User:Kcandrsn/sandbox6

The constantly enlarging textile industry often negatively contributes to the environment. Because Macy’s is a large clothing retailer, their production often hurts the environment. A few of the effects of the consistently increasing textile industry are water deficit, climate change, pollution, and fossil fuel and raw material consumption. In addition these effects, today’s mechanical textile plants use large amounts of energy, while also producing a throw-away mindset due to trends founded upon fast fashion and cheap clothing. Despite the common consequences related to the textile industry, Macy’s has begun to evaluate their environmental effects to lessen their negative impact by promoting important environmental causes. One way Macy’s recently supported the environment was during Earth Week and National Park Week 2008 by raising money with their “Turn over a New Leaf” project. This campaign helps to promote environmental awareness relating to shopping bags and their detrimental effect on the environment. Most plastic shopping bags are made using petroleum, and it takes more than 1000 years to break them down in landfills. Because Macy’s uses approximately 43 million shopping bags each year, this can drastically alter the environment. Because of this, all Macy’s stores now carry reusable cotton tote bags for sale that sell for $3.95, with one dollar of each sale going toward the National Park Foundation. In addition to the company’s bag transition, Macy’s is also replacing their synthetic, nonbiodegradable packing peanuts that accounts for 3.1 million cubic feet of in-box material per year with loosefill material created from corn and potato starch. This new material will break down within 9 minutes with water in the landfills. In addition to these campaigns, Macy’s also offered ten to twenty percent off to their customers on Earth Day 2008 in return for a five dollar donation to the National Park Foundation. Although this helps to raise environmental awareness, some critics are concerned that efforts like this might not be lasting, genuine effects to help the environment, but rather an opportunity for quick advertisement through the press.