HOW MULBERRY IS SAVING THE PLANET - ONE BAG AT A TIME

Mulberry has always been associated with timelessness, luxury, and quality. Since launching its 'Made to Last' manifesto in 2021, the British heritage label has separated itself from the luxury fashion pack by embarking on a new, ambitious journey. Mulberry's goal, led by futurist CEO Thierry Andretta, is to be the leading responsible British lifestyle brand and a pioneering force in sustainability. Setting an eco-cool agenda, the label is ready to redefine what luxury means for a sustainable future.

Half a Century in The Making

From its humble beginnings in Somerset in 1971 to becoming the largest manufacturer of luxury leather goods in the UK, Mulberry has stayed true to its values of durability and craftsmanship. Today, 50% of its bags are manufactured across its two Somerset factories.

In 2021 Mulberry celebrated its 50th birthday. The brand used the special anniversary to reaffirm its commitment to people and the planet by setting several ambitious targets with its 'Made to Last' strategy: a commitment to transform the business into a regenerative and circular model encompassing the entire supply chain, from field to wardrobe, by 2030.

Material Matters

Currently, 88% of Mulberry's leather is sourced from environmentally accredited tanneries, with 100% set to be achieved by 2023. Mulberry is a founding partner of the Sustainable Leather Foundation and has been a member of the Leather Working Group since 2012, ensuring the highest ethical and environmental standards of their leather sourcing. What's more, the brand is pioneering a hyper-local, hyper-transparent ‘farm to finished product’ supply chain, working in partnership with industry-leading tanneries to develop the world’s lowest carbon leather sourced from a network of organic and regenerative farms

The material focus doesn't stop there. Mulberry's nylon has been regenerated or recycled since 2019, all down and feathers sourced are Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified, and the design team is experimenting with innovative solutions, including bio-plastics and biodegradable and recyclable cellulose acetates which will soon feature in their collection of sunglasses.

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Carbon Credentials

Mulberry's UK operations have been carbon neutral since 2019, working closely with their carbon offsetting partner, World Land Trust, investing in nature-based solutions to offset their UK carbon footprint. In May of this year, Mulberry launched its first carbon-neutral collection, Lily Zero, and the brand aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035.

Circularity

Mulberry is furthering its commitment to repair and regeneration with its resell and buy-back programme, The Mulberry Exchange. Launched in 2020, thousands of bags have been rehomed in the last year. The initiative complements the label's Lifetime Service Centre, which restores over 10,000 bags a year.

People

Every great brand's heart is its people, and Mulberry values its team and community above all else. Just this month, the brand announced a partnership with Mentoring Matters, which works to redress the race and ethnic disparity in the creative industries. Furthermore, their charitable fund, the Somerset Community Foundation, supports local charities and groups, and in 2021 Mulberry adopted The Halo Code, an alliance of organisations and individuals working to create a future without hair discrimination in the workplace.

Future-Proof

Mulberry's honest and open journey to becoming a circular brand is already paying off. The label has seen steady growth since the launch of its 'Made to Last' directive, with more and more customers looking to match style with sustainable credentials. As they continue to invest in securing their offering for a greener future, the British stalwart is living proof that luxury, heritage, and style can indeed be green.

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