Sustainability

As a progressive luxury brand, Stella McCartney has always looked to the future. 


We strive to create the most beautiful and desirable products with the least impact on our planet. Our conscious values are the leading inspiration behind our products and innovations. As industry leaders, we endeavour to make use of the most cutting-edge and progressive materials that aim to reduce impact on the planet and are always cruelty-free, whilst following the principles of circularity. We continue to aim to increase our transparency across supply chains through diligent reporting, measuring and tracking. 


Our sustainability vision is guided by our bold values – making every action count, inspiring trust and celebrating life. We are change agents; we are activists. 


We are committed to always being responsible, honest and accountable, leaving a positive impact on our planet. We stand up and speak up for Mother Earth, our fellow creatures and in solidarity with all humans today in order to protect our better tomorrow. 


We have come a long way, and we are always striving to see how we can do even better. 

Materials & Innovation

Materials are the foundation of our sustainability initiatives. Forming the literal fabric of our nature-positive and circular mission, explore how we combine nature’s gifts with cutting-edge innovation to create the most desirable luxury fashion. 


By innovating new, responsible cruelty-free alternatives, we can change the future of fashion. 

SÖKTAŞ

Discover how SÖKTAŞ a sustainable, resilient system that benefits both people and planet. 

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Savian

Learn about Savian, a 100% plant- based, plastic- free and GMO-free alternative to animal fur combining natural materials, heritage craftsmanship and biotechnology. 

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NATIVA™: Regenerative, traceable wool

Discover how closely NATIVA™️ regenerative wool is certified to the highest standards of sustainability in the world, helping to restore our planet.     

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Stella McCartney x Veuve Clicquot

Learn more about our patrtnership with Veuve Clicquot, pioneering a grape-based alternative to animal leather using the Champagne Maison’s harvest by-product.

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Protein Evolution: Biopure™️

Discover how Protein Evolution uses enzyme engineering technology to transform textile and plastic waste into infinitely recyclable polyester. 

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Mango Materials

Learn more about how Mango Materials are transforming harmful methane into a biodegradable alternative to traditional, fossil fuel-based plastics. 

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Kelsun™️

Discover Kelsun™, a next-generation, seaweed-based material with a significantly lower environmental footprint than conventional fibres. 

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BioPuff® : Plant-based, feather-free insulation

Learn more about BioPuff®, a regenerative alternative to feather down and synethetic insulations crafted from bulrushes grown in UK wetlands. 

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Blockchain Technology
Traceability and Blockchain Technology

Learn more about how Stella McCartney prioritises traceability and is integrating blockchain technology to trace products through documentary evidence. 

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VEGEA: Grape-Based Alternative to Animal Leather

Learn about VEGEA, the grape-based vegan alternative to animal leather, as seen in our iconic S-Wave handbag and trainers series.

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Bananatex®: Banana Plant-Based Low-Impact Fibre

Learn more about Bananatex®, a new biodegradable material innovation created from banana plants.

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Mylo™

Learn more about Mylo™, Bolt Threads’ innovative vegan alternative to animal leather, created with renewable mycelium from fungi.

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MIRUM® Leather
MIRUM®

Discover our new material innovation: MIRUM®, a plastic-free animal leather alternative that can restore and benefit the environment. 

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Regenerative Sourcing
Regenerative Sourcing

Discover more about regenerative sourcing and why being nature positive is important for us at Stella McCartney. 

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Recycled cashmere

Our knitwear collections are made from recycled cashmere.

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Forest-Friendly Viscose

We source our viscose in a way that helps to protect ancient forests.

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Metals

We are working to reduce the environmental impacts of our metal consumption.

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Organic Cotton

We use organic cotton to create products in ways that enrich the environment.

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Recycled nylon and polyester

Synthetic materials can –and should– be recycled and come from recycled sources.

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sustainability
Silk

We are exploring entirely new ways of creating silk.

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vegetarian leather
Vegetarian Leather

Since day one, we have never used leather, feathers, fur or skins.

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Wool
Wool

We source from farms committed to animal welfare and environmental stewardship, where possible.

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Paper and Packaging
Paper and Packaging

Our paper and packaging come from recycled and certified sustainable sources.

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Clevercare
Clevercare

We consider our environmental footprint at every point of our design process, even after our products have been sold.

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Collaborators and Commitments

Collaboration is essential to fashioning the future we hope to see. By working together today, we can create a better tomorrow – together. Explore a selected group of our collaborators and brand commitments below.

Sustainability Timeline

Since Stella McCartney launched in 2001, we have been committed to a values-led ethos and being kinder to Mother Earth, our fellow creatures and each other. 


Explore our sustainability timeline to discover how our innovations of yesterday and today will protect our tomorrow. 


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2001
2001

No leather, fur, skins, feathers or animal glues since day one. 

2008
2008

We started using organic cotton. 

2010
2010

We went completely PVC-free. 

2012
2012

Introduced bio-acetate in our eyewear, started using recycled polyester, made our shoe soles biodegradable, banned plastic water bottles from our head offices, joined the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and made sure all the wood pulp used in our products was FSC-certified. 

2013
2013

We went angora-free and introduced Eco Alter-Nappa, our smooth vegan alternative to animal leather. Installed LED lighting and 100% renewable energy sources in our Old Bond Street store. 

2014
2014

Started using bio-based TPU for our shoe soles, added a recycled polyester microfibre for bags and ensured that all of our paper and cardboard packaging was FSC-certified. 

2015
2015

We launched our revolutionary vegan alternative to animal fur. 

2016
2016

We stopped using virgin cashmere and transitioned to forest-friendly viscose made from FSC-certified pulp, verified by the CanopyStyle Audit. 

2017
2017

Incorporated lower-impact metals, added certified wool yarns for knitwear, developed the first prototype garment made with Bolt Threads’ vegan Microsilk™ and introduced recycled nylon. Launched our resale partnership with The RealReal. 

2018
2018

Banned the use of virgin mohair, launched the Loop sneaker – designed to be disassembled, released the first vegan Stan Smith sneakers and created the first handbag made from Bolt Threads’ Mylo™ – a mycelium-based vegan alternative to animal leather. We committed to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s UK Plastic Pact. 

2019
2019

adidas by Stella McCartney developed the first-ever garments made with EVRNU®’s NuCycl yarn and launched KOBA® Fur Free Fur, a recyclable animal alternative made from recycled polyester and plant-based plastic. We announced the most sustainable Hunter boot ever. We began using SOKTAS regenerative cotton in our ready-to-wear. 

2020
2020

Debuted bio-lenses in Stella McCartney eyewear, bio-acetate frames in Stella Kids eyewear and launched Stellawear – a sustainable innovation fusing underwear and swimwear made from Aquafil Econyl® regenerated nylon and ROICA™ elastane. We announced the McCartney A to Z Manifesto. 

2021
2021

We released our Air Slide made from recycled industrial materials, the world’s first garments made from Mylo™, incorporated even more recycled content into our Falabella bag linings and introduced regenerative fibres to our collections. We were the only brand from the fashion industry to attend COP26 with our travelling exhibition: Future of Fashion. 

2022
2022

Released the world’s first-ever commercially available Mylo™ handbag, introduced Recycrom dye, Humana denim made from recycled textile waste and repurposed LVMH Nona Source deadstock fabrics. Debuted VEGEA, a new vegan alternative to animal leather using grape waste. 


We disclosed our Tier 1 (finished product) Suppliers on the Open Apparel Registry. 

2023
2023

We launched our first ever take-back scheme for the Close-the-Loop Parka which can be fully regenerated into new yarn at its end-of-life. 

Our Commitments

We are pioneering a conscious luxury mission to create fashion that does not compromise on desirability or sustainability and that holds us accountable to our values. 


Making every action count, discover our commitments to you, our planet and our fellow creatures. 

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Social Responsibility & Human Rights

As a luxury brand that aims to be as sustainable as possible, we often find ourselves talking about products and the planet. But it is the people that make it all happen. 


From the farmers who grow our raw materials and the interconnected teams that bring it to life, to the conscious consumers who purchase them, discover how we are creating a positive impact for all. 

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sustainability
Circularity

Looking ahead today to a better tomorrow, we are committed to circularity – innovating new methods to recycled and repurpose materials, leading and disrupting the industry with our zero-waste vision and sustainable values. 

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circularity
Spotlight on: Airslide

Our new Air Slides are a step in a more circular direction. Launched as part of the Summer 2021 collection, they are our first style created with recycled manufacturing waste sourced directly from the factories they are made in.

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airslide
Spotlight on: Stella x Greenpeace

Stella x Greenpeace is a limited-edition collab of organic cotton pieces supporting the environmental NGO’s campaign to stop Amazon deforestation fuelled by industrial agriculture and meat production.

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greenpeace
Sustainability