Fashion giant Burberry has launched a new line of clothes crafted with Econyl, a sustainable nylon made from regenerated fishing nets, fabric scraps and industrial plastic.
The range includes a reinvention of Burberry's lightweight car coat, and is just one of 50 supply chain disruptions it is making to create a more circular fashion sector.
We know our industry can play a key role in building a more sustainable future through science and innovation, said Pam Batty, corporate responsibility VP at Burberry.
“We are proud to use Econyl yarn in this collection because it shows how we can actively tackle a problem like plastic waste and create beautiful, luxury products at the same time.“
The latest news comes after Burberry announced last year that it would stop destroying unsold products and instead expand efforts to reuse, repair, donate and recycle.
This is part of the company's five-year responsibility agenda, which includes becoming carbon neutral by 2022 and positively impacting one million people.
Burberry is now more than a third way through its carbon neutrality goal for its own operations, and is in the process of helping its supply chain partners cut their water and energy consumption.
In 2017/18 the firm also managed to procure 21% of its cotton through the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) to minimise environmental damage, and has a 100% target for 2022.
In addition, the company has partnered with Oxfam in Italy to support community cohesion, and in Afghanistan to develop a more inclusive and sustainable cashmere industry.
Moreover, Burberry is now a core partner of the Make Fashion Circular Initiative convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to phase out the negative impacts of the fashion and textile industry on the environment.
“We are passionate about driving positive change,“ the firm said. “Our responsibility goals cover the entire footprint of our operations and extend to the communities around us.
“We continue to invest in communities, from supporting young people in disadvantaged areas of London and Yorkshire, to developing a more inclusive and sustainable cashmere industry in Afghanistan.
“These efforts have been recognised by Burberry's inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the third consecutive year.“
Image credit: iStock
