Stores taking their eco efforts to new levels
Some national retailers with stores in Austin have taken steps to become more ecofriendly. At the used fashion resale store Buffalo Exchange, disposable plastic bags have been discontinued. For the Austin store on Guadalupe, the move comes ahead of the city’s ban on single-use paper and plastic bags in March.
The store has revamped its popular Token for Bags program, which now gives shoppers a token valued at five cents to donate to local charities when they bring in their own reusable bag or opt out of a bag. Buffalo Exchange also sells reusable bags. The company’s policy change is expected to keep an estimated 350,000 bags out of landfills every year.
And starting in February, H&M will begin collecting used clothing to be reused or recycled. The new recycling initiative means customers will receive a voucher for each bag of used garments they bring in. The clothing in any condition and from any brand will be accepted.
According to H&M, tons of textiles are thrown out with domestic waste and end up in landfills. About 95 percent of these clothes could be reworn, reused or recycled, the company said in a statement.
And Greenpeace announced recently that the world’s largest fashion retailer Zara, which has a store at The Domain, has committed to go toxic-free by 2020. Zara was one of the worst offenders in a report published by Greenpeace on the hazardous chemicals clothing companies use to manufacture many of their products. Following the report, protests and demonstrations took place at Zara stores around the globe.
Zara has now committed to “eliminating releases of all hazardous chemicals throughout its supply chains and products,” according to the Greenpeace announcement.
H&M, The Domain at 11410 Century Oaks Terrace near Macy’s, hm.com; Buffalo Exchange, 2904 Guadalupe St., buffaloexchange.com; Zara, The Domain at 3409 Esperanza Crossing, zara.com.
Austinite Liz Stevenson opened new swimwear and accessories boutique Blue Glue Bikinis this month at The Domain. The 880-square-foot franchised store is between Burberry and Tommy Bahama.
The store, founded by a French designer, features the swimwear lines “Glam” and “Chill.” “Glam” boasts intricate details such as laser-cut designs and signature hardware while “Chill” has graphic and solid prints at accessible price points.
The store has locations worldwide, but this is the first store in Texas. Find Blue Glue Bikinis at The Domain, 11506 Century Oaks Terrace, Suite 108. www.blue-glue.com.