San Francisco – Williams-Sonoma Inc.’s new Impact Report provides an update on its quest for low-impact fibers.
Based on the company’s 2020 carbon footprint calculation and using the Textile Exchange’s Preferred Fiber and Material Matrix, Williams-Sonoma Inc. has creamed a team to focus on material innovation across products and brands. Research will include plastic, foam and polyester alternatives alongside materials with low environmental impacts.
The company’s top-volume fibers are currently cotton, polyester and wool. In addition to sourcing 100% responsible cotton by 2021, Williams-Sonoma Inc. is transitioning to recycled polyester and wool certified by the Responsible Wool Standard — which has already launched at Pottery Barn and West Elm.
At Pottery Barn Teen, the company has expanded its use of Econyl regenerated nylon to create rugs, bedding and backpacks. Across its brands, it has diverted 66 million ocean-bound and landfill-bound bottles through our use of Repreve recycled polyester.
Williams-Sonoma Inc. said 89% of the cotton used in 2020 was responsibly sourced. While it didn’t break out what portion of the is organic cotton, it did noted that its use of organic cotton saved 8.2 billion liters of water and 10.8 million kilowatt-hours of energy.
The ratio of fiber use in 2020 broke out as:
Polyester: 33%
Cotton: 31%
Wool: 11%
Linen: 5%
Feather & down: 4%
Acrylic: 4%
Viscose, including Tencel: 3%
Jute: 3%
Rayon: 1%
Coir: 1%
The report for 2020 reported a number of strides. More than 40% of Williams-Sonoma Inc.’s products are labeled with one or more environmental or social standards. By 2030, it plans to reach 75%. In the same time frame, the company plans to make 75% of its product purchases from suppliers that offer worker wellbeing programs.