Circular Innovations and Nordlicht tackle returns together

Rethinking Returns

Spurred by Circular Innovations' Green Friday campaign, German fashion brand Nordlicht decided to take the challenges to turn circularity into an exciting opportunity. In the coming months, they’ll work with the Circular Innovations team to explore the bottleneck of returns and assess impact strategies that make business sense.

Returns are not only a major contributor to fashion businesses’ environmental footprint, leading to unnecessary CO2 emissions and waste, but also put significant pressure on profit margins, posing a serious threat to their viability.

From Measurement to Impact

In the first quarter of 2025, Circular Innovations will conduct a comprehensive return reduction analysis and present a strategy aimed at minimizing returns using Circular Innovations' impact calculation models. The strategy will be implemented throughout the year, with the full support and expertise of the Circular Innovations team.

Nout Knabben, founder of Circular Innovations, welcomes Nordlicht as a pioneering brand on its path to circularity:

"Optimizing operations, such as reducing returns, is crucial in preparing for a circular economy. It ensures that every resource is utilized to its fullest potential. I’m excited that we can support Nordlicht in tackling this challenge.”

Towards Circularity

Since its founding in 2014, Nordlicht has maintained a strong commitment to sustainability, producing fair and eco-friendly products. Timeless design and lasting quality are at the heart of the brand’s ethos. This includes the use of natural materials, such as GOTS-certified cotton, and climate-neutral shipping. All garments are produced in Portugal under fair working conditions, and carbon emissions are offset through contributions to recognized climate protection projects.

Now, Nordlicht is taking the next step, moving from sustainable business practices to embracing circularity. Nico Heuchel, founder of Nordlicht shared:

"Circularity has always been a key part of our mission, and we're excited to turn that vision into action.”

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