Target Joins CanopyStyle Initiative to Save Endangered Forests

VANCOUVER-An article from Ecotextile News reveals that mass-market retailer Target commits to the CanopyStyle initiative in a bid to avoid the use of ancient and endangered forest fibers in its viscose textile supply chain. Target joins more than 170 brands and apparel industry stakeholders who already support the vision.

The announcement comes on March 21, International Day of Forests, as CanopyStyle launches its new #Irreplaceable campaign. The campaign is designed to put a spotlight on the importance of the preservation of endangered forests in “respect to biodiversity and local communities that rely on them for their livelihoods.”

Over a dozen partner brands support the #Irreplaceable campaign including Esprit, Gap, H&M, ASOS, Zalando, and C&A China. Ecotextile reports that this comes at a time where brands are moving toward tree-sourced fibers instead of traditional synthetic ones due to the issue of microplastic.

CanopyStyle points out that if there is a significant shift toward this type of sourcing and production: “Where will all these trees come from?”

According to the Ecotextile article, Target plans to work closely with its vendors, suppliers, and other partners to understand the origins of viscose and any other raw materials it uses. Along with that, Target says it will “improve the sustainability of forests where the timber in those products was grown.”

Canopy says viscose production is expected to double between 2013 and 2020 and pulp production for packaging is also expected to increase by more than 100 percent by 2030, from 2.3 billion trees per year to 5 billion trees. “This means more logging in forests globally,” the nonprofit adds.

Canopy notes that marketing of all forest-derived products as being equally ‘renewable’ and ‘sustainable’ regardless of whether it originates from carbon and species-rich ancient and endangered forests, or sustainably managed second-growth forests, “is steadily on the rise and confusing consumers. While tree fiber is indeed a natural fiber, it isn’t automatically sustainable. “With thirty percent of the climate solution held by forests, conserving ancient and endangered forests is an imperative,” Canopy says.

Target aims to achieve its goal to pursue supply chains free of the use of ancient and endangered forests, sources, and species by the end of 2020.

For more information on CanopyStyle, visit canopyplanet.org/campaigns/canopystyle.