US' Chico's FAS aims to reduce energy use impact in next 3 years

The company is planning to have its brands adopt at least one new sustainable packaging opportunity per year over the next 3 years. Chico’s FAS will also analyse, disclose, and engage with tier 1 factories on their total water consumption, energy use, and waste output and identify opportunities to reduce their impact by at least 1 per cent per year, the company said in its 2021 impact report.

Chico’s FAS' another goal is to introduce 2–3 fabrics, innovations, technologies or other efficiencies in its product design, development, and manufacturing every year over the next 3 years to reduce environmental footprint. The company also plans to implement Higg Index sustainability reporting for the top 80 per cent of its tier 1 vendors and factories.

The company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) highlights in the 2021 impact report showed that 41 per cent of Soma bras were made in ISO 14001:2015 (a standard that specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that an organisation can use to enhance its environmental performance) factories. Furthermore, about 92,000-plus pairs of laser-processed denim were delivered to Chico’s.

"Chico's has always strived for continuous improvement in creating ESG impact through customer-centric innovation," said Molly Langenstein, Chico's FAS president and CEO. "As we continue to evolve as a company led by women and for women, our customers and employees remain at the forefront of everything we do. Chico's ESG program is designed to enhance the interests of all our stakeholders and create long-term value by linking Chico's ESG commitment through the lens of our four strategic pillars: customer led, product obsessed, digital first, and operationally excellent."

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)