The PwC Global 500 report was recently released and the results of that research indicated that the Global 500 companies of the world were not implementing long-term carbon reduction programmes to the degree where the effects of climate change would be mitigated. Bayer was one of the companies that performed best in the world. In light of this, Puma has set as its goal, increased sustainability and carbon emission reduction through its Bring me Back campaign which has now been launched in South Africa. Its aim is to encourage recycling and reusability of sport lifestyle products among consumers.

The company has installed recycling bins in its stores and outlets for customers to return used shoes, clothing and accessories of any brand. With this new initiative, the company helps to protect the environment, aspiring to eliminate waste by recycling used products to create new ones. This effort is one more step forward toward the long-term goal of transitioning to a closed cycle loop for materials usage.

“As part of our mission to become the most desirable and sustainable company in the world, we are constantly working on solutions that aim at reducing the environmental impact the company leaves behind on our planet,” said Franz Koch, CEO of Puma. “With our ‘Bring me back programme, we are pleased to target for the first time ever the massive amounts of waste sport lifestyle products leave behind at their end-of-life phase, when consumers dispose of them and they end up on landfills or in waste incineration plants.”

The company has implemented several initiatives and programmes within its long-term sustainability programme that foresees a reduction of 25% of carbon emissions, energy, water and waste in its offices, stores, warehouses and direct supplier factories by 2015. With the innovative packaging system, Clever Little Bag, which it introduced in 2010 that replaced traditional shoeboxes, the company already reached a milestone in reducing it and its consumers’ environmental footprint significantly by saving more than 60% of paper and water annually.

The programme furthermore sets the foundation for an initiative on products, which are designed for recycling, as the company is currently looking into solutions to develop recyclable or decomposable products. It is also working on achieving the company’s goal of having 50% of the international collections made of more sustainable materials by 2015. In 2011, about 16% of its total apparel products were made of more sustainable materials such as recycled polyester, organic cotton and Cotton Made in Africa.

‘Bring me back’ launched this week in Johannesburg at its stores at Fourways, Maponya Mall, Retail Crossing, Woodmead, Worldwear, Braamfontein and Palms; in Pretoria at the Kolonnade store and in Cape Town at Canal Walk, Access Park and the V&A waterfront. The programme is launching in a number of its markets worldwide in October, with a full global roll-out slated for January 2013. For more information, go to www.puma.com/bringmeback

Source: bizcommunity