CanopyStyle Pledge

Target’s support of CanopyStyle: Transforming viscose fabric’s impacts on forests

Our forest products policy has set Target on a path to sourcing wood, paper, paper-based packaging, wood-based fiber and viscose fiber used in Target’s owned brand products from forests that have conservation solutions in place, are well-managed and credibly certified — and whenever possible, are sourced from post-consumer recycled materials, or other lower impact alternatives.

Wood is an important raw material for Target. Thus, Target has the ability, and responsibility, to influence not only where our wood fiber is sourced, but also how the forests of origin are protected. Target is committed to aiding in the global effort to end deforestation and forest degradation and have a positive impact on sustainability and communities.

Given its importance to the global textile industry, we will continue using viscose and other manmade cellulosics fabrics over the coming years.

At Target, it is our position that:

• We’ll work closely with our vendors, suppliers and other partners to understand the origin of viscose and other raw materials in our products, and improve the sustainability of forests where the timber in those products was grown.
• Viscose fiber should be produced with a minimum impact to the environment by continuously decreasing emissions to air and water. By use of existing improved technologies and increased recycling of chemicals/natural resources, Target believes we can reach a more sustainable material. 
• By using cellulosic materials that have been responsibly sourced, feedstock for future viscose production will be improved. 
• Next generation solutions, such as fabrics that use recycled textiles and alternative (nonwood) fibers, should be increased to reduce the pressure on forests.

Target supports the approach being taken by the collaboration of over 170 clothing designers, retailers and brands, who are working with the environmental not-for-profit Canopy as part of the CanopyStyle initiative. Together, we will:

• Maintain viscose apparel garment supply chains that are free of ancient and endangered forests¹, endangered species and controversial sources.
• Promote a collaborative approach to ensure greatest positive impact.
• Work with stakeholders to ensure that standards are continuously improved.
• Advocate for the protection of forests including working with our suppliers and environmental organizations to advance lasting conservation solutions.²
• Avoid illegal sources³, and plantations converted after 1994.⁴
• Preference sourcing of fabrics made from recycled fabrics, agricultural residues⁵ and, where forest fiber is used, Forest Stewardship Council certification (FSC) when available and meeting product performance requirements and competitive market conditions.
• Work with stakeholders to ensure that existing requirements, such as respect for workers’ rights, care for the environment, and responsible development of new plantations and harvesting, including the principle of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), are robustly enforced.

1. Ancient and endangered forests are defined by the CanopyStyle initiative and include landscapes such as Canadian and Russian Boreal Forests; Coastal Temperate Rainforests; tropical forests and peatlands of Indonesia, the Amazon and West Africa.

2. As an example of this type of work, conservation solutions are now finalized in the Great Bear Rainforest, located in coastal temperate rainforests that originally covered 0.2% of the planet, and where now less than 25% of the original forests remain. On February 1st, 2016 the Government of British Columbia, First Nations, environmental organizations and the forest industry announced 38% protection in the Great Bear Rainforest and an ecosystem-based management approach that will see 85% of this region off limits to logging. Provided these agreements hold – sustainable sourcing has been accomplished in this ancient and endangered forest. We encourage ongoing verification of this through renewal of Forest Stewardship Council certification. We look forward to supporting similar conservation solutions in key sourcing regions for viscose including Indonesia, Brazil and Boreal Forests.

3. Legal forest management is management that complies with all applicable international, national, and local laws, including environmental, forestry, and civil rights laws and treaties. Both FSC and the CanopyStyle Audits work to address this. 

4. Plantations are areas that have been “established by planting or sowing using either alien or native species, often with few species, regular spacing and even ages, and which lack most of the principal characteristics and key elements of natural forests”. Plantations prior to 1994 are often FSC certified with the assurance they are not causing recent deforestation. Source FSC Principle 6:10: www.fsc.org.

5. Agricultural Residues are residues left over from food production or other processes, such as flax, soy or hemp. (Agricultural residues are not from on-purpose crops that replace forest stands or food crops.)