Parent Company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger Joins How2Recycle Program

PVH, one of the world’s largest apparel companies and owner of iconic brands including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, Speedo, Warner’s and IZOD, is the newest member of the How2Recycle program. PVH will be using the recycling label to provide detailed instructions for how to recycle its Calvin Klein underwear packaging.

PVH is the first company in the apparel space to commit to featuring accurate, consistent recycling labels on their packaging, according to How2Recycle.

The How2Recycle label is a U.S.-based standardized labeling system that communicates recycling instructions to the public. The program is a project of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, a membership-based group that brings together business, educational institutions and government agencies to collectively broaden the understanding of packaging sustainability and develop meaningful improvements for packaging solutions.

Additional Retail Industry Initiatives

In December 2018, several fashion industry leaders joined the newly-launched UN Climate Change’s Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. Aligned with the Paris Agreement, this charter envisions the industry achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The 43 signatories represent fashion brands, retailers, supplier organizations, and others. They include Adidas, Burberry, Esprit, Guess, Gap Inc. Hugo Boss, H&M Group, Inditex, Kering, Levi Strauss & Co., Puma, PVH Corp., and Target.

Membership organizations Business for Social Responsibility, Sustainable Apparel Coalition, China National Textile and Apparel Council, Outdoor Industry Association, and Textile Exchange also joined the charter, as did global logistics company Maersk and the nonprofit organization WWF International.

And in April 2018, several of the world’s biggest retailers and food companies backed a new initiative from the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) to improve global supply chains, boosting sustainable sourcing and streamlining benchmarking.

Kellogg Company, Nestlé, and Walmart are among the companies supporting the forum’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI).

The new initiative aims to support the development of socially and environmentally responsible supply chains. By undergoing benchmarking and achieving SSCI recognition, brand owners signal their commitment to raising the bar, the Consumer Goods Forum says.

We are currently accepting submissions for the 2019 Environmental Leader Awards. Learn more and submit a project or product here.