Just days after announcing it was revolutionizing its packaging supply chain to protect the world’s forests, Mango also debuted a sustainable denim collection and a list of targets it plans to meet by 2050.
The Spanish apparel brand’s latest denim range includes sustainable elements with fibers like GOTS– and OCS-certified organic cotton, and production methods such as EcoWash, which uses Environmental Impact Measurement (EIM) software to measure the amount of water and chemicals used in jeans washing and finishing.
The range features jeans, denim jackets, jumpsuits and shirting for women, men and children. Standout women’s pieces include a shirt and shorts set in a dip-dye pattern and a denim oversized shirt and relaxed jeans set in lime green. For men, chore jackets and workwear-inspired jeans take center stage, followed by denim jackets and long-sleeved T-shirts for children. The campaign features models Andreea Diaconu, Simon Nessman and Devyn García—all of whom champion sustainability and have previously worked with the brand—in the mountainous landscape of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
The sustainable focus is just the beginning for Mango, which in just one year nearly doubled the percentage of sustainable garments in its total production: 80 percent of its garments now fall under the Committed label, meaning they contain at least 30 percent sustainable fibers such as organic cotton, recycled cotton, BCI cotton, recycled polyester, recycled wool or Tencel, or are manufactured using sustainable production processes. The company aims to have all garments labeled Committed this year.
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By 2025, it will make sure all of its polyester is recycled, and all cellulose fibers are traceable. Also by 2025, all cotton used will be sourced from sustainable origins. By 2030, it will reduce its direct emissions, as well as those generated by the Scope 1 and 2 energy it consumes, by 80 percent. It will also reduce its Scope 3 emissions it produces in its supply chain by 35 percent the same year. By 2050, it aims to be net zero.
Mango is already positioned to meet many of its targets: In 2021, 54 percent of its polyester was recycled, 59 percent of cellulose fibers came from a controlled origin and 91 percent of its cotton was sustainably sourced.
“Aware of the environmental impact of our product, and in line with our goals and international commitments, we work garment-by-garment, promoting the use of fibers with a lower environmental impact in our collection,” said Toni Ruiz, Mango CEO. “Bringing forward the sustainable fiber targets allows us to move towards a more sustainable fashion future.”
All items are produced in factories that are inspected through social audits and comply with product safety regulations. In 2020, Mango published a list of the Tier 1 factories related to production processes to improve the transparency of its production chain, making it the first major company in the Spanish fashion sector to do so. Last year, the company expanded on this initiative and published a list of Tier 2 factories, and in 2022 will present its Tier 3 factories, related to suppliers of raw materials such as fabrics and trims.
The company is also joining several global sustainability initiatives to keep it accountable for its aggressive targets. It has signed on as a collaborator to the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero program, an initiative that helps fashion companies eliminate harmful chemicals from their global supply chains. It also joined the Canopy Style initiative, which protects forests by ensuring the responsible use of all cellulose materials used in garments, paper and packaging. Alternative, low-impact fibers like recycled textiles and agricultural waste are promoted in place of paper or plastic.
According to Ruiz, partnering with global organizations like these is crucial to fulfilling sustainability goals—and it’s a pillar of the UN’s sustainable development goals.
“In line with SDG 17 on partnerships, at Mango we are convinced that collaboration through international initiatives within the textile industry is key to the creation of value, and is our way of helping to reduce the environmental impact throughout the industry,” he said.