Debenhams has introduced a new sustainability programme with ambitious targets as it aims to set new benchmarks for UK department store retailing in the 2020s.

The new targets build on the progress made by the retailer in the last year. For instance, in 2019 the business reduced the amount of packaging it uses by 22%.

It also sourced over 2m garments made from sustainable cotton and reduced the number of clothes hangers sent from its stores to landfill to zero.

Debenhams has now announced a series of new commitments as it enters the new decade, including:

• 100% of its cotton requirement to be from sustainable sources by 2022.
• All cotton garments in its Mantaray collection for the new 2020 season to be BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) sourced.
• A guarantee that by September 2020, all own-brand product sold in a Debenhams store will have at least one sustainable attribute.
• Removal of all lamination from swing tickets by December 2020.
• Sourcing all swing tickets using FSC TM paper by December 2020.
• Rolling out an operational takeback scheme to every store this spring to recycle old stock and samples. This will be in partnership with the charity NewLife, which supports disabled and terminally ill children and their families.

To achieve the targets, Debenhams is tasking its sourcing, supply chain teams and manufacturing partners with pursuing more sustainable options across all its processes.

The retailer has set the specific objectives of sourcing sustainable packaging; reducing water and chemical use; reducing wastage and cost; and recycling and reusing materials wherever possible.

Commenting is Angela Morrison, Debenhams’ director of stores, technology and supply chain. “As a senior leadership team, we are committed to examining everything we do with a more sustainable focus. There is still a lot for us to do but we made real progress in 2019.

“Reducing the amount of packaging we use by 22% is the equivalent of powering 79 British homes for a whole year. Additionally, we have sourced over 2m garments in sustainable cotton since joining the Better Cotton Initiative in August.

“And our standardised clothes hangers now use black plastic made of 98% recycled material, so we can recycle and reuse them in a closed-loop. As a result, Debenhams has reduced CO2 emissions from this product by 40% and now sends zero waste to landfill.”

Building on existing processes overlaid with these commitments will support Debenhams in achieving its new sustainability goals.

Steven Cook, MD of fashion, home and beauty at Debenhams, adds: “In 2019, consumers spent increasing amounts on well-being and experiences. Their focus on ethical and sustainable retailing is rising.

“These trends look set to continue in 2020 – fortunately, department stores are well placed to cater for them. Our goal is that every product we sell should have at least one sustainable attribute.”