Advertisement

Macy’s Gets Greener With Updated Sustainability Plan

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. 

Advertisement

Featured Event

View the Retail Trendcaster Webinar Series on-demand to uncover key 2025 retail trends, from AI and personalization to social commerce. Gain expert insights, data-driven predictions, and actionable takeaways to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Retail Trendcaster Webinar Series
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Uncovering What’s Next in Retail

On-Demand Limited Video Series

Q1 is a pivotal time for retail, with experts analyzing holiday sales and forecasting trends. View the full lineup of the Retail Trendcaster video series for insights on consumer spending, AI, personalization, social commerce, and more—helping you focus on what truly matters in 2025.

Brought to you by
Retail TouchPoints
Access Now
Retail TouchPoints is a brand of Emerald X LLC. By clicking the button and submitting information, you acknowledge and agree that your information may be shared with corporate affiliates of Emerald X LLC, and other organizations such as event hosts, speakers, sponsors, and partners. Please read our Privacy Policy and our Terms Of Use for more information on our policies.

Access The Media Kit

Interests:

Access Our Editorial Calendar




If you are downloading this on behalf of a client, please provide the company name and website information below: