Together, it’s our responsibility to
help take care of our world.
We are committed to creating a greener, cleaner future for our environment.
Where We’re Headed
At AEO, we are committed to a better future and making the changes that will help support positive environmental efforts. As a company,
we have set forth several goals that have been approved by Science Based Targets Initiative, the main organization verifying the validity of GHG targets.
Our key goals and accompanying details are outlined as follows:
Our goals are in line with the Paris Agreement, which strives to keep any temperature increase limited to 1.5 degrees C.
We have committed to being carbon neutral in our own operations, including corporate offices, DC’s, stores, and business travel by 2030. We’re also working to reduce the carbon footprint in our supply chain by 40% by 2030 & 60% by 2040.
We have committed to a decrease of 40% in our manufacturing, which is where we see the majority of our GHG emissions (over 95%).
We have joined industry initiatives to support the movement of the industry and collaborate with other companies to make these changes: RE 100 (Committed to 100% Renewable Energy) and United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.
Where We Are Today
Designing for Real Good.
Doing good looks good. When you see the REAL GOOD.™ stamp at Aerie.com, that means we’ve taken extra care to create a product with more sustainable raw materials. We’re incorporating fabrics like recycled polyester and recycled nylon into our ever-growing REAL GOOD.™ collection because we have the planet in mind, always.
Producing clothes with the environment in mind.
Since 2016, we’ve been part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), an organization committed to measuring & improving social & environmental impacts at factories. We use the SAC’s Higg Index to measure the environmental performance at more than 150 garment factories, mills & laundries.
Staying smart about energy usage.
Since 2014, every Aerie & AE store has been converted to LED lighting, which has saved 3,050 tons of carbon dioxide. We also replaced & installed LED lighting at our Pittsburgh corporate office, which reduced our energy usage by 40%. Many of our stores have also converted to using an energy management system (EMS) that ensures all lights, heating & cooling systems are placed in energy-saving mode when no one is in the store.
Protecting the world’s forests.
The ancient & endangered forests in our world are irreplaceable.
We work with the CanopyStyle initiative to eliminate the use of these fiber sources from our
products & find new solutions for creating viscose and rayon.
Using cotton that’s both soft & sustainably sourced.
In 2015, we joined the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), an organization that works with cotton farmers to grow crops using more sustainable farming techniques, improving the environment & their own livelihoods. Through our partnership with BCI, Aerie is now sourcing more than 1600 tons of sustainable cotton, accounting for around 16% of our cotton supply.
But we’re not done! We have a goal to have 100% of our cotton more sustainably sourced by 2023.
Giving plastic bottles new life.
We create some of the OFFLINE™ By Aerie leggings you know & love with recycled polyester from the First Mile™, an initiative that supports micro-economies in underdeveloped communities by collecting plastic bottles that are then repurposed into yarns. So far, our leggings made using these recycled yarns have helped to save more than 400,000 pounds of plastic waste—almost 9 million plastic bottles—from oceans & landfills.
Printing with a purpose.
The paper used on our printed materials, store signage & shopping bags is produced in mills that run by wind power, & is made from 20% to 100% post-consumer waste (PCW). If less than 100% of content is made from PCW, the remainder of the wood pulp comes from sustainable forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The ink used to print our images is created with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) & contains soy, vegetable oils & 20-65% bio-renewable raw materials per can. And yes, we recycle!
Combining sustainability & opportunity.
We are proud to partner with Free the Girls, a non-profit that turns new or gently used bras into economic opportunity for human trafficking survivors. Our Aerie fam can do good for the planet and for survivors by donating any gently used bra in Aerie stores! Learn more about Free the Girls, their mission and how you can support by visiting their website.
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