Macy’s Inc. has unveiled a series of new initiatives to ramp up its sustainability principles, which were first introduced in 2008. Between 2002 and 2013, the retailer reduced electricity usage by 38% and reached a 95% adoption rate of recycled or certified paper used in marketing materials.
The latest components of Macy’s sustainability efforts include:
- Encouraging more customers to adopt electronic paperless billing statements and electronic bill payment. Last year, approximately 18% of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s customers opted in for paperless statements, allowing the company to save up to 745,000 pounds of paper.
- Increasing adoption of digital receipts, which are available in all Macy’s stores nationwide. In 2013, approximately 6% of all store transactions were completed with paperless receipts.
- Expanding installation of energy-saving LED light bulbs in stores. More than 1.1 million LED bulbs already have been installed in 800 Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores across the U.S., leading to a 73% drop in energy consumption. This year, LED technology will replace fluorescent fixtures in stores.
- Reducing supply chain waste by regulating the size of packing cartons. In addition, Macy’s will incorporate recycled polyester fibers in many garment labels and construct paper hangtags from Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper.
- Installing 20 additional solar power arrays on the roofs of stores and distribution centers in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and other states in 2014 and 2015. More than 50 installations were active at locations by the end of 2013.
To engrain environmental consciousness into its entire organization, Macy’s Private Brands — the retailer’s product development organization — has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), a trade organization created to help reduce the environmental and social impacts of apparel and footwear products worldwide. SAC members include brands, retailers, manufacturers, government, and non-governmental organizations and academic experts.
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