VF Corp announced its goal to eliminate all single-use plastic packaging, including polybags, by 2025. All remaining non-plastic packaging used by VF and its brands will be reduced, originate from sustainable sources and be designed for reuse or recyclability.

“With a portfolio comprising some of the world’s most iconic apparel and footwear brands, we recognize we play an important role as environmental stewards and can serve as a catalyst for industry movements that drive positive change,” said Jeannie Renné-Malone, VP of global sustainability for VF. “Our new global packaging goals are an example of how we can leverage our scale for significant impact. In just one year, we could potentially eliminate as many as 100 million polybags from our packaging waste.”

Advancing Sustainable Packaging
Given the magnitude of plastic packaging waste worldwide, the focus on sustainable packaging is a critical component of VF’s global sustainability strategy. VF’s sustainable packaging goals include the following:

  1. Eliminate all single-use plastic packaging by 2025. All remaining packaging will be reduced, originate from sustainable sources and be designed for reuse or recyclability.
  2. All single-use plastics in product packaging will be 100 percent recycled, biobased content or a combination of the two by 2023.
  3. All paper-based packaging will be recycled content (minimum 80 percent, where performance allows), third-party certified virgin content, or a combination of the two, by 2023.
  4. VF will commit to leadership in crucial industry coalitions and policy initiatives to build a circular packaging infrastructure that will meet its 2025 pledge.

VF is a participant of Canopy’s Pack4Good initiative, committing that its paper packaging does not contain material from ancient and endangered forests or other controversial sources and reduces overall forest fiber consumption for packaging.

Beyond Sustainable Packaging
VF and its brands have also subscribed to additional complementary guidelines and sustainability goals to support its Sustainable Packaging initiative and commitment to minimize its waste.

  • All non-essential, single-use plastics, for which there is a viable product alternative, will be eliminated from VF offices, direct operations and all company-sponsored events by 2023.
  • All VF-owned distribution centers will be zero-waste by April 1, 2021.
  • VF will seek to implement sustainability best practices internally and at external sponsored events.
  • VF will work with retailers and the outdoor industry to support the development of collection platforms and recycling technology.
  • VF’s Icebreaker brand set a goal to be plastic-free by 2023 and eliminating synthetics from its product collection within three years.
  • VF’s Timberland brand envisions its products to have a net positive impact by 2030. By designing 100 percent of its products for circularity, the brand will work toward zero waste. And, by sourcing 100 percent of its natural materials through regenerative agriculture, the brand will contribute to its net positive impact.
  • VF’s The North Face brand first launched a Polybag Brigade recycling program with TerraCycle in 2011. To date, it has recycled more than 5 million polybags.

More information about VF’s Made for Change sustainability and responsibility goals can be found here.