On the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, sits a bustling garment factory owned by Cape Union Mart, one of the country’s best-known outdoor apparel retailers.
The plant produces about 190,000 puffer jackets a year and Cape Union Mart had been searching for ways to reduce its environmental footprint. So, in 2021 the company partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The goal was to chart how much water and energy were going into each jacket, and figure out how to use fewer resources.
This life cycle assessment revealed that more than 80 per cent of a jacket’s environmental impact comes from the production of the fabric it’s made from. That led Cape Union Mart to review its procurement criteria, said Pre-Production Manager Michelle Goddard. The company now only buys material from suppliers that meet stringent environmental standards.