POSITIVE CHANGE

At Brown Thomas, our vision is to reinvent retail. We exist to imagine and strive for a sustainable future for our people, customers and communities. One of our core business values is ‘Doing the Right Thing’ meaning we place sustainability at the heart of everything we do - from how we work, what we buy and what we sell.

We have been part of the fabric of Irish society for almost two centuries, constantly evolving and striving to be the best, to inspire and to captivate you, our customers. We continue this mission today by not only being a leader of change, that benefits people and business, but also the planet. In doing so, our hope is to create retail environments that are conscious, considerate and community-focused to make shopping for luxurious goods as guilt-free as possible. Together, we will be the change we want to see in the world and reinvent a better future for everyone.

Since 2016, we have removed all products containing microbeads from our stores. Under Ireland’s REPAK Plastics Pledge we eliminated all avoidable single-use plastic packaging and sucessfully shifted to low impact alternatives since the end of 2020. In our beauty halls we have banned plastic containing cotton buds and wet wipes and removed single-use straws, water bottles and cups from our restaurants. To address micro-plastic pollution in our oceans, as of April 1 2021, we no longer sell cosmetic products containing plastic-based glitter. What’s more, in 2020 we were certified zero waste to landfill across our stores and we also became the first retailer in Ireland to have our targets verified by the Science-Based Targets initiative. From 2020-2030 we will reduce our carbon emissions across our stores by 50.4% and in our supply chain by 15%.

Even with all of the aforementioned efforts behind us, we as a store can still do more. In order to tackle the current climate and biodiversity crises and meet our carbon commitments, we need to address the environmental and human impacts of the products that we buy and sell as a business. To this end, we commit that by 2025, our priority materials will come from certified/verified sustainable sources. Here’s exactly how we plan to do just that...

COTTON

Cotton farming, in general, requires massive inputs of water and pesticides and in conventional cotton farming, the environmental impact is staggering. It takes up to 10,000 litres of water to produce just 1kg of cotton - that is the equivalent to a single T-shirt and pair of jeans. Cotton is also an extremely volatile plant, which means that farmers often use fertilisers and pesticides to ensure their crop grows successfully. When not managed properly, these chemicals leach into the soil and local water systems causing damage to ecosystems, and human health within the locality.

OUR PLAN:

By 2025 all cotton used across our business and in the products we sell will come from recycled sources or from certified sustainable sources. We will encourage brands to improve traceability through recognised collaborative platforms, such as the Responsible Sourcing Network, the Fashion Pact, Cotton 2040 and Textile Exchange.

SHOP CERTIFIED ORGANIC COTTON:

DOWN & FEATHER

Down comes from the fluffiest layer of feathers on ducks and geese and is the most effective natural insulator in the textiles industry. Unlike most feathers that are long and stiff, down feathers are rounder, fuzzier and form clumps that can be used to fill pillows, duvets and puffer jackets.

The key sustainability concerns related to down are around animal welfare. Down is often described as a byproduct of waterfowl raised for meat meaning feathers would be plucked from birds only after slaughter. However, as the demand for down and feather grew, a new and unethical way of sourcing the material immerged: live-plucking. This brutal process involves plucking feathers from the birds without anaesthetic, which is inhumane and unethical. As a result of live-plucking, many birds are left bleeding with gaping open wounds.

Exotic feathers are also widely used in fashion and jewellery design and ostrich feathers are particularly popular. While parts of ostriches can be eaten, the skin and feathers would not generally be considered a by-product.

OUR PLAN:

By 2025 all feathers and down used across our business and in the products we sell will come from the by-product of poultry production: geese, duck, turkey and chicken only - and from certified sources.

By sourcing certified down and feather from standards such as Responsible Down Standard (RDS), Global Traceable Down Standard and Downpass 2017, it is assured that such unethical practices have not occurred in that supply chain and animal welfare best practice has been upheld.

SHOP ETHICAL DOWN + FEATHER:

LEATHER

The production of beef and leather contributes significantly to global deforestation according to WWF, cattle ranching and soybean farming are driving approximately two-thirds of deforestation in the tropical forests of South America. What’s worse, chromium is used in the production of most leather which poses significant dangers to both the environment and those who live and work in the local communities.

OUR PLAN:

By 2025 all leather used across our business and in the products we sell will come from recycled sources or from Leather Working Group Bronze, Silver or Gold- rated tanneries. The primary focus of the Leather Working Group is conducting environmental audits of leather manufacturing facilities to improve the sustainability and traceability of the leather supply chain.

SHOP SUSTAINABLE LEATHER:

PALM OIL

Chances are you’ve already heard of palm oil. Not only will you see it on ingredients lists in your kitchen and your bathroom, but the substance – and the sustainability issues it presents – have been caught up in debate for quite a while. The reasons that palm oil has found itself under intense scrutiny are complicated. It isn’t necessarily a bad ingredient – it’s actually a useful preservative that extends the lifespan of the products it’s used in. Its bad reputation, however, is a result of the farming methods used to produce it: not only are they having a harmful effect on already-endangered orangutans, among other species, but they’re also fuelling climate change.

Tropical forests, primarily in South-East Asia have been and continue to be cleared to make way for palm plantations. These forests are some of the richest in biodiversity on the planet, providing habitat for countless species. Rainforests often grow on carbon-rich peat soils, which are routinely drained and burned ready for palm to be planted; this process releases huge quantities of carbon into the atmosphere, contributing significantly to climate change.

OUR PLAN:

By 2025 all palm oil and palm-based ingredients used across our business and in the products we sell will be certified to the ‘Identity Preserved’ or ‘Segregated’ standards set by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which certifies around 19% of global production.

FOREST DERIVED FIBRES, WOOD & PAPER

The deforestation and forest degradation of our planet continues at an alarming rate; 13 million hectares of forest are chopped down annually and this accounts for 12 to 20% of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. We must protect our forests - they provide us with clean water and air, give us food, medicine, resources like timber and are a habitat for the majority of the world’s birds and animals. Over 80% of animal, insect and plant species that live on land reside in forests – though most do not survive once they have lost their home.

Illegal logging for timber, pulp and cellulose continues to be a major driver of global deforestation. Cleared land is often converted to mono-crop plantations or grazing land rather than left to rejuvenate, destroying invaluable ecosystems and contributing significantly to climate change. And this issue is only expected to get worse. The market for forest fibres, pulp and paper is expected to grow significantly over the next 10 years, due to a rising demand for biodegradable materials.

OUR PLAN:

By 2025 all forest derived fibres (man-made cellulosic), wood and paper, used across our business and in the products we sell will come from recycled sources or from certified responsibly managed forests.

Our policy will mean that any forest derived materials must not be sourced from ancient or endangered forests, and requires products to be certified through schemes such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international non-profit, multistakeholder organisation that promotes responsible management of the world's forests.

SHOP RESPONSIBLY SOURCED:

PLASTIC PACKAGING

From switching to refillable water bottles and carrying a reusable shopping bag, we’ve all been working hard to cut down on our use of plastic. But do you know why? Plastic is a popular material due to its resilient yet lightweight properties. Its creation can involve the use of fossil fuels and doesn’t break down in a natural environment once it has reached the end of its life, often ending up in the sea or on land.

The properties of plastic have driven a disposable culture where we consume products only once before throwing away the plastic they come packaged in. Many plastics are recyclable, however, others are not. Either way, a staggering 8 million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean every year.

Worse again, micro-plastics accumulate in animals, including fish and shellfish, and are consequently consumed as food, including by humans. Micro-plastics are very small (typically smaller than 5mm) solid particles composed of mixtures of polymers (the primary components of plastics) and functional additives. They can be unintentionally formed through the wear and tear of larger pieces of plastic, including synthetic textiles. They can also be deliberately manufactured and intentionally added to products for a specific purpose, for example, glitter.

OUR PLAN:

By 2025, all our own purchased plastic packaging used and sold will be designed for reduction, reuse and recycling. We commit to ensuring all plastic packaging purchased for use or sale contains a minimum 50% Post-Consumer Recycled content; taking action to eliminate problematic or unnecessary packaging; taking action to move from single-use towards reuse models where possible and we will ensure 100% of plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable.

MORE TO READ

We also have a commitment to give back to the communities in which our businesses operate. In the past year, we’ve raised €70,000 for various charities across the country. Discover how we did it in Coming Together.