To promote environmental sustainability and curb waste, many fashion brands have limited single-use carrier bags from their stores. The most recent brand to join the green bandwagon is footwear and accessory giant Aldo.
The Canadian brand – who also own Call It Spring – has said it will begin phasing out shopping bags globally. Instead, shoppers will transport their new purchases via shoebox, made from recycled cardboard.
Any Aldo shopper who wants a bag will be able to purchase one, but not just any old bag; the company will sell reusable eco-totes made from recycled plastics – and all net profits will be donated to The Ocean legacy Foundation and Ocean Conservancy.
Call It Spring is also following suit, and its sales will go towards funding clean water and sanitation projects in Kenya.
Aldo is just one in a long line of major fashion brands turning away from non-reusable plastic.
In July, Japanese lifestyle brand Muji announced a reusable bag programme in the United States, letting shoppers either purchase a branded tote or bring their own shopping bags (and receive a five-cent discount).
Spanish fashion powerhouse Inditex – which owns Zara, Pull&Bear, Beshka, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Oysho and Uterque – said in August that it will also eliminate plastic bags across its entire range of stores by 2020.
And Fast Retail – behind Uniqlo, Theory, and Comptoir des Cotonniers, plans on embracing fully recycled paper bags by September this year.
It’s not just fast fashion, either. Luxury brands like Burberry has said it will “reduce, eliminate and transition away from problematic and unnecessary packaging” by the year 2025.
