Sustainability
for good

Cotton

The environmental impact of growing cotton depends greatly upon the farming practices of the region in which it’s grown. Cotton can also be mechanically recycled, which involves shredding the original textile and spinning it into a new yarn. This can shorten the fiber length, so you might see smaller percentages of recycled cotton blended with virgin cotton to ensure that quality and durability aren’t compromised. Macy’s is committed to improving cotton farming practices globally—that’s why we’re committed to sourcing 45% of our cotton as Better Cotton. Better Cotton is sourced via a chain of custody model called mass balance. This means that Better Cotton is not physically traceable to end products. However Better Cotton farmers benefit from the demand for Better Cotton in equivalent volumes to those we “source.”

Synthetics

Synthetics are the apparel industry term for fabrics such as polyester, polyamide (commonly called nylon), elastane (commonly called spandex), and acrylic. These materials are usually derived from petroleum and were originally invented to mimic natural fibers such as silk, rubber, and wool. Using synthetics from recycled sources can lower the carbon footprint of the raw material by reducing the need for new oil extraction. Bio-based synthetics use materials such as corn, flaxseed oil, or agricultural waste to create the chemical building blocks of the textile, again lessening the use of non-renewable oil.

Wood & Manmade Cellulosic Fibers

In addition to wood, we use manmade cellulosic fibers (MMCF) like rayon, modal, lyocell, viscose, and acetate, which are frequently made from birch, bamboo, or other fast-growing tree species. FSC and PEFC certifications track forestry and harvesting practices in the supply chain. Branded fibers such as TENCEL™ and Livaeco by Birla Cellulose™ are both certified by FSC and use a closed-loop production process to lower the environmental impact of processing wood pulp. Other branded fibers such as TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™ and Liva Reviva by Birla Cellulose™ use recycled cotton as the raw material instead of wood to further reduce the environmental impact.

Animal-Derived Materials

Wool, cashmere, down, and leather are natural materials, often either a byproduct of the food industry or a naturally renewable resource, as in the case of wool and cashmere. Certifications for wool, cashmere, and down address animal welfare in the supply chain, and the Leather Working Group addresses chemicals and techniques used in tanneries for worker and environmental safety.