As outlined in American multi-brand retailer’s “Re-imagined by J.Crew”, J.Crew has vowed to achieve sustainability in three key areas: fabrics, factories, and operations. It has also committed to eliminating all virgin plastic from its packaging by 2023. Having reemerged out of bankruptcy in 2020, J. Crew currently operates in 506 locations.
To reach its sustainability goals, J.Crew has partnered with groups and supply chain partners such as the Canopy Style initiative to decrease its greenhouse gas impact as well as drive innovative solutions.
Ambitious Sustainability Goals
J.Crew Group is integrating sustainability throughout its supply chain. Last year, the specialty apparel retailer launched "Re-imagined by J. Crew", an initiative to achieve specific sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals focused on products, supply chain, and third-party partnerships. Developed in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the program includes the following objectives:
- By 2025, J. Crew intends for 100% of key fibers to be sustainably sourced, including 100% cotton.
- By 2025, J. Crew plans to produce 90% of its cashmere and chino collections in Fair Trade Certified facilities.
- By 2025, J. Crew expects to sustainably source 100% of the plastic and paper used for packaging.
- By 2030, J. Crew aims for 100% carbon-neutral operations.
J. Crew is also partnering with various groups to integrate sustainability plans to reduce its environmental impact. This includes collaborating with supply chain partners to lessen the impact of greenhouse gases throughout its global supply chain; as well as participating in the CanopyStyle initiative, a fashion industry collaboration to help conserve the world's remaining ancient and endangered forests.
In early 2021, J. Crew announced that 100% of all cashmere sweaters and non-apparel pieces from the spring 2021 collection onward would be produced using cashmere certified to The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS).
Through its partnership with GCS, J. Crew will provide full traceability for certified cashmere pieces. The company is also partnering with Sustainable Fiber Alliance to empower women herders in Mongolia to improve their economic and social position.
The GCS was developed by the Aid by Trade Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to improve the welfare of cashmere goats, the lives of farmers and farming communities, and the environment in which they live.
New Resale Initiative with ThredUp
ThredUp is an online thrift store where consumers can buy and sell high-quality secondhand clothes. J.Crew teamed up with ThredUp to launch its new resale initiative last Tuesday, where customers can buy and resell pre-owned items, as well as receive J.Crew shopping credit for the items sold.
As 2023 is shaping up to be the year where resale really takes off, J.Crew also has a denim recycling program where consumers can drop off any pair of jeans independent of which brand, and receive a $20 credit toward a new Madewell pair.
Last year, ThredUp and J.Crew featured brand Madewell partnered to create Madewell Forever, which was the platform’s first resale-as-a-service to stand as a fully circular model. By focusing on sustainability and circularity, J.Crew sees it as an opportunity from a business perspective and is encouraging customers to turn in their old garments and purchase resold items.