Two Things Retail Clothing Store are doing to be more Green (year round, not just for Earth Day)

This week while we celebrate Earth Day, let’s recognize some of the strides the retail industry has made to reduce their environmental footprint.

First, we are seeing more retailers use recycled elements in their window displays, like this one from Diane Von Furstenburg using recycled cups.

and old tires are a popular prop at Anthropologie

And other retail stores like this one:

Secondly, way back in 2001 when Mannequin Madness was founded we faced an uphill battle to get retailers to change their standard practice of throwing mannequins in the garbage when they were closing or remodeling stores.

Mannequins are made out of materials that do not biodegrade so putting them in the garbage where they will end up in landfills in a bad thing.

But now, at least one a month we get a request from a retail chain to recycle their mannequins.

Last week we recycled over 500 dress forms  at six Tommy Hilfiger stores across the country.

In  2007 we received an award from the Environmental Protection Agency for recycling over 100,000 pounds of mannequins a year. We now recycle that much every 3 months!