Zalando invests in accelerating circularity
Zalando, the online platform for fashion and lifestyle, has introduced new business models and practices for circularity along its full product life cycle.
The retailer said the move will help it to achieve its goal of applying the principles of circularity and extending the life of at least 50 million fashion items by 2023.
Laura Coppen (pictured), head of circularity at Zalando, said: “To reduce its negative impact on people and the planet the fashion industry needs to move towards a circular system. At Zalando, we see this shift as a unique opportunity to lead the redesign of the fashion industry, open up new revenue streams and capitalize on seismic shifts in consumer behaviour which are already underway.”
Zalando will move towards a circular system by redesigning each step of the product life cycle holistically. Activities will range from designing for circularity via its “redeZIGN for circularity” collection, piloting repairs and constantly scaling its pre-owned offering, to developing an open-source platform for textile waste management as part of its Sorting For Circularity Project with Fashion for Good.
Coppen added: “According to our Attitude-Behaviour Gap report, over 60% of consumers believe it is important that their clothes get a new lease of life rather than heading to landfill. Our aim is to drive behaviour change towards circular products and experiences. We don’t have all the answers yet but we are collaborating with key industry changemakers testing and scaling new solutions in order to transition to a fully circular business.”
