Canopy signs on first Chinese partners
Environmental nonprofit Canopy welcomed the first Chinese members of its CanopyStyle and Pack4Good initiatives this month. Ellassay Group—which produces six fashion brands, including Ed Hardy—joined sports apparel maker Engine Bird and sock company Happywool in pledging to work with Canopy to protect ancient and endangered forests.
Through the CanopyStyle program, apparel makers work with the nonprofit to find sources of cellulose for fabrics such as viscose, rayon, lyocell and modal that don’t threaten vital forest ecosystems. Canopy has more than 550 brand partners for the initiative, including Stella McCartney, LVMH, Ralph Lauren and Uniqlo.
Canopy’s Pack4Good initiative aims to reduce deforestation due to production of packing materials by partnering with fashion brands to rethink the way they source packaging. Through this partnership, these companies incorporate sustainable packaging alternatives including recycled paper and pulp and agricultural waste, as well as FSC-certified paper products. The program also encourages companies to rethink their packaging to reduce the amount of paper and paper products used. More than 400 companies have signed on to the Pack4Good initiative, thus far.
The addition of these Chinese brands to Canopy’s stable of partners comes at a time when China’s government is working to bring more sustainability to the MMCF supply chain. According to Canopy, the government is pushing to accelerate the adoption of circular feedstocks for viscose textile production, with strong regulatory, supply and market access incentives.
