National Park Foundation and Free People Celebrate Earth Month’s 50th Year
PHILADELPHIA—Care FP is Free People’s mission to do a bit better every day, because we believe every step counts. From the social impact we strive for to the footprint of our designs, to our non-profit partners and connection to our community, we’re making conscious choices both big and small to protect our planet. For Earth Day this year, the brand plans to celebrate, raise awareness and drive impact in multiple ways.
Free People is proud to announce that the brand currently has 300+ earth-friendly wearable products, and another 300+ clean beauty products available online. The wearable collection features vintage items, recycled/upcycle items, a Spell & The Gypsy’s sustainable collection and more. Additionally, throughout the whole year, Free People will donate $0.10 from every transaction to the National Park Foundation when a customer forgoes a shopping bag or uses a reusable one in store. This initiative has helped Free People save over 500,000 bags from the landfill in the past year alone.
Free People has also reworked their packaging, wrapping, and print materials to reduce our footprint, all launching this Earth Month 2020. This is a continuous process, and here is where we are now:
- 100% of the external packaging is now recyclable + reusable (including both cardboard boxes and plastic shipper bags)
- Throughout 2020 and into 2021, the brand will begin to introduce and require biodegradable and non-single use plastic bags for all product polybags
- 100% of in-store tissue paper is recyclable
- 100% of in-store bags have always been and will always be fabric-made, reusable and biodegradable
- 100% of catalogs will now be printed on FSC certified paper, made from sustainable wood pulp and printed using plant based inks.
These steps are aligned to URBN’s greater initiatives in sustainability as a group.
“This Earth Month we’ve made our mantra of “mindfully taking steps to be a bit better every day” a reality and are celebrating our gratitude to the earth through our active steps to reduce our footprint. Although we’re in the midst of changing times, our commitment to mother nature has grown stronger, and we’re taking a holistic approach to support her: we’re launching our own sustainable products that are artisan made, vintage, and earth friendly, we’re supporting public land restoration work via our nonprofit partners like the National Park Foundation, and we’re developing sustainable solutions for our packaging to encompass reusability, recyclability and biodegradability. These are small steps forward, but ones we’re very proud of, and we know this is just the beginning.”
The brand will be partnering with the National Park Foundation for the third year, this year to support their Women in Parks initiative. The National Park Foundation protects and enhances America’s national parks for present and future generations. Thanks to Free People’s partnership, the National Park Foundation is providing critical funds to an all-women service corps crew working on the ground to restore America’s national parks. The brand will be donating $100,000 to support the initiative in 2020.
National parks are some of our most cherished treasures and there are endless ways to connect with them. No matter where you are, national parks are just a click away. From 360-degree park tours, daily Facebook Live uploads, and natural sights and sounds via webcams, there are multiple ways to explore our shared history and beauty of the outdoors right in your own home.
For more information, images, to request an interview, or to discuss a TV opportunity, please call Katerina Patouhas at 215-454-3871 or email [email protected].
ABOUT FREE PEOPLE
Free People is a global lifestyle brand… defined by femininity, creativity, curiosity and adventure, with offerings in unique apparel, intimate wear, shoes and accessories. As an expansion of our lifestyle FP has moved into wellness, fitness, travel and curation of beauty starting from the inside out. The Philadelphia-based retailer is available via our UK and China sites, top department and specialty stores, as well as via Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help protect more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts and connect all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.