PLANET
Reducing Waste
Reducing Waste
In 2022, we set a goal to divert 80% of our waste from landfill by 2025. We began by focusing on waste generated at our distribution centers, where we diverted 90% of waste in 2022. Our ability to manage waste at our retail stores is challenging since landlords manage waste disposal at many shopping centers and we do not have primary data related to volumes of waste generated or recycled at those locations.
We are responsible for the waste services at the remaining number of stores, and utilize a waste management company to manage the collection of waste and recycling. We utilize the data from those 195 stores to estimate the waste and recycling volumes at our other stores based on an average per square foot of retail space. For more waste data, please see the Disclosure Index.
Waste from Direct Operations
Our plastic reduction initiatives in 2022 helped us reduce our use of virgin plastic by more than 700 tons.
Packaging Reduction Progress
Product
Packaging Type
- Hangers
- Hangtags
2022 Initiatives
- Utilized alternative hangers made of paper and recycled plastic for our Little Planet brand and for some of our products sold through our wholesale partners
- Changed the shape of hangtags and stickers for certain products to use paper more efficiently
Distribution/eCommerce
Packaging Type
- Mailers
- Cartons
- Polybags
2022 Initiatives
- Converted to 80% and 50% recycled plastic poly mailers in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, for eCommerce orders
- Converted to polybags made of 100% recycled plastic for eCommerce apparel
- Piloted conversion of plastic poly mailers to recycled content paper mailers for Little Planet eCommerce
- Continued carton reuse for shipping from distribution centers (DCs) to retail stores
Retail
Packaging Type
- Shopping bags
- Gift packaging
2022 Initiatives
- Converting to paper shopping bags from plastic in Canadian stores
- Converting plastic shopping bags in the U.S. to 100% recycled content
- Transitioning to gift packaging made of recycled materials
- Defaulting to electronic receipts
Our carton reuse program helped us avoid using more than 1,300 tons of corrugated cardboard in 2022.
Packaging
Developing sustainable packaging solutions is an essential part of our commitment to waste reduction. In 2022, we compiled data to establish a packaging baseline from which to measure reductions in the overall amount of packaging used, as well as the conversion to more sustainable packaging materials for our products, in our stores, and for the delivery of eCommerce orders. We are committed to achieving a 50% reduction in virgin plastic packaging by 2030.
Reducing Skip Hop Product Packaging and Waste
We are currently using approximately 70% recycled material across all Skip Hop cardboard boxes and cartons. In addition, as we develop new items, we have made a concerted effort to reduce the amount of packaging per product, the number and size of plastic blister packs, and the disposable cartons being used for shipping.
- For our new Montessori-inspired gym, instead of our standard window-box packaging, we will launch in a smaller, closed box that does not incorporate plastic.
- Small, pegged items have historically been packed on a blister card, but we designed our new Fox Camera without the need for a disposable blister, for example.
- Our best-selling activity centers will be shipped as individual units in the U.S. going forward instead of in two boxes, eliminating large master shipping cartons that are immediately discarded.
Product Recycling
Our KIDCYLE™ product take-back program is another way in which we support product materials recycling.
Through KIDCYCLE, apparel that would otherwise be discarded can be mailed by customers to our partner, TerraCycle, and recycled at no cost. Once collected, the clothing is separated by fabric type, shredded, and recycled into materials used for insulation, mattresses, pet bedding, and sports equipment.
In 2023, we plan to evolve the program by providing collection bins in select stores.
KIDCYCLE Metrics
2022
2021
Locations
2,956
3,260
Number of Items
67,218
32,436
Total Weight (lbs)
17,213
8,330
Biodiversity
We are committed to the continual reduction of the environmental impacts of our products and operations. Our commitment extends to raw materials usage, as we seek to incorporate materials certified by third-party sustainability standards.
We monitor, review, and scrutinize our operations for continuous environmental improvement, including the third-party factories that manufacture our products, on a regular basis. We are exploring additional ways to reduce our impact on biodiversity and will disclose progress in future reporting.