Environmental Sustainability

Preparing for Winter Weather: Efficiency Steps Retailers Should Take This Season
November 14, 2023 at 8:55 am

There's an unpredictability of winter weather that makes the upcoming season especially interesting for meteorologists, and far less enjoyable for anyone who has experienced the shock of a significantly higher energy bill thanks to extreme weather events like those that experienced Texas’ February 2021 storms. When we look ahead to the colder months, there’s some…

Trek Bicycle Enters the Circular Economy With Refurbishment Program
October 30, 2023 at 6:02 pm

In episode 425 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Eric Bjorling, director of brand marketing and public relations at Trek Bicycle, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of bicycles and related products. Listen in as Bjorling discusses the genesis of Trek Bicycle's new bike trade-in and refurbishment program, Red Barn Refresh (0:52)…

Unraveling the Illusion: The Hidden Costs and Dilemmas of 'Free Shipping' in E-Commerce
October 16, 2023 at 8:34 am

All of us are familiar with the phrase, "Nothing in life is free," (including lunch), but this sentiment truly resonates when examining the intricacies of free shipping in e-commerce. What if we changed the script on free shipping, viewing it not merely as a business maneuver, but instead as a catalyst for eco-conscious evolution? It…

LEGO to Invest $1.4B in Sustainability Initiatives
September 5, 2023 at 6:57 pm

The LEGO Group announced last week its pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 as part of its continued efforts to reduce environmental impact. The pledge is an extension of its existing near-term climate target to reduce GHG emissions by 37 percent by 2032 from a 2019 base, according to a company…

Item-Level RFID’s Role in Circular Fashion
August 14, 2023 at 4:33 pm

The fashion and logistics sectors have both become increasingly concerned with sustainability. According to Deloitte, almost one-third of consumers have stopped shopping at specific retailers due to ethical and environmental concerns. As such, retailers are now searching for ways to introduce greener processes. With customers becoming more aware of the role they play in the…

Defining a ‘Circular Bioeconomy’: How Recent Policy Promotes a Shift in the Future of US Plastics Manufacturing
August 9, 2023 at 5:24 pm

For some, the decision by the Biden Administration to enact the Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing came as a welcome surprise. Drawing inspiration from the remarkable strides made by biotechnology to quickly develop effective COVID-19 vaccines, the order broadcasts an intent to leverage government expertise and resources to pave the way for a…

3 Sustainable Digital Commerce Models to Help B2B Sellers Stand Out From the Crowd
August 2, 2023 at 6:01 pm

Now more than ever, B2B buyers are weighing up the environmental impact of the decisions they make. Studies show that 69 percent of those with decision-making power in B2B businesses consider sustainability performance when selecting suppliers and renewing contracts. This is putting increasing pressure on manufacturing, industrial and automotive firms to be more sustainable than…

Green IT: Why the Next Era of Enterprise Technology is Sustainable
July 27, 2023 at 10:28 am

Just a few decades ago, sustainability wasn't a business priority. Today, most companies understand the importance of sustainability, both from a business and social responsibility perspective. So, what’s changed? Today, companies are relying on technology to power their workforce’s efficiency and productivity more than ever. Carbon footprints have greatly increased in the process. According to researchers,…

Carhartt Expands its Resale Program to Retail Stores
July 25, 2023 at 5:01 pm

Following the successful pilot launch of its resale program dedicated to extending the life of workwear and reducing clothing waste, workwear brand Carhartt, in partnership with Trove, announced last week that it will expand Carhartt Reworked to accept trade-in at 35 company retail stores effective immediately and begin mail-in trade-in starting in late 2023. Beginning July 19, participating Carhartt retail…

How and Why to Achieve a Circular Supply Chain
July 18, 2023 at 7:01 pm

Manufacturers, businesses and all organizations within the retail supply chain have had to constantly develop groundbreaking solutions to maintain the production of high-quality goods due to rising costs and limited access to raw materials, especially since the onset of the pandemic. As a result, traditional linear supply chain strategies have given way to new ones…