// Burberry pledges to eliminate plastic use by 2025
// It signed on to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment initiative last year
// It plans to make all plastic packaging recyclable or reusable, including hangers
Burberry has pledged to end the use of unnecessary plastic packaging by 2025.
According to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment report, published by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the luxury fashion label and retailer plans to ensure all plastic packaging it uses can be recyclable, compostable or reusable within six years’ time.
Burberry joined the likes of Stella McCartner and H&S as a signatory of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment initiative last October, but specifics of what they have pledged have only just been revealed in the initiative’s report this week.
READ MORE:
According to the report, the heritage British retailer planned to “reduce, eliminate and transition away from problematic and unnecessary packaging across our own branded plastic packaging portfolio, with a focus on single use plastics” by 2025.
It added that in 2019 alone, Burberry will work to eliminate individual shrink wrap, plastic lamination of retail bags and poly bags for garment covers and replace it with bioplastic or reusable bags.
The report said that by removing plastic lamination of their bags, Burberry would end the production of 20 tonnes of plastic.
Burberry also pledged to launch a hanger take-back program in the UK and recycle discarded retail hangers to be reused in its stores.
Chief executive Marco Gobbetti outlined Burberry’s position on plastics back in October when it was among the first group of companies to join the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.
“Plastic waste and pollution is one of the most pressing environmental concerns of our age,” he said.
“At Burberry, we are committed to transforming how we use plastic in our supply chain. We are immensely proud to make this commitment and urge all businesses to consider how they can do the same.”
The news comes after the luxury fashion house last year was met with controversy amid reports that it burned unsold fashion and beauty products worth approximately $37 million in order to protect itself from counterfeiting.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment report, which shines a spotlight on 150 major companies tackling the issue of plastic waste.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
