Swedish fashion retailer Lindex has released its latest Sustainability
Report, revealing that 42 percent of its fashion products are now made from
sustainable fibres and that the amount of sustainable garments sold has
increased by 64 percent compared to previous year.
In total, Lindex, part of Stockmann Group, sold more than 27 million
sustainable garments during 2015, with more than 70 percent of all of its
products made in Bangladesh being made from sustainable fibres. Across its
categories, 100 percent of all of its childrenswear and newborn clothing is
made of sustainable materials, while 90 percent of its women’s basic
assortment is.
Lindex chief executive officer, Ingvar Larsson said: “To act sustainable
is a key value at Lindex and it influences everything we do. I am very
proud of the many great results that we have achieved so far. We work
dedicatedly towards our target that 80 percent of our garments will be made
from sustainable sources by 2020 and we have already achieved 42 percent by
2015.”
The report states that Lindex is looking to minimise the negative
environmental impact of its garments by strategically increasing its share
of more sustainable fibres, and continuously evaluating new fibre options
with less environmental impact.
“Our goal is that by the year 2020, 80 percent of our garments shall be
made of sustainable materials and a 100 percent of our cotton shall come
from sustainable ‘sources’ such as organic,recycled or better cotton,” the
report explains.
In addition, Lindex has also improved its production processes which has
led to using less water, energy and chemicals, especially when it comes to
producing its denim. In 2015, it reduced its water usage by 45 percent and
energy by 27 percent. It’s biggest change has been how its produces its
denim through the launch of its ‘Better Denim – now and forever’ campaign,
where the process is much more sustainable and nearly all Lindex denim is
now made of sustainable cotton.
Other highlights for 2015 includes the company donating 1.3 million
euros to cancer research through sales activities, working with more than
12,000 women in health education in its supply chain in Bangladesh, which
is around 50 percent of the female factory workers, as well as being named
a top 10 users of certified organic cotton worldwide according to Textile
Exchange Organic Cotton Market Report.
Moving forward, Lindex has stressed that it sees great potential in
using post-consumer recycled fibres, as they have started collecting
garments in around 50 stores, and is looking to add to its first upcycled
product, its first close the loop produce, a pair of shoes made from an old
pair of jeans which hits stores this spring.
Lindex has more than 490 stores in 19 markets, including across the
Nordic countries, the Baltic States, Central Europe and the Middle East,
and in 2015, it opened its first flagship in London.
Images: Lindex