Retail reuse solutions: Pact Retail Accessories

Pact Retail Accessories has recognized that single-use hangers are a harmful standard process in the retail industry, one that is detrimental to our environment. Committed to taking action, Pact has established a truly circular solution for garment hanger reuse, aiming to eliminate the days of disposable single-use retail practices.

Circular thinking is deeply ingrained in the ethos of Pact Retail Accessories. Since our establishment in 1989, Pact has been at the forefront of the global circular economy, spearheading efforts to eliminate single-use plastic and create closed-loop solutions. As part of the Australian-based Pact Group, Pact Retail Accessories collaborates directly with leading garment manufacturers worldwide to collect millions of used garment hangers, security tags and PolyBoxes from retailers. By implementing innovative closed-loop systems, collaborating with global partners and actively participating in industry initiatives, Pact Retail Accessories is at the forefront of transforming the retail industry's approach to sustainability and waste reduction.

Pact's Reusable Garment Hanger program operates as a comprehensive closed-loop system. Pact manages the logistics of hangers throughout the entire supply chain, supplying directly to garment manufacturers and receiving discarded hangers directly from retailers. This closed-loop system effectively minimizes plastic waste by keeping millions of hangers and accessories in circulation for many years, diverting them from ending up in landfills. Pact's garment hangers are designed to withstand multiple complete cycles without breakage, boasting a lifespan of approximately ten years in many cases. Damaged hangers are sent to Pact's recycling facilities, where they can be repurposed into other products. Moreover, Pact's commitment to sustainability is reflected in its hanger production, which recently received certification for incorporating a minimum of 30% recycled material.

Another innovative initiative from Pact Retail Accessories involves the implementation of an upstream system to facilitate the reuse of retail security tags through reverse logistics. By establishing a truly circular system, these security tags can be reused multiple times, providing significant cost savings for retailers, often reaching up to 50% per trip. Security tags undergo various processes before being applied to garments, and they often suffer damage, misplacement, incorrect application and even pose safety hazards due to their improper usage. Pact's solution addresses these challenges and ensures a more sustainable and efficient tagging process.

Pact's most recent solution is the redesign of the import/export packaging used for garments. Instead of relying on single use corrugated boxes, which contribute to the 80 billion used annually in the United States alone, Pact introduces a reusable polypropylene box that can be utilized up to 15 times. While recycling corrugated boxes remains an option, a considerable portion still ends up in landfills. The reusable PolyBox offered by Pact minimizes overall costs compared to single-use corrugate boxes, simultaneously advancing retailers' waste reduction objectives. To complete the cycle, when the PolyBox reaches the end of its reusable life, Pact ensures proper recycling and utilizes the materials to create new boxes or other products, such as hangers. This closed-loop solution guarantees significant environmental benefits, aligning with Pact Retail Accessories' commitment to sustainability and waste reduction.

With a global network extending across North America, Europe, the United Kingdom and the Asia Pacific regions, Pact Retail Accessories has established strong partnerships with the largest garment manufacturers worldwide. Decades of expertise and operational efficiencies have culminated in a global closed-loop network that facilitates the reuse of hangers on a massive scale. Additionally, Pact Retail Accessories has joined forces with the U.S. Plastics Pact, a collaborative initiative focused on realizing a circular economy for plastics. Emphasizing measurable change, Pact is committed to transparent, annual reporting guided by WWF's ReSource: Plastic Footprint Tracker, enabling the documentation of progress towards its goals.

In further support of the circular economy, Pact Retail Accessories has fostered partnerships with prominent organizations in the retail sector, including the National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association. As active members of these associations, Pact Retail Accessories strives to drive circular change from the top down, encouraging both consumers and retailers to embrace the growing movement towards reuse.