We are increasingly engaging with industry consultants and partners to measure and assess our carbon footprint and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to help inform our sustainability strategy.
Similar to most ecommerce retailers, our logistics network generates the majority of our GHG emissions. We believe investing in carbon offsetting projects may present an economically effective means for us to reduce our environmental impact. As a result, we are exploring a variety of carbon-offset opportunities to help offset the impact of our customer deliveries and returns.
We are also focused on several other important initiatives to reduce emissions, as described below, including tasking our design teams to develop more eco-friendly products that have the same elevated look and feel, while reducing their impact on the planet. We are also highlighting sustainably conscious styles from third-party brands on the REVOLVE website to promote consumer education and choice, among many other initiatives. While we are making progress, we acknowledge that we still have a long way to go to achieve our goal of significantly reducing our environmental impact in the years to come.
Key Highlights
Helping customers discover sustainable styles and brands:
In 2021, we launched sustainability badges on our websites to help our customers discover and shop more sustainable fashion. We recognize that many customers want to make more sustainable choices, so we have made the process much more intuitive than ever before – ensuring that customers will have all the information they need to make informed decisions.
Offering box free return options to reduce emissions:
We have partnered with Happy Returns (https://happyreturns.com/) in the U.S. and additional partners overseas to reduce the impact of product returns. The box-free return model curtails the total distance traveled for returns (by consolidating shipments) and reduces the amount of cardboard required. In the U.S. alone, we estimate savings of 42 metric tons of GHG since launching the program in 2018.
Recycled poly bags for REVOLVE owned brands:
In 2020, our REVOLVE owned brands began using more eco-friendly poly bags made from recycled materials. A polybag is the clear plastic bag that covers a garment for protection during shipping and transit from the supply chain to the end customer.
Removed invoices and offer paperless returns:
In 2019, REVOLVE eliminated paper invoices from all domestic customer shipments, an initiative that saves millions of sheets of paper annually. Moreover, we continue to maintain a paperless return model that does not require customers to print a mailing label or fill out paper forms to process returns.
Recycling and reuse:
Within our distribution center, we have expanded our recycling initiatives in recent years. We strive to recycle all cardboard that comes into our fulfillment operations, including approximately 1,034 tons recycled in 2022 alone. We also reuse all pallets and partner with a waste management specialist firm to help us further minimize our waste.