Ecor, Eyelevel launch retail programme for sustainability

The transition to a circular economy can provide retail brands a tremendous boost to their economy bottom line, alongside producing meaningful environmental benefits. A circular economy means reducing carbon emissions and waste volumes during manufacturing, using less raw materials and more recycled materials, while ensuring future recyclability, Ecor said in a press release.

Eyelevel is a global team of designers, doers, planners, and makers with a vision to be the first choice partner in innovation and sustainability for leading brands while Ecor enables others to achieve their circular economy ambitions. Patagonia is the first sustainable brand, to enter into collaboration with Ecor and Eyelevel to advance their engagement in the circular economy.

"This has been an inspirational and truly rare opportunity for three organisations that are all committed to creating positive environmental change, to join forces and share expertise. By collaborating in a way that showcased to an entire industry, the possibilities of constructing retail environments with the design principles of a circular economy by way of their trade show booth. We used beautiful non-toxic materials, made from waste, as an easy, cost-effective alternative to the toxic, non-recyclable MDF, would have been a great merit in itself. However, by engaging with Patagonia, to embrace their environmental vision and provide a foundation that can be scaled to reduce their carbon footprint, is a great showcase for Ecor's goal to provide an 'all-in-one' approach of enabling others to achieve their circular economy ambitions," Eric Logtens, the director of circular economy for Ecor, said.

"As a business, everything we do goes back to our mission statement: Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis," said Alberto Zanini, Patagonia’s visual merchandising and design manager for Europe who oversaw this project’s development. "The project with Eyelevel and Ecor answers all three parts of this core purpose and our hope is that like-minded brands will follow suit with similar circularity-in-retail projects. That is the way to truly effect change."

"The future of retail is circular. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that our purposeful partnership with Ecor has been validated with Patagonia’s forward-thinking spirit and action. We’re eager to keep collaborating with other visionary brands to realise their sustainability dreams," Ben Jensen, Eyelevel director of design & innovation, said.

"This project serves as an iconic proof-of-concept for the future of sustainability and the circular economy in the retail environment. Many brands have an extensive brick-and-mortar presence and are looking for environmentally-friendly alternatives that can reduce their carbon and waste footprints. By designing retail stores, and seasonal visual merchandising elements, with the circular economy and Ecor in mind, they can often save money and contribute towards a better environment," said Derek McSpadden, Ecor president. (RR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India