From autumn of this year, the clothing supplier Olymp Bezner KG will reduce its use of materials in product packaging and increase the recyclability of packaging components. In the future, the Bietigheim-Bissinger company only wants to rely on recyclable materials that have been primarily recycled and can be recycled and reused. By 2025, all products should meet the criteria of the internal sustainability label Green Choice and be made from more sustainable raw materials and as environmentally friendly as possible.
“During an extensive development phase, we devoted ourselves intensively to the complex issue of combining the functional requirements for packaging with the growing ecological demands in society,” explains Mark Bezner, Managing Partner of Olymp Bezner KG, in a statement.
A significantly more environmentally friendly shirt packaging was developed, which not only fulfills all the protective functions of the product, but also offers an attractive product presentation. According to the principles of “reduce”, “recycled” and “recyclable”, the plastic content has been reduced as far as possible. With the exception of the shipping bag for the shirts, which protects them from dirt and moisture during transport and is made from 100 percent recycled material, no plastic components are to be used in the packaging from now on.
Olymp wants to save 50 tons of plastic and reduce emissions by 40 percent
“The changeover means that more than 50 tons of plastic can be saved annually compared to 2019. In addition, by reducing and substituting packaging components, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by more than 40 percent in the same period,” explains the clothing supplier.
This was determined using the GaBi Packaging Calculator, a life cycle analysis (LCA) calculation tool specially designed for packaging. Dekra Assurance Services GmbH also confirmed the result as part of a critical review in accordance with the applicable standards according to ISO 14040/44.
By 2025, Olymp has set itself the goal that the entire range of shirts, knitwear and accessories should carry the Green Choice label, which confirms the use of more sustainable materials and environmentally friendly production. Currently, the brand’s casual shirts are made from 100 percent organic cotton certified by the Organic Content Standard (OCS), and knitwear and sweatwear are made from varying proportions.
“For the 2022 autumn collection, 57 percent of the range already meets the Green Choice requirements. With the more environmentally friendly packaging, Olymp increases its claim to a more sustainable product and makes an important contribution to closing the cycle and conserving valuable resources and the climate,” concludes the company.