Pearl Izumi announced that the company has embraced a new Social Purpose statement: “Ride More and Do More.” The brand also plans to introduce eco-friendly hangtags, will no longer print product catalogs and is introducing a Renewal Workshop program to repair and resell Pearl Izumi merchandise.
Chris Sword, president, expanded on why this is so meaningful to the brand: “Put simply, this is who we are. Pearl Izumi was founded on, and we deeply believe in, two things: the love of cycling and more importantly, love for future generations. Our unique connection to the environment comes from clear mountain springs (Izumi), and our name means ‘fountain of pearls.’ And this social purpose is our mantra, to be proactive in ways that clearly connect to our Mission–Unlock the Power of Inspiration and Impact.”
Sword continued, “This is ‘important’ because our team cares deeply about it. We are leading the industry in sustainability and environmentally friendly actions, and we’ve had 60+ years of positive influence on cycling. But we can do much more, because it can be ‘powerful’ if we focus, align our efforts and take an approach that is uniquely Pearl Izumi.”
The brand also recognizes it is critical to explain how this deep desire will translate into a significant net-positive effect. Geoff Shaffer, VP of global brand marketing explained, “As a world-leading cycling company and cyclists ourselves, we see our power to leverage the truly positive aspects of cycling, combined with how we approach the business of cycling. To bring that power to life, inspired by our origins and the concept that ‘oil-and-water don’t mix,’ we’re motivated to find proactive solutions to oil dependence. We aim to use our business practices, products and advocacy to reduce the consumption of oil–and embolden all of us to ride more and do more.”
Pearl Izumi also announced a number of “impact” goals as part of the new positioning, including what it claims will be the industry’s first-ever effort to essentially “eliminate” hangtags.
Effective January 2019, the brand will only attach one card, at the smallest size that can still be recycled, to capture critical codes/pricing information.
“We feel that, with all of the digital resources available, relying on a large hangtag to communicate product details is outdated, and they generate a surprising amount of our total packaging waste,” said Sword. “We also explored other solutions, like embedded RFID chips, but ultimately, though requiring less paper, they used more resources and couldn’t be easily recycled. We’re not done yet, though.”
The new hangtags use 19,400 lbs less paper, saving 165 trees, 68,082 gallons of water and 4,503 gallons of oil annually. In addition, all new polybag packaging will shift to 100% recycled plastic, which can be recycled again, further reducing petroleum use.
As an additional effort to reduce waste and provide stronger support for retailers, Pearl Izumi will no longer print product catalogs. Starting with the Spring 2019 season, sales representatives and dealers have access to a fully featured digital platform to help retailers make more informed purchasing decisions. This will save 41 trees, 16,800 gallons of water and 1,111 gallons of oil each season through the elimination of paper alone.
Notable product initiatives include a Renewal Workshop partnership to repair and resell Pearl Izumi warranty returns, giving gently used products a second life instead of adding to the landfill. In addition, new sustainable, technical fabrics will be introduced for Spring 2019, made from responsibly sourced merino and Reprieve recycled polyester. By 2020, 30 percent of the Pearl Izumi line will be made of recycled materials. And by 2022, the brand plans 90 percent of the total product line will be made from recycled, renewable or organic materials.
To monitor progress against sustainability goals, Pearl Izumi is using a standardized framework called The Higg Index, which is an industry‐standard sustainability index for apparel and footwear that was developed by the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition in July 2012. The brand adopted this process in 2015 after witnessing the success brands within other industries–such as outdoor–have had in achieving better sustainability, and Pearl Izumi is the first-and-only cycling apparel or footwear brand reporting on this index.
These latest initiatives are a continuation of Pearl Izumi’s long-standing commitment to the environment. The Pearl Izumi headquarters, built in 2013 and located in Louisville, CO, was designed to integrate and celebrate the natural landscape of Colorado. It utilizes abundant natural lighting, ideal solar orientation and natural ventilation to create a more sustainable, comfortable and inspiring environment. This spring, Pearl Izumi earned Gold recognition from the City of Louisville in the Louisville Green Business Program and Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE).
“We recently went through a deep and heartfelt process to uncover our core company values,” said Sword. “Opinions were solicited from all corners of the business and we heard consistently that a sustainable future is an absolutely critical part of our DNA. This new Social Purpose statement will galvanize us and accelerate the great work that is already underway. I think the cycling industry underestimates the positive impact it can have on people and the environment, and we intend to think big and take bold steps with sustainable business practices, products and advocacy.”
