Making Strides in Recycled Consumer Packaging

URBN is always prioritizing the customer experience, whether that’s through a store experience or through the packaging used in our direct-to-consumer (DTC) products. There are many complications with using recyclable materials in our DTC mailers due to the handling processes in our Distribution and Fulfillment Centers (DCFCs). While automation in our DCFCs has helped speed up processing times and can handle high product volumes, recycled substances aren’t always able to stand up to heat necessary to make these machines work. In 2021, the URBN Procurement team made it their mission to find materials and processes that would allow us to transition our mailers from virgin plastic to recycled plastic. After several months of testing, the team found a fit and all URBN brands are now rolling out direct-to-consumer mailer bags that are 100% recycled and 100% recyclable.