has announced five new environmental sustainability goals, including setting a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emission and reducing its use of single-use plastic by 50%, in honor of Earth Day. 

The company said its new efforts place a particular focus on tackling climate change, the environmental impact of its products and services and circularity. 

In addition to setting a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reducing its single-use plastic by 50%, Nordstrom has also set goals to use sustainably sourced raw materials in 50% of Nordstrom Made products made of polyester, cotton and cellulosic fibers; extend the life of 250 tons of clothing; ensure 15% of all product is considered sustainable; and donate $1 million to support textile recycling innovation.

Nordstrom said it aims to meet its new goals by 2025. 

The retailer has cut back on single-use plastic, and will begin phasing out plastic bags from its more than 245 Nordstrom Rack stores beginning this year. 

In order to further meet its new goals, the company has also has granted $100,000 to The Nature Conservancy, a charitable environmental organization working to conserve nature across six continents, and has joined The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular initiative and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

As an additional boost to its new sustainability goals, Nordstrom has also added new sustainable beauty products to its assortment of products available on Nordstrom.com and the Nordstrom app. These new products are made from sustainably sourced ingredients, use minimal and more responsible packaging, are manufactured in factories that meet higher social or environmental standards or that give back.

“Through this Covid-19 crisis, we’ve been given a unique opportunity to reimagine our future and rethink what kind of company we want to be for our customers, employees and shareholders," said Pete Nordstrom, president and chief brand officer at Nordstrom Inc.

"It’s clear that to deliver value to our stakeholders and communities, environmental sustainability needs to be a priority for our company. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made to date but are also the first to admit we’ve got a long way to go. We’re pushing ourselves to be a better company and are pleased to share these sustainability goals as part of our first step on this new journey.”

Not untouched by the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, Nordstrom made headlines earlier this month when it temporarily shut down its corporate headquarters in Seattle as the coronavirus spread in the area.