Innovation

• As part of innovative steps toward the achievement of its sustainability mission, the organization set up a committee called the VS&Co environmental sustainability committee to develop the Environmental Sustainability Goal (ESG) roadmap and ensure it is fully implemented. The following are innovative steps taken by the committee and the organization in general.
• Updating the supplier guidebook and code of conduct and training, tracing and auditing their suppliers to support their commitment to protecting human rights.
• Partnering with suppliers to regularly assess compliance with the organization's environmental policies, including chemical use and wastewater management.
• Using only recycled polyester and polyamide to make their products.
• Assessment of facilities' environmental performance across the value chain to ensure they meet laid down standards and set a formal, science-based greenhouse gas reduction target.
• Piloting textile take-back and recycling programs and determining the appropriate partners to support this project.

Inspiration

Roy Raymond founded Victoria’s Secret in 1977 after an uncomfortable shopping trip to a department store to buy lingerie for his wife. This experience inspired Raymond to create an approachable and comfortable environment for individuals to shop for lingerie. The reasoning behind the name is two-fold. “Victoria” after the refinement of the Victorian era in England, and “Secret” to evoke a sense of mysteriousness hidden beneath. Since then, Victoria’s Secret has continued to focus on empowering women through its lingerie, clothing, and beauty products. Additionally, the company has committed to more sustainable practices in recent years, such as sourcing sustainable cotton and reducing water and chemical usage during production.

Overall impact

Victoria's Secret continues to make an effort to produce more sustainable products. Sustainability can be tricky at times for a company at this scale. Many countries that manufacture products often use different KPI metrics and have different laws regarding their overall emissions output and what is considered sustainable. Victoria's Secret also seeks to utilize transportation by boat more often, as opposed to air travel, in an effort to help mitigate carbon emissions associated with air travel. Mr. Petris said that Victoria's Secret has independent inspectors that travel to the various factories overseas to ensure that company standards are followed. Workers are in safe working conditions while maintaining the company's sustainability policy. Mr. Petris also states that Victoria's Secret seeks to source suppliers who are not using pesticides or chemicals in their cotton. Another initiative discussed was making fragrance bottles that are reusable by creating a removable pump in the product's design. Mr. Petris also spoke about the sustainability committee that is used to help align company employees with the goals that the committee sets forth. These goals are then measured and help the company's overall image as a sustainability leader. Overall Victoria's Secret is making strides to create a more sustainable brand, and Mr. Petris stressed the challenges of making these transitions and the importance of forming a plan that can indeed be successful for future years to come.

Business benefit

Victoria's Secret has very clear sustainability goals that all employees understand and pursue in their day-to-day responsibilities. The rise in demand for sustainable fashion has further propelled post-pandemic. During the interview, Mr. Petris made a powerful point that Victoria's Secret has to be sustainable to be relevant. By incorporating sustainable practices into its operations, Victoria's Secret can uphold a positive reputation and build customer loyalty. The company has committed to no testing on animals and eliminated the use of animal fur and skin in its products.

Additionally, the brand uses sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester in its clothing. Ethical and fair labor practices are ensured in its suppliers and facilities. Victoria's Secret's commitment to energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction will further assist in its business operations as it will reduce costs.

In 2022, the company established an in-house Environmental Sustainability Committee comprising about 60 employees from various departments. The goal of this committee is to oversee the progress and execution of sustainability initiatives across the organization. Transparency is key for consumers, stakeholders, and employees alike, and Victoria's Secret ensures this through its annual Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, which began just last year in April 2022. This publication aims to share the actions taken and progress made in its ESG efforts. Victoria's Secret's website also sheds light on its supply chain, where information on its suppliers can be found.

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Social and environmental benefit

Victoria’s Secret has brought significant social and economic benefits over the years, such as social benefits like empowering women and supporting women’s causes. Victoria’s Secret has been instrumental in increasing confidence and self-esteem in women by making them feel comfortable in their own skin through their products. Additionally, the company supports causes and issues such as breast cancer awareness and donating to various charities.

The company also offers multiple economic benefits, such as boosting local economies through its vast retail spaces. It can boost local economies by providing employment and attracting customers to shopping malls/centers. As well as investing in infrastructure, Victoria’s Secret and its parent company, L Brands, invest in building new stores and renovating existing ones. Most prevalent, the revenue generated by Victoria’s Secret can contribute significantly to the national GDP. In 2022, according to the Victoria’s Secret website, the company reported net sales of $6.344 billion.

Interview

Marios Petris, Product Engineer

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