Style Meets Sustainability: Reducing Fashion’s Footprint
Number of Hours Pledged: 200
SDGs Supported: #10 Reduced Inequalities, #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and #13 Climate Action
Country: USA
Summary: The apparel biz has an abysmal sustainability rep, with one of the largest carbon footprints of any industry. But Syreeta Bond, DBA, PMP, is making her own fashion statement with Lipstick Killers Collection (LKC), what she calls a “chic-punk” clothing line—that’s 100 percent carbon neutral.
“Our aim is to set the standard for fashion companies worldwide and to encourage all fashion companies to reverse their impact on the environment as much as possible,” says Bond, who’s also a project manager at tech giant Apple and a member of the PMI Los Angeles Chapter.
As a fashion business owner, Bond formalized that commitment with an Hours for Impact pledge to support multiple U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 13: Climate Action. LKC contributes to carbon-reduction projects that entirely offset its emissions—while simultaneously letting the company’s customers score stylish and eco-friendly tops, skirts and jewelry.
To turn that vision into reality, the company partnered with climate tech venture capital firm Pale Blue Dot to eliminate the carbon footprint generated by the clothing line’s supply chain and operations. And then in January 2022, Bond announced an alliance with EcoCart to “empower the Lipstick Killers community to make their orders 100 percent carbon neutral.” Each time someone checks the carbon neutral box at checkout, LKC commits to purchasing verified emissions reductions. The company even provides information about the project that each customer’s donation is supporting.
The move is part of what Bond sees as an increasing responsibility to “commit additional resources toward our values” as LKC grows. Along with offsetting carbon emissions, Bond and her team’s Hours for Impact pledge supports SDGs 10 and 11 by helping give back to human rights organizations and to Black and Latino communities.
“We have long held the conviction that we can be both a great business and a great corporate citizen,” she wrote on her blog. “In fact, we believe we cannot be one without the other. Corporate social responsibility is cemented in Lipstick Killers’ DNA because our people believe deeply in making the world a better place.”
And while fashion fads may come and go, Bond and her team remain committed to delivering positive social impact—with great style, of course.
“I love volunteering for PMI because it’s not only good for the soul, it’s good for the world,” she says. “It’s a beautiful feeling to give back to the communities by serving. It means that we’re doing our part—not just sitting around talking about it. We care authentically and will never stop.”