How Brands Can Set Sustainability Goals For 2022

As 2021 comes to a close, it's time to reflect on what you've accomplished and what needs to be done in 2022. Pushing towards sustainability takes a lot of planning ahead of time, so it's crucial that your brand is looking into the future now because when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Here are some of the goals you should be working towards, and how to do it. 

Have clear objectives
Everyone's journey towards sustainability is different, but it's important to stay focused. Going into the new year, you should be focusing on what's going to get your brand ahead. A question you could ask yourself before sitting down to set your goals is, what is going to work for you?

Here are a few to think about:

• What materials have the biggest impact
• What's your current impact through packaging
• What are similar brands doing in your space
• How can you incorporate customers into your plans

Setting sustainability goals
When you are focused on having a more sustainable impact, you could go in a lot of directions. But the pit most brands fall into, is making no measurable/trackable goals. This way it will be impossible for you to assess if you succeeded or if your efforts produced a return.

Make sure you set SMART goals

• Specific: Define the department or item you will tackle
• Measurable: What numerical result do you want to see
• Attainable: Something realistic, Rome wasn't built in a day
• Relevant: What's is best for your category and department
• Time bound: Provide a real date by which you'll meet this goal

Find strategic partners
To achieve that goal you would want to consider working with factories who implement sustainability during their entire production process and not just swapping materials or packaging. For example, work with factories who implement alternative energy, natural dying techniques, or use less water to reduce the amount of waste. You might also bring in other strategic partners, like textile recycling companies, consulting agencies, or THR3EFOLD!

Establish KPI's
Your KPI's (Key Performance Indicators) are what's going to help you succeed because you're able to track and analyze your process. Don't be afraid to fail. This will give you more data around if you overshot your goal for the amount or time by which you could meet your goal. Just be sure to assess and adjust your goals accordingly to make sure you continue to grow.

​Here are some sustainable goals that can be measured:

• Carbon footprint 
• Energy usage
• Percentage of recyclable products/materials
• Waste diverted from landfill

Because everyone has different brand goals, it's impossible to use someone else's list to benefit your goals. You have to map out specifics and what sustainable marks you didn't hit this year that will be crucial for 2022. We can't for what's to come, and we know your brand is in for a successful year! Don't miss out on sustainability resources for apparel brands, by joining our weekly newsletter!

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