Bestseller has accelerated its Invest FWD investments with innovators Infinited Fiber company, Circular Systems, Evrnu and Nature Coatings, and work together to adopt and scale such solutions in its Fashion FWD lab. Through its strategic investment in Infinited Fiber company, the company secured access to the innovator’s patented regenerated fibre, Infinna. Furthermore, Bestseller’s Fashion FWD lab has joined the innovative ReSuit project – led by Danish Technological Institute – that aims to redraw the boundaries for circular fashion design, recycling technologies and consumer behaviour, according to Bestseller’s sustainability report 2021.

Since the launch of Fashion FWD, Bestseller has made year-on-year improvements with regards to both of its cotton goals resulting in reaching 92 per cent more sustainable cotton in total with organic cotton accounting for 22 per cent, the report added.

Moreover, Bestseller’s Recycled polyester’s share of its overall polyester sourcing grew to 13 per cent in 2021. Forty per cent of the company’s total man-made cellulosic (MMC) consumption was sourced from more sustainable branded fibres. Bestseller has completed its transition to certified recycled polybags, which will save an estimated 1,750 tonnes of virgin plastic per year.

The company expects 100 per cent of its man-made cellulosic fibres will be sourced responsibly in line with industry best practices, such as the FSC by this year and all its consumer-facing packaging will be 100 per cent reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, the report stated.

The fashion company has also signed a global agreement with Denmark-based global shipping company Maersk to power all global sea freight with certified carbon-neutral biofuel. In addition, it developed a comprehensive water framework, which identifies key impact areas and outlines actions we take towards structured water stewardship practices.

Bestseller launched its circular design guide providing a framework for all designers and product developers on how to work with circularity in the design phase. Moreover, it launched digital showroom 2.0 in seven markets, including its largest market, Germany, with a total of 30 showrooms onboarded in 2021. The company also signed the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry.

Moreover, Bestseller has achieved its women’s empowerment Fashion FWD goal four years ahead of schedule, ending 2021 having reached 111,441 women in its supply chain and 81 per cent of employee engagement score, an increase of 2 percentage points compared to 2020, the report added.

The fashion company forecasts to reduce electricity consumption for its owned and operated buildings by 30 per cent until 2025. Furthermore, Bestseller forecasts to have 100 per cent approved and traceable chemistry in its core products and 75 per cent of all product orders will be consolidated in suppliers that are highly rated in its sustainability evaluation by 2025. The company also aims to recycle or reuse 100 per cent of our key waste streams from its head offices and owned and operated logistics centres, the report stated.

Bestseller also commits to reduce absolute scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by 50 per cent, and absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services and upstream and downstream transportation by 30 per cent by 2030.

“Following on from a crucial year, 2021 turned out to be momentous in its own way for Bestseller and the world around us. However, 2021 and the first months of 2022 have shown us all that we face extraordinary challenges, and that the road ahead is paved with uncertainty, underlining the need for shared beliefs and united efforts,” Anders Holch Povlse, Bestseller’s CEO & owner, said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SF)