Sustainability Report 2018 - KATHMANDU HOLDINGS LIMITED - AWS
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KATHMANDU HOLDINGS LIMITED Sustainability Report 2018
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 INTRODUCTION SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 1
World ready.
We come from New Zealand, Whether you’re on an epic
home to some of the world’s expedition, volunteering in
harshest conditions. Since a remote part of the world,
1987 we’ve been engineering or exploring the best local
outdoor gear for adventurers trails, you can be confident
all over the world – preparing you can take on any
all kinds of people for their destination in any weather
next adventure. conditions with Kathmandu.
For us, preparation is more We believe travel and
than having the right gear. adventure is the ultimate
Caroline Bellamy
Adventurer and artist from
It’s a mindset. It’s having life experience. With
Nelson, New Zealand curiosity, an open mind, and product engineering and
a hunger to learn. expert advice, we aim to
Lake Marian, Fiordland give you the confidence
National Park – South Island
New Zealand to discover the world.
2 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 INTRODUCTION SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 3
Our top 5
sustainability A
highlights. 2
At Kathmandu, sustainability
isn’t a department, it’s a way
of doing things. Here are some #2 world ranking Scored an 'A'
of our highlights from last year. by the Textile in the Ethical
Exchange for Fashion Report
preferred materials
Fair Labor 80% towards Recycled 6.7
Association our zero waste to million bottles
accredited landfill target into our gear
4 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 INTRODUCTION SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 5
Contents. Chairman’s and
CEO’s report.
There have been some big wins
10 Our Journey for Kathmandu this year in our
Since 1987, we’ve been building a culture of sustainability and sustainable practices. Not only
now we’re starting to think even bigger. did we have our human rights
work validated by Fair Labor
Association accreditation, we
also received an 'A' score in the
Ethical Fashion Report.
18 Our Suppliers We know that workers’ rights is
Looking after the people in our supply chain is our number one priority. the issue that our customers
We’re evolving a new approach to how we do it. and shareholders care most about,
so these results are important in
more ways than one.
We’re also incredibly proud of
28 Our Products our second placed Textile Exchange
The materials we choose make a big difference to our impact. ranking for sustainable material
We’ve made big strides this year in sustainable textiles. use and for diverting 80% of our
waste from landfill.
DAVID KIRK XAVIER SIMONET
CHAIRMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER This year, Kathmandu acquired
the Oboz footwear brand based in
Montana, USA.Oboz is a leader in
46 Our Footprint footwear and product design and
Operational efficiency supports environmental sustainability. have been one of our customers
First we measure and then we act. since its inception more than ten
years ago.
All our achievements are possible
because of the many passionate
54 Our Community people who champion
Connecting our communities, customers and causes we care about. sustainability at Kathmandu –
Our strategy focuses on three ways to improve people’s lives. from our store network to support
offices. Sustainability isn’t a
department, it’s a way of
doing things.
64 Our Team
The three pillars of our People Plan are helping us develop a safe,
engaged and high-performing team.
6 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 INTRODUCTION SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 7
“I think too many Tim Jarvis
people are waiting
for someone else uses adventure
to save us all from
climate change. to champion
It will come down
to individuals and the planet.
organisations to be
the change agents.” Kathmandu Ambassador Tim Jarvis
is an environmental explorer and
Tim is highlighting the real impacts
of climate change by climbing all
adventurer. He uses his world-first the mountains around the equator
TIM JARVIS expeditions to share stories about that still have a glacier, documenting
KATHMANDU AMBASSADOR environmental causes and help and recording their recession.
people to take action.
“There are 25 of those, and they’re at
Tim was awarded 2016 Conservationist 0 degrees latitude. In a quarter of a
of the Year by Australian Geographic century they’ll be gone due to climate
for his 25zero project, which is raising change,” he says.
awareness about the loss of
equatorial glaciers.
GEAR TO GET OUT THERE
Tim worked with Kathmandu in the
FINDING HIS WAY
redesign of our XT expedition gear
When he was just 12 years old, series, which he tested on a climb
getting lost (and then finding his way) of Mt Kilimanjaro in June.
in a Malaysian jungle helped Tim
“To me, Kathmandu is about
understand what he was capable of.
getting out there, travelling,
“I was scared, but I got back. That
doing it responsibly, expanding
began a feeling of being empowered
your horizons and discovering new
in the outdoors that’s kind of
things for yourself. It’s also about
continued ever since,” he says.
making a contribution. I think too
Spending time in nature made Tim many people are waiting for someone
want to protect it, and that led to a else to save us all from climate
career in environmental sciences. change. It will come down to
individuals and organisations to
“Things have kind of gone full circle
be the change agents.”
because now I use my expeditions
around the world to try and highlight
environmentalism,” he says.
ADVENTURE ADVOCACY
Tim has led expeditions to the South
and North Poles, across many deserts
and up many mountains. He retraced
the journeys of Sir Douglas Mawson
and Sir Ernest Shackleton using the
100-year-old equipment that they
would have used.
With his latest project, 25zero,
Adventurer and Kathmandu
Brand Ambassador Tim Jarvis
testing the new XT range.
8 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 INTRODUCTION SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 9
Oboz outdoor footwear
joins our family.
This year, Kathmandu acquired Oboz – HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR opportunities and we are so excited
an outdoor footwear company from VISION AND PURPOSE? to continue our journey as partners.
Bozeman, Montana. Founder John We’re excited to help Kathmandu
Our motto is ‘true to the trail’. Our
Connelly shares some insights about grow its footwear business in New
vision is to become the next great
the Oboz journey and the Zealand and Australia and to have the
American outdoor footwear brand.
sustainability ethos that has been support and resources to develop our
We think our greatness will come
core to the brand from the very international businesses together.
from manifesting passion, truth and
beginning. Two key areas I believe we’ve needed
soul in every pair we sell.
help in are sustainability and
Our purpose is to inspire, enhance innovation. We’re already seeing some
HOW DID OBOZ COME TO BE?
and promote active outdoor lives. benefits. I couldn’t be more pleased.
In January 2007, I was having dinner
Our mission is to treat our employees
with REI’s footwear category manager
and customers with respect and HOW IS SUSTAINABILITY
and Chuck Roth (our director of
dignity, build collaborative and APPLIED AT OBOZ?
design). I mentioned that I was
profitable alliances with our retail
considering starting a new brand. One of the things I’m most proud
and distributor partners, create
The category manager said REI of (and I can’t remember whose idea
shareholder value and continually
would support it and become our it was) is that we decided to plant a
strive to do things better, to minimise
first customer. The next day, tree for every pair we’d sell. This was
our carbon footprint and to always
Kathmandu said they’d become before we even had a company name
build the best-quality and best-
our second customer. With these or any samples. We’ve now planted –
performing outdoor footwear we
votes of confidence, a plan was put through Trees for the Future – just
possibly can.
into motion. A factory was lined up, under 2,000,000 trees. Almost from
investors were signed up, designs the beginning, we’ve run our offices
were started, samples were made. HOW DOES WORKING WITH on wind power, and we’ve offset
The brand launched at Outdoor KATHMANDU TAKE THE OBOZ our carbon footprint. All recyclable
Retailer in November 2007. We VISION FURTHER? materials are recycled. With
started a footwear company and Kathmandu’s help, we hope
For me, selling the company to and
came to market in record time. to do more.
working with Kathmandu is the
perfect ending to what was a great Another thing I’m very, very proud
beginning. Having worked with of is that, for the last two years, 2016
WHERE DID THE NAME
Kathmandu and visited New Zealand and 2017, we’ve won REI’s Vendor of
OBOZ COME FROM?
for three years prior to starting Oboz the Year Award for their outdoorwear
Oboz is a combination of Outside made it feel very comfortable and like division, their largest division.
and Bozeman. Bozeman, Montana, it was meant to be. The businesses
is our home base and lies in the are very compatible, and we share the
Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, which same values. Although we were
includes five major mountain ranges successful and had strong year-over-
and Yellowstone and Grand Teton year growth, moving up to the
National Parks. Oboz is a unique land number three functional outdoor
of glaciers and geysers, of bison, brand in the US, it has been
wolves and grizzly bears where there challenging at times competing with
is world-class fly fishing, hiking, biking, giant, well established brands. We
climbing, river running, skiing and don’t have the resources our big
wildlife encounters. It’s our inspiration competitors have, so joining up with
and our testing ground. Kathmandu opens more growth “Our motto is
‘true to the trail’. “
JOHN CONNELY
OBOZ FOUNDER Copyright Stephen Matera
10 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR JOURNEY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 11
“I use my
expeditions around
the world to try
and highlight
environmentalism.”
TIM JARVIS
GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR
Journey.
Our
Tim Jarvis explores New
Zealand’s Tasman Glacier.
12 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR JOURNEY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 13
A sustainability
programme built on
passionate individuals.
“Sustainability is about awareness and “At Kathmandu, sustainability goes supply chains.
then positive behaviour change,” says hand in hand with everything that we
We look to industry partners who can
Kathmandu Sustainability Specialist do,” says Oliver. It’s about the people
see the industry impacts as a whole –
Oliver Milliner. and empowering them to get involved.
did you know that the apparel
There is nothing more rewarding to
From our store team members taking industry accounts for 25% of global
see when new staff join the company
action to recycle shop fittings to the chemical use? Organisations like the
and start making sustainable choices
brand manager picking up rubbish on Sustainable Apparel Coalition help
both at work and at home.”
her favourite running trails, it is a brands better understand and
collection of passionate individuals manage their impacts.
that have piloted Kathmandu’s HOW DO WE KNOW
Overarching all this is the question
sustainability journey. WHAT’S IMPORTANT?
what’s important to a healthy planet?
We are guided by our Sustain the Everyone who connects with our The United Nations Sustainable
Dream strategy, which provides a brand in some way deserves a voice in Development Goals are a great
framework for measuring impacts how we prioritise our environmental framework for us to check ourselves
and driving change across the and social work. That means against. We’re looking for new ways
company. The strategy uses the employees, customers, shareholders to align our business to these goals.
Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s (SAC) and people in our supply chain.
For more information about how we
Higg Index framework and aligns with
This communication is happening all engage with people close to our brand
the United Nations Sustainable
the time, through interactions in store, and prioritise environmental and
Development Goals. Our partnerships
online and in the boardroom. We see social impacts, visit: www.kathmandu.
and certifications help guide us as
part of our role as education, sharing co.nz/corporate-responsibility/reports-
well as providing a future pathway for
what we have learned along the way and-policies.
improvement.
about the impacts of materials,
reducing waste and working with
“Sustainability is
about awareness
and then positive
behaviour
change.”
Tim Jarvis testing the new XT OLIVER MILLINER
range in New Zealand’s Aoraki/
Mt Cook National Park. SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST
14 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR JOURNEY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 15
A little
help from
TEXTILE EXCHANGE AUSTRALIAN HIMALAYAN
FOUNDATION
Our membership with the
Textile Exchange supports We have been partners with
our friends.
our materials strategy, and the AHF since 2012. We work
we also participate in their with the AHF to support
Preferred Fibre and communities in Nepal, the
Materials Market report. nation that inspired our brand.
Every explorer knows that a journey is better
with someone by your side. As we continue the OUTDOOR INDUSTRY GREEN BUILDING HIMALAYAN TRUST
journey of sustainability, industry partnerships ASSOCIATION COUNCIL AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND
provide important support ‑ resources,
information and frameworks. We participate in OIA’s Our membership with the We have recently partnered
Sustainability Working Group, GBCA supports our green with the Himalayan Trust to
a collaborative platform of building programme. further improve outcomes in
more than 300 outdoor brands We also work in education, health and
and suppliers working together collaboration with this sanitation in Nepal.
to identify and implement organisation in trialling
better business practices. new projects.
SUSTAINABLE APPAREL CARBON DISCLOSURE AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS
COALITION PROJECT
We have partnered with
Membership of the SAC gives We submit an annual Australian Red Cross since
us access to the Higg Index report to the CDP, which 2011. We support its
modules. We’ve been using supports our carbon humanitarian work and
the index since 2014, which measurement and reduction emergency responses.
supports our sustainability programme.
strategy. The index guides us on
the environmental and social
impacts of our products and
how we can improve.
“The Higg Index FAIR LABOR ASSOCIATION ENVIRO-MARK SOLUTIONS NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS
empowers We became the first brand in
the southern hemisphere to
Our membership with
Enviro-Mark Solutions helps us
We have partnered with
New Zealand Red Cross
organisations at achieve FLA accreditation. to measure our carbon since 2011. We support its
This verifies that our social footprint as well as facilitating humanitarian work and
any stage of their compliance programme in our carbon offsetting projects. emergency responses.
sustainability journey supply chain exceeds the most
stringent global standards.
to reduce their
environmental impacts BLUESIGN® AUSTRALIAN PACKAGING
and strengthen the Our bluesign® system
COVENANT ORGANISATION
communities where partnership supports our We submit an annual report
chemicals management to the APC, which supports
they operate.” programme, materials our packaging and waste
and products so that strategy.
JASON KIBBEY they are environmentally
and socially friendly.
SUSTAINABLE APPAREL
COALITION CEO
16 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR JOURNEY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 17
KEY
Our world. Arctic
MANUFACTURERS
75 TOTAL
(Only Kathmandu
manufacturers)
China – 59
Vietnam – 7
Taiwan – 2
New Zealand – 2
Indonesia – 2
Israel – 1
Nepal – 1
India – 1
Iceland
Russia
MATERIALS SOURCING
Norway
Denmark
UK
Scotland
Germany
Canada Ireland Poland
Netherlands
Belgium
France Austria
Switzerland OPER ATIONS
Macedonia China
New Zealand
Italy Greece 47 stores
USA
South Korea Japan 1 distribution centre
Malta
Iraq 1 office
Algeria Israel Afghanistan Nepal
Egypt Australia
Mexico Pakistan Thailand Taiwan
Laos 116 stores
Yemen
1 distribution centre
Myanmar
Cambodia 1 office
India Vietnam
Philippines
Ethiopia America
Nigeria Sri Lanka 1 office
Malaysia
Somalia Indonesia
United Kingdom
Rwanda 1 store
Brazil
Fiji Samoa
Zambia
Chile
Australia COMMUNITY
South Africa
PARTNERSHIPS
Argentina 13 Adventure Sponsorship
winners travelled to:
Antarctica, Iceland,
New Zealand
Egypt, Brazil, Australia,
Arctic, Norway, New Zealand,
Ethiopia, Thailand.
214 adventure sponsorship
recipients
Antarctica 46 NATIONALITIES
ACROSS OUR TEAM18 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR SUPPLIERS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 19
“We are not
about ticking boxes.
We are about
making change.”
Suppliers.
GARY SHAW
CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY MANAGER
Our
This year’s Christmas gifts for
good are hand-crafted by
women in Nepal.20 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR SUPPLIERS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 21
We’re learning to
use audits as a step
towards change.
Sustainability is about people, RESPONSIBLE PURCHASING CODE OF CONDUCT
especially when it comes to
We’ve used responsible purchasing to For more information about our
protecting human rights in our
make sure we’re not putting pressure Supplier Code of Conduct, visit
supply chain.
on our factories that would make it www.kathmandu.co.nz/corporate-
Over the last 18 months, our harder for them to keep excessive responsibility/reports-and-policies .
approach to looking after people overtime in check.
all the way down our supply chain
And we’ve put more weight on
has evolved. We’ve put values and
improvement than on perfection.
transparency front and centre,
Auditing helps us find areas that
which means our suppliers are
need improvement, but working
clear about how we expect them
closely with factories to make change
to look after their workers, but they
is when we have a real opportunity
also understand why this is important
to improve conditions for workers.
to us and to our customers.
OUR SUPPLIERS 2018
150 Kathmandu
and branded
suppliers
8.6
YEARS AVERAGE TENURE
WITH SUPPLIERS
40 0 Unannounced
Audits
100 TOTAL AUDITS 12 Corrective
Action Plans
% NEW SUPPLIERS
SCREENED USING
SOCIAL CRITERIA
13Exits 200
Hours training office staff
Support office employees trained = CSR Specialist based in China
DriFill down jackets being A worker fabricates jackets at
produced in Shenzhen, China. a factory in Shenzhen, China.22 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR SUPPLIERS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 23
FLA accreditation Scoring an 'A'
shows collaboration in the Ethical
and transparency. Fashion Report.
After a four-year journey, Kathmandu
became the first in the Southern
Today, the non-profit helps around
5.5 million workers across the world to
“We commend Each year, the Baptist World Aid and
Tear Fund rate apparel brands in
Hemisphere to have its compliance have a voice in their own futures and Kathmandu for Australia and New Zealand on their
programme accredited by the Fair feel safer at work. supply chain practices. In the 2018
Labor Association (FLA). its strong report, Kathmandu received an 'A'
There are just 43 brands to have LEARNING CONTINUES commitment to score for the first time.
received this accreditation. It comes
after lengthy reviews, assessments
“Working with the FLA has really transparency.” “This score shows they have confidence
that our systems are robust and follow
helped us understand what good
and audits designed to make sure best practices,” says Corporate Social
corporate social responsibility (CSR)
companies fulfil the principles of fair SHARON WAXMAN Responsibility Manager Gary Shaw.
looks like,” Gary says.
labour and responsible sourcing. FLA PRESIDENT AND CEO
FLA President and CEO Sharon
VALUES DRIVE IMPROVEMENT
Waxman says, “We commend
IN LEAGUE WITH GIANTS
Kathmandu for its collaboration Gary attributes the increase from
“This puts us alongside companies like with other brands and civil society 'B+' in 2017 to 'A' in 2018 to a number of
Patagonia, Adidas and Nike,” to remediate labour rights violations, changes. “We partnered with ELEVATE,
says Corporate Social Responsibility along with the company’s strong a company that better reflects our
Manager Gary Shaw. commitment to transparency in values,” Gary says. “We started using
publishing its supplier list and results a technology platform called RizePoint,
The FLA grew out of a group of
of FLA factory assessments online.” which helps us manage audit scores so
multinational companies and NGOs
that we can see trends and measure
brought together by President Clinton
ourselves against best practice. The
in 1996 to improve working conditions
focus is not just on policing the supply
in the apparel and footwear industries
chain but improving it. The software
after a series of high-profile incidents
delivers e-learning modules to suppliers
exposing sweatshop labour.
in their own language so that that
they can learn how to make changes
and why those changes are important.”
CONNECTING DIGITALLY
Other improvements this year include
the introduction of a grievance
mechanism that utilises the popular
Chinese social media platform
WeChat. Gary says the next range
of improvements will be about
going beyond compliance towards
proactive supply-chain capacity
building and development.
“We are not about ticking boxes. We
are about making change,” Gary says.
Sewing jackets in
Shenzhen, China.24 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR SUPPLIERS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 25
CASE STUDY
WeChat complaint
opens doors for
improvement.
For years, the official grievance COLLABORATING FOR IMPACT
channel for workers in our supplier
The grievance was sent to Kathmandu
factories sat dormant. Even if workers
and to MEC in Canada. Kathmandu
had access to email,
approached four other brands with
they would have struggled with
production at the same factory.
the English email address.
Together, the six companies made up
Last year, we introduced a new almost all the factory’s business.
method through the ubiquitous
“We knew that, through collaboration
Chinese social media platform
and joint problem solving, our efforts
WeChat that worked by scanning a
would have greater impact due to our
QR code. The hope was that workers
group influence at the facility,”
would be able to contact us if they
Gary says.
weren’t being treated fairly in their
A Kathmandu employee runs
workplace, even though it can Initially, the factory denied the charge, training to help build better Workers from TGI, a supplier outside
sometimes go against traditional but eventually conceded they had grievance mechanisms. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Chinese culture to make such a covered up subcontracting.
complaint.
There are signs that these cultural
“In the end, they were very apologetic,”
Gary says. “They seemed surprised “CSR and human
norms are shifting. This year, we that we genuinely wanted to know rights relies on us SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Women-run factory
received our first grievance from about their problems so we could help
workers in our supply chain. It them improve. I think they assumed being able to inspect
became an opportunity to test our that we only cared about having our
and do audits so
recycles water to feed
systems and drive real improvements boxes ticked at audit time. They have
for workers. said they didn’t understand the value
we placed on transparency.”
we can say with
The workers reported various
confidence that the
workers fresh vegetables.
health and safety breaches and
that the factory was subcontracting ELEVATING STANDARDS people are being
work to other factories without our
knowledge or approval.
The factory is now working with
our ethical sourcing partner
treated well.”
ELEVATE on a six-month improvement
GARY SHAW Outside Ho Chi Minh City, TGI’s Kathmandu Sourcing Manager Phil The company also rewards employees’
RELYING ON TRANSPARENCY programme. Kathmandu’s China-
based CSR specialist is also running CORPORATE SOCIAL two factories make fleece and Bailey says, “I have been to more children with money for each year of
“CSR and human rights relies on us RESPONSIBILITY MANAGER woven garments for Kathmandu. than 1000 factories in my career, and school they complete. In 2018, they
training to help the company build
being able to inspect and do audits so only a handful of those are run by gave financial prizes to 218 children of
more robust internal grievance TGI CEO is Ms Nguyen Bao Tran,
we can say with confidence that the women." workers. TGI also gives university
mechanisms for the factory. who was trained by the Chairman,
people are being treated well,” says scholarships to rural children.
Corporate Social Responsibility “It starts with us having to explain Mr Vu Duc Giang, to take this role. TGI has taken other initiatives
Manager Gary Shaw. “It relies on to them why we care about their Mr Giang says his philosophy with to look after workers. It uses Phil says the TGI factories rate
transparency. That’s why our terms workers and why our customers care,” rural factories is to find local talent mindset training to help workers highly for quality, delivery and
of trade don’t allow outsourcing Gary says. “They have gone on a and train them through to senior set goals and to help them grow corporate responsibility. As a result,
without asking our permission first.” journey of improvement, which all the management. Along with the CEO, into management roles. Kathmandu has increased its orders
brands will be watching closely. We six of the seven senior management through the factory.
Both factories have water recycling
will keep working with them as long are women.
systems. At one, the water supplies
as they are willing to improve. a small farm that helps to feed the
Working together on these problems workers, who are split between
is where the real opportunity for their two factories according to
change exists.” their food preferences.26 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR SUPPLIERS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 27
Moving the dial
on human rights.
AUSTRALIAN MODERN WORKER VOICE
SLAVERY ACT
The Australian Modern Slavery Act is Our audit partner ELEVATE has
currently in the process of being partnered with Laborlink, an
legislated . The law is similar to others award-winning mobile platform
in the UK and USA, which that establishes a two-way
acknowledge that there are more communication channel for
people in slavery today than ever workers to share their viewpoints
before in history – 45 million people in real time and for companies to
according to estimates from the have clear visibility of worker
Global Slavery Index. “A lot of them wellbeing in their supply chains. From
are hiding in the global fast fashion 2018, every full audit we conduct will
industry,” says Kathmandu Corporate be integrated with Laborlink and
Social Responsibility Manager Gary allow us to ask our workers specific
Shaw. The International Labour questions about their safety and
Organisation reports that half of wellbeing. This tool will facilitate
modern slaves are in debt bondage, better detection and risk analysis,
working to repay impossibly high enhanced reporting and prevention
debts. Kathmandu has policies and by engaging with vulnerable workers
practices in place to ensure that we in hard-to-reach places.
do not allow forced labour in any of
our production facilities. The
OBOZ
legislation requires companies with
more than $80 million in revenue to With the acquisition of Oboz footwear,
submit an annual report showing the Kathmandu will add Vietnamese
work they are doing to insure there is footwear factories to its list of
no forced labour in suppliers. These will be transitioned
their supply chain. “All companies into the Kathmandu corporate social
have a role to play,” Gary says. responsibility programme in the
second half of 2018. “We’ll be learning
from the good work that Oboz has
done in CSR and looking forward to
aligning best practices across our
brands,” says Gary.
“All companies
have a role to
play in making
sure there is no
forced labour.”
GARY SHAW
CORPORATE SOCIAL Workers in Shanghai sewing
RESPONSIBILITY MANAGER the women’s hooded pullover.28 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR PRODUCTS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 29
“Change comes from
an understanding
between two humans.”
MANU RASTOGI
RESPONSIBLE MATERIALS MANAGER
Products.
Our
Summit Club member Ben
on location in Kaikoura.30 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR PRODUCTS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 31
Combining forces
for better material
choices.
Wool or polypropylene? Down or pollution. Centralising all of this into END OF LIFE
synthetic? Hemp or cotton? one index means that everyone is
The Higg MSI measures impacts up to
Consumers are asked to make these using the same process to arrive at an
finished materials, but of course that
choices every day. We all want to do impact score. Without this, it would
is only about halfway through the
the right thing, but the answer is be impossible to make comparisons.
lifecycle of a garment. Turning
rarely clear.
The Higg MSI is constantly being finished material into a product that
One tool that we use at Kathmandu improved as more data feeds in. adapts to your needs and lasts a
is the Higg Materials Sustainability You might be surprised at some of lifetime is our job. After that, it’s over
Index (Higg MSI). This online database the results. to our customers to put our products
is available to anyone at msi.higg.org. to good use and to manage the
It has been developed by the impacts of washing and disposal, so,
SURPRISING IMPACTS
Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), we’re also building resources to guide
a group of businesses from the We tend to think of cotton as good customers on the best ways to care
apparel, footwear and textile because it’s a natural material and for our products along with easier
industry who have come together polyester as bad because it’s made ways to send products back for repair.
to make it easier for the industry to from petrochemicals. But the Higg
The journey continues. It’s exciting
measure and reduce impacts. MSI rates the impact of polypro at
to see solutions emerging and to
39 and the impact of conventional
know that together we can make
cotton at 98 (a lower score equals
LEARNING TOGETHER a difference.
lower impact). But the story doesn’t
SAC’s framework for this is called end there. Diving into the cotton For our full list of priority of preferred
the Higg Index. It’s an online self- impacts, you can see that growing materials, visit
assessment tool that lets companies the cotton makes up the bulk of the www.kathmandu.co.nz/corporate-
measure their impacts across the impact, contributing a whopping 66 responsibility/responsible-materials.
entire business and see how they’re points. Choosing a more sustainable
doing compared to other companies. raw material source reduces the
impact dramatically. If a designer can
The Higg Index is an unprecedented
industry collaboration. It’s a resource
swap conventional cotton for recycled We tend to think Recycled cotton
cotton, they can reduce the material
that no single company could ever
have hoped to build on its own.
source impacts to almost zero and of cotton as good has a lower
cut out the dying process completely,
because it’s a environmental
98
By doing all the heavy lifting,
bringing the impact score down to
calculations and assessments in
the background, brands are
just 27 points. natural material impact on the
empowered to make better choices. Simple? Not exactly. But it’s a
and polyester planet than 39 27
valuable tool for our teams to make
The Higg MSI collects data from
the industry, for the industry.
informed decisions based on very as bad because other materials,
detailed assessments of the impacts.
The SAC uses the data to conduct it’s made from bringing the
environmental assessments from “It’s not perfect,” says Group
raw production through to finishing. Product Operations Manager petrochemicals. impact score
This produces a measure of how a
material impacts on things like
Tara Strangwick, “but all the world’s
heavyweights have got a better
down to just
climate change, water scarcity and chance if they’re working together.” 27 points.
CONVENTIONAL POLYPRO RECYCLED
COTTON COTTON32 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR PRODUCTS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 33
Number two
in the world for
materials...again.
“This really The Textile Exchange ranked us
second out of 19 global outdoor
2.16 million 100 watt lightbulbs for
a year and the CO2 equivalent of
validates that brands for our use of sustainable 289 Boeing 747s flying from London
materials for the second year in a row. to Delhi.
our approach The Textile Exchange is an industry In the outdoor and sports category,
to materials is platform where brands can we maintained our overall position as
collaborate on industry challenges. #2, while the field grew from 14 to 19
correct.” Its aim is to support companies brands. Our total score improved from
to transition away from conventional 64.3/100 to 73.85/100.
TARA STRANGWICK fibres and materials to ‘preferred’
Responsible Materials Manager Manu
GROUP PRODUCT fibres and materials – or those
Rastogi says, “The improvement was
OPERATIONS MANAGER with less impacts.
primarily because of our commitment
to using 100% preferred man-made
TRACKING PROGRESS cellulosics and because of our uptake
of recycled cotton.”
The Textile Exchange’s Preferred Fiber
and Materials Market Report tracks
the progress of the textile industry FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS
in its mission to accelerate
Manu says moving into the top
sustainable practices.
spot might be possible with the
The 2017 report included 97 apparel introduction of Responsible Wool
2
brands. Preferred cotton and Standard (RWS) products, more GLOBAL SCOREBOARD
preferred down were the top recycled fibres and bio-based
performers in the overall index materials as well as closing in on
while the report cited room for the goal to reach 100% sustainable
improvement amongst recycled cotton.
fibres and man-made cellulose.
“This recognition is huge for us,”
#
says Group Product Operations WORLD RANKING IN THE
TEXTILE EXCHANGE PREFERRED
MATERIALS MAKE A DIFFERENCE Manager Tara Strangwick. “The Textile MATERIALS REPORT
Exchange is the most recognised
By choosing preferred materials, the
industry body, and the rankings are
6
industry has saved enough to meet
10
very detailed.”
the needs of everyone on Earth for
13 days, enough energy to power
# by Volume on the Preferred
Down Leaderboard
#
BY VOLUME ON THE
#5
RECYCLED COTTON
LEADERBOARD
by Growth on the Preferred
Down Leaderboard
9
100%
INCLUDED IN THE 100% CLUB
ON THE PREFERRED DOWN
#
LEADERBOARD & THE PREFERRED ON THE RACE-TO-THE-
MAN-MADE CELLULOSICS TOP LEADERBOARD FOR
LEADERBOARD PREFERRED COTTON34 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR PRODUCTS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 35
Manufacturer
gives Kathmandu
the All-In Award.
We thought we had big ambitions China in March 2018 to learn more
Microfibre research ramps
for recycling plastic bottles into about how the plastic bottles are up with new study.
garments – starting with a 1 million transformed into fibre. Last year, the impact of microfibres
bottle goal in 2016 and growing to exploded into public consciousness.
“It’s not a fancy process,” Manu says.
a 7.5 million target for 2019. But Tiny particles from our clothes are
“They use a mechanical grinder to
REPREVE, who makes most of the escaping from washing machines and
break down the bottles into plastic
recycled polyester in our range, are into waterways where the chemicals
chips. This means there are less
aiming for 30 billion bottles by 2022 in those fibres are consumed by fish
chemicals in the process.”
(current count is around 12 billion). life and eventually even make it back
Manu also likes the traceability of into our food chain.
REPREVE. “All recycled fibres are not
INSPIRING DESIGNERS
alike. REPREVE uses a standard that
NATURAL FIBRES
REPREVE has created the Champions means we can trace the material to
ALSO CONTRIBUTE
of Sustainability Award to inspire make sure it comes from post-
designers and consumers to choose consumer waste. REPREVE makes it The focus has been on polyester
sustainable fabrics and ultimately easy for us to keep track of how many fibres, which are essentially tiny pieces
help solve the problem of plastic bottles we are recycling in our ranges, of plastic. But a closer look at the
bottles ending up in the landfill, or which also helps us to keep improving.” data shows that natural fibres are
worse, in the oceans. also heavily treated with chemicals
and can in some cases be even worse.
At the 2018 awards, Kathmandu THE UNCOUNTED BOTTLES
was recognised with the All-In Award To create solutions, we need to
The Kathmandu recycled polyester
for integrating REPREVE extensively understand the issue more clearly.
bottle count only includes numbers
into product lines from the start. We’ve undertaken a study to quantify
that have been verified by REPREVE,
Kathmandu’s impact and set a
REPREVE is now used in 71 products in but the range includes lots of other
baseline. The research is being carried
the Kathmandu range, bringing this recycled polyester too. “We only claim
out by fabric technologist Georgia
year’s bottle count to 6.7 million. bottle counts where we can back
Tangney as part of her postgraduate
those numbers up 100%, every time,
research with the University of Otago.
with traceable documentation.
LEARNING MORE
I think if we converted all our recycled The study is looking at how many
Responsible Materials Manager Manu plastic use, the number would be microfibres are generated by
Rastogi visited the REPREVE plant in closer to 20 million,” Manu says. Kathmandu products (including
fleece) and what the impact of
those fibres might be. It’s also
7.5 looking at solutions – measuring
2019
GOAL
the effectiveness of the Guppy Friend
MILLION microfibre filter, which is available in
Our plastic bottle Kathmandu stores.
6.7
2018
recycling journey
MILLION UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
3.9 “There are lots of questions
2017
about microfibres that are still
MILLION unanswered. This study will help
1.2
2016
us understand the issue as it applies
specifically to us so we can look for
MILLION The Cotinga Backpack is made ways to manage it,” says Responsible
with REPREVE fabric and
recycles 17 plastic bottles. Materials Manager Manu Rastogi.36 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR PRODUCTS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 37
We’re on track
for our sustainable
cotton goal.
Sustainable Because we’re narrowing in on our WORKING WITH SUPPLIERS
target fast, it wasn’t a huge leap
cotton breakdown when we joined the Sustainable
These changes require suppliers to
come on board.
Cotton Communique. Driven by
Prince Charles, as part of the “One example is our sleeping bag
Prince of Wales International stuff sacks. These are made from
Sustainability Unit, the 80% polyester and 20% cotton.
communique asks brands to All up, this represented just 0.13%
commit to using only sustainable of the cotton we use, but to get it
78 %
cotton by 2025. Kathmandu is one across the line we had to engage
of 36 brands to sign up so far. with the supplier, educate them
about why this is important to us,
introduce them to the BCI, and
GETTING THERE
have all the discussions about
This year, we increased from 74% quality and cost that go along
to 78% sustainable cotton. A mix with any changes.
of recycled cotton, Better Cotton
“At the end of the day, the change
Initiative (BCI) cotton and organic
comes from a face-to-face
cotton will get us there.
conversation and an
Responsible Materials Manager
understanding between two
Manu Rastogi says the final push
humans. It’s never as simple as
53 %
BCI 15 %
Organic
to 100% is the most difficult.
“This is the long tail that is hardest
just swapping out the fabric,
but hopefully the process helps
to get across the line. When you shift the needle for the industry
7 %
Fairtrade 3 %
Recycled
have a glove or a sock with 5% as a whole.”
11.5
cotton or a big complex product
like a child carrier with a bit of
cotton, we have to find solutions
for all these last little details to
reach our goal.”
100%
2020
Our sustainable 78% MILLION
2018
cotton journey
74% bottles worth of fresh
2017
water saved in 2018*
59% 59%
2016
2014
The United Nations is calling
for a “fundamental shift” in
38%
the way water is managed.
2015
By using more recycled cotton and
solution-dyed polyesters, we have
been able to increase our water
savings from 8.5 million bottles to
11.5 million bottles of water this year.
Cotton harvesting at a Fairtrade cotton farm
run by our supplier Pratibha Syntex in India. * based on 500ml bottles.38 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR PRODUCTS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 39
Design challenge
delivers most
sustainable
range yet.
This year, we launched the DESIGN TRANSFORMATION
EarthColors Hoodie. It was a
“The design process has been about
challenge thrown down by our
transforming an ordinary hoodie
designers – what’s the most
into a ground-breaking garment.
sustainable hoodie we can make?
Every detail has been questioned,”
The starting point was the says Keb. “From eyelets to trims to
EarthColors dye, a natural organic packaging – we just keep asking
dye made by global dye house ourselves how can we make these
Archroma from agricultural waste. more sustainable?”
The inedible parts of nuts, fruits and
The trim is a blend of BCI cotton and
seeds are used to create a
REPREVE recycled polyester. The logo
sustainable non-petroleum dye
print has been done using a low-
alternative.
impact dye.
TRACEABLE DYES
JUST THE START
Apparel designer Keb Brabazon says,
The EarthColors Hoodie was the start
“I love the fact that, “I love the fact that, with EarthColors,
you can trace it all the way back to
of our garment dyeing programme.
This year, the design team will look
with EarthColors, you the land and that there is a face to
for more opportunities to incorporate
the people making this stuff. By
can trace it all the way investing in these new technologies,
these sustainable materials and
processes into the range. A range
back to the land...” we help build capacity so that
eventually we can incorporate these
of shirts, pants and tees will be
launched later this year.
things into all of our products.” But
KEB BRABAZON Kathmandu team member Jacinta the design team didn’t stop there.
wearing the latest EarthColor range
APPAREL DESIGNER on location in Sapa, Vietnam.
Bio-based synthetics Biosynthetics are made from critical to building a more sustainable Kathmandu Responsible Materials The EarthColors Hoodie released by
natural, renewable resources. industry. Unlike petrochemical-based Manager Manu Rastogi is part of Kathmandu in 2017 is an example
will help meet growing
These could be crops like corn or fibres, biosynthetics can even mitigate the working group. “The lifecycle of a second-generation biosynthetic.
global textile demand. sugarcane, waste from agriculture climate change by absorbing CO2 analysis tells us that the first Agricultural waste replaced fossil-fuel
As part of our work helping to or forestry industries or non-food during the growth phase. generation biosynthetics, which based dyes.
push the industry needle on sources like fungi and bacteria. come from crops, compete with the
The working group is pulling together
sustainability with the Textile food industry. We need to work on
With the global demand for textiles metrics and lifecycle data so that
Exchange, Kathmandu has joined more alternatives in the second and
expected to more than double by impacts can be quantified and
the biosynthetic working group. third generation that are from
2050, these emerging fibres will be compared.
waste and non-food sources.”40 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR PRODUCTS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 41
Synthetic down
jacket takes home
Gold Award.
We’ll always argue that there’s no “This is our first true down alternative,”
substitute for down when it comes says Responsible Materials Manager
to performance. That’s why we’ve Manu Rastogi. “It’s a great alternative
worked hard to make sure 100% of for people who don’t want to buy
our down is certified by the animal products.”
Responsible Down Standard.
But Manu says that, on performance
There will always be a place for down, and sustainability scores, down still
but that doesn’t stop us from looking wins.
at alternatives. ThermoPlume by
“The Higgs Materials Sustainability
PrimaLoft is the first down-like
Index looks at the overall
synthetic that has passed our
sustainability of a huge list of
standards for performance and
materials according to a lifecycle
production. It is easy to wash,
analysis. Down rates number two. I
fast to dry and keeps you warm
am a vegetarian myself, but as long
even when wet.
as people in China are eating geese
We used ThermoPlume in our and ducks, down will be an extremely
Lawrence travel jacket, which sustainable by product of that
won a Gold Award at the ISPO industry.”
outdoor product fair.
“This is the first true
down alternative for
people who don’t want
to buy animal products.”
MANU RASTOGI
Summit Club member Hannah
wearing the Lawrence Jacket on
RESPONSIBLE
location in Wanaka, New Zealand. MATERIALS MANAGER42 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR PRODUCTS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 43
Designing with a Keeping an
sustainability lens. eye on quality.
Kathmandu designers are using
a tool from the Sustainable Apparel
DDM this year as a trial and
we will introduce more products
To make products with less impact,
they need to last. To make sure our
New Zealand and Australia is not the
answer to improve manufacturing
“We make products
Coalition (SAC) to score and and designers next year.” products meet quality standards, quality. To that end, we are working for activities of
improve the sustainability of we carry out planned inspections on creating and rolling out a
products at the design stage.
Darren says the Higg DDM helps
designers stop and consider impacts
on high-risk products when they reach Quality Excellence programme to consequence,
The Higg Index is a self-assessment early on. “It’s resetting the way you
our distribution centres. Reactive
quality inspections are done when a
better manage product quality at the
point of manufacture. As well
and we need to
tool that is used throughout design. You have to ask, if I choose
Kathmandu to measure sustainability this product or this trim, what impact
team member or a customer raises as reactive inspections, Kathmandu ensure that our
a concern about a product. When has also been working with a third-
and benchmark performance against
others in the industry.
am I going to have?”
the team receives negative feedback, party inspection company to verify gear meets and
IT’S IN OUR DNA
they investigate the root cause of the
issue and consider the impact on the
product quality for high-risk
products prior to shipment.
exceeds customer
RIGHT DOWN TO THE TRIMS
Sustainability is part of Kathmandu’s
customer.
“We can only improve product quality expectations.”
Designers use the Higg Design product design DNA. “Whenever a “We make products for activities of by working with our manufacturing
Development Module (Higg DDM) to designer is starting a new concept, consequence, and we need to ensure partners at a factory level so that TARA STRANGWICK
score a product by rating the
sustainability of the materials – right
down to trims and tiny details. Once
scored, a product can be
they have to look at the four design
philosophies: original, engineered,
adaptive, sustainable,” Darren says.
45k
that our gear meets and exceeds
customer expectations” says Group
Product Operations Manager Tara
Strangwick. But performing
they are fully aligned with our
inspection and quality standards,”
Tara says. “We look forward to sharing
more about this programme
GROUP PRODUCT
OPERATIONS MANAGER
benchmarked against
He makes the point that
sustainability cannot override
“Durability inspections at distribution centres in as it unfolds.”
other Kathmandu products and those
of competitors, challenging designers
performance. “Durability is key to
sustainability. I think a lot of
is key to
to continually look for ways to
improve the sustainability score.
consumers are pushing back from the sustainability.”
whole concept of fast fashion and the
“It brings in a sense of competition throwaway culture. We are offering an DARREN BARRY
for our designers – looking at how to alternative as a stylish technical
KATHMANDU
beat their score,” says Kathmandu outdoor brand with strong
HEAD OF DESIGN
Head of Design Darren Barry. “Two sustainability principles.”
designers have gone through the Higg
CARE AND REPAIR
Customer health
and safety.
Our customers rely on us to keep The customer received professional
them safe in the outdoors. This is a medical attention and the retail
big responsibility. This year, we have general manager worked through and
two safety issues to report. A resolved the complaint with the
customer reported frostbite when customer.
4907 0 270
wearing Kathmandu XT Fitzgerald
In January, a power bank was
Unisex NGX Alpine Mountaineering
reported as exploding and catching
Boots. The boots were being used in
fire in a backpack at Melbourne
conditions outside their intended use
Airport. There were no injuries but it
so the problem was more a problem REPAIRS Product Recalls Inspections
was investigated and
with the quality of advice given than
a report forwarded to Melbourne
the quality of the product.
Airport Security.44 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR PRODUCTS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 45
Responsible wool
lands in store.
Next January, Kathmandu will
be the first brand in the southern
have been looked after right
through the supply chain. The RWS
“That’s how we
hemisphere to have Responsible prohibits the practice of mulesing, change the status
Wool Standard (RWS) products on where strips are cut from the
the shelf. sheep’s rear. This is still common in quo and make
This comes after years of working
Australia but has been phased out
in New Zealand.
sustainability stick.”
with farmers and others in the
supply chain to convince them of “We’ve finally done it,” says
MANU RASTOGI
the value of the programme. Responsible Materials Manager
Manu Rastogi. “It happened by RESPONSIBLE
The RWS is an animal welfare and MATERIALS MANAGER
engaging deeply with farmers and
land management standard
supply chain partners, helping
developed by the industry under
them understand the vision and
the Textile Exchange umbrella. Like
helping to make it their vision too.
the Responsible Down Standard,
That’s how we change the status
the RWS aims to create a
quo and make sustainability stick.”
traceable certification programme
that ensures animals and land
Tiber ngx hiking boots are made with
leather from tanneries that are certified
by the Leather Working Group.
FUR-FREE FIRST FOR LEATHER WORKING GROUP
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
Kathmandu has become the first This year, we signed up to the Leather “Leather is a bit like down. It’s OK to
retailer in the southern hemisphere Working Group, a consortium of use as long as we address the issues.
to join the Four Paws Global Fur-Free around 400 brands who are focusing Just like down, leather is a byproduct
Retailer programme. on environmental impacts at the of the meat industry so as long as we
tannery level. manage the chemical and water use
Four Paws is an international animal
and can trace the source, it can be
protection group that opposes the Kathmandu uses leather in footwear
pretty sustainable.”
fur industry’s treatment of animals. only. Responsible Materials Manager
First
2019
The group says the global fur trade Manu Rastogi visited tanneries this
products sources 95% of its fur from animals year to seek answers to some of his
in store forced to live in small wire cages. questions. Already, 100% of
Our responsible RWS launched and leather used in
2016
Now running in more than 20 “Tanneries use huge amounts of
Kathmandu became
wool journey part of the industry
countries, Fur-Free Retailer includes water, chemicals and waste. Only
Kathmandu footwear
more than 880 major labels. 20–25% of an animal skin (based
working group comes from tanneries
on weight) is turned into leather,
“Caring for the welfare of animals is
so I wanted to know where the rest
important to Kathmandu because it is
goes. I also wanted to know more
that are certified gold
important to our customers, our team
members and our shareholders. We
about what chemicals are used and or silver by the Leather
what happens to those chemicals.
are proud to be considered a leader in
I’m also interested in the traceability
Working Group.
this space and encourage other
of the leather. Do they know where
retailers to join and make the pledge
it has come from?” says Manu.
to eliminate animal fur in any of their
products,” says Ben Ryan, Kathmandu
General Manager of Product.46 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR FOOTPRINT SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 47
Footprint.
Our
“Carbon credits give
us a land purchase
fund. That means
regenerating forest
and more carbon
being fixed.”
HUGH WILSON
Hugh Wilson uses carbon credit
BOTANIST AND HINEWAI funds to restore native forest on
RESERVE MANAGER Banks Peninsula.48 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR FOOTPRINT SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 49
Smart reductions
make sense to
the bottom line.
Our environmental footprint is a way This year, we took steps in both of
to measure our impact on our planet. these areas, having our carbon
Only when armed with an accurate accounting system certified by a third
measure can we take meaningful party and increasing the percentage
steps towards reducing our footprint. of our waste diverted from landfills.
Carbon and waste are our biggest
impacts as a business. We are guided DOUBLE BOTTOM LINE
by the United Nations Sustainable
The good news is that both of
Development Goals as we look for
these are driven not just by those
ways to be part of a shift towards
looking after our environmental
a more circular economy.
impact but also by those looking
after the bottom line.
PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
“Using and managing resources
Goal 12 is all about sustainable responsibly like recycling and reducing
consumption and production patterns. energy consumption is a bit like good
This means using resources more housekeeping,” says Chief Operating
efficiently and minimising waste. and Financial Officer Reuben Casey.
“This is something we can all
contribute to.”
“Recycling and reducing
energy consumption is a bit
like good housekeeping.”
REUBEN CASEY Kathmandu’s Christchurch support
office is one of three 5 Green Star rated
CHIEF OPERATING & FINANCIAL OFFICER buildings the company operates.50 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 OUR FOOTPRINT SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018 51
Over 15 tonnes of soft
plastics now being
recycled each year.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation “A key learning was that clear plastic We did look at eliminating polybags
estimates that 98% of plastics being was our biggest waste to landfill completely, but nothing else does as
produced today come from virgin issue,” Oliver says. “88% of our stores good a job at getting product to
plastic. This is because most plastic is are recycling their clear plastics now.” store undamaged. We figured out
not recycled and a worrying amount that damaged stock would have
Another challenge is landlords
is either sent to landfills (40%) or into more impact on waste than
who control recycling in many of
the environment (32%). recyclable polybags.
the shopping centres where our
A few years ago, in our eagerness stores operate.
to run a more sustainable business,
“I’m really proud that this year we
we set an ambitious zero waste goal.
recycled 100% of plastic polybags “I’m really proud
LEARNING FIRST
from stores in New Zealand. All up,
we have saved 15 tonnes of soft that this year we
“When we set the target, we didn’t
plastics from landfill,” Oliver says. recycled 100% of
even know what waste we were
producing,” says Kathmandu CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
plastic polybags
Sustainability Specialist Oliver Milliner.
To achieve this, we employed some across stores in Store waste
“We hadn’t done any waste audits.”
Aspirational goals help us achieve
new solutions. “We were down to just
five stores where recycling was not
New Zealand.” breakdown
aspirational results. We started available, so we got the stores to
with audits that helped us package up all their polybags and OLIVER MILLINER
understand where our waste send them to stores in larger centres KATHMANDU
comes from. We created waste where they could be recycled.” SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST
scorecards for each store so we
can see exactly what is recycled.
Our overall 80 %
2018
recycling rate
98 % Paper/
Cardboard
50 % Paper/
Cardboard
88 %P
olybags and
shrink wrap
72 % 30 % Polybags and
2017
69 % shrink wrap
2016
27 % Co-mingled
recycling
10 % Co-mingled
recycling
10
Sustainability Specialist Oliver Milliner, left, talks to
Hugh MacEwan of Waste Management at the
% Non-recycled
recycling transfer station in Christchurch. materialYou can also read
