Designing for longevity with Sofia Snöborgs Tüll, ARKET Head of Production & Sustainability

‘We’re committed to building an ecosystem that keeps products and materials circulating at their highest value. Our designs are made to be loved and used for a long time, and we include an increasing range of recycled options,’ says Sofia Snöborgs Tüll.  

ARKET’s approach aligns with the three circular economy principles of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works in education, business innovation and analysis to accelerate the transition to a circular economy: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products at their highest value, and regenerate nature, shifting the focus from extraction to regeneration.

In fashion, this means designing products to be used more frequently—resale and repair services are central to extending the lifespan of our garments. It also involves using recycled materials and regenerative materials. Our vision is to use raw materials produced using regenerative agricultural practices – crop rotation, cover cropping, minimal or no-tilling, as well as the use of natural fertilisers all help improve soil health.

Some examples from this autumn include NATIVARegen™ wool, certified by the NATIVA™ Protocol. This certification encompasses animal welfare, land and environmental management, and corporate social responsibility. Another example is Upcycled Down products, filled with recycled down and feathers sourced from Re:Down®. These materials, collected from used textiles, are washed and sterilized at high temperatures without the use of chemicals. 

‘At ARKET, we aim to increase the proportion of post-consumer recycled materials without compromising the quality of our products. At the end of a garment's life, we offer customers a take-back system in our stores. 

Through our sorting partners, the collected garments are sorted into different streams based on their condition and either reused or recycled. Items that do not fit into these categories are disposed of in other ways prioritising incineration for energy production.’ 

In late 2022, we launched our first second-hand service as a local initiative in our Gothenburg store in Sweden. A year later, we introduced ARKET ARCHIVE online, offering a resale service currently available in Sweden and the UK. We are actively working on the development of ARKET ARCHIVE, with plans to expand to additional countries in 2025. 

‘The resale market is growing rapidly, aided by technology that streamlines peer-to-peer platforms, making buying pre-loved nearly as seamless as buying new. We’ve already learned a lot about resale, and a key insight is the importance of bridging the gap between customers’ intentions to sell and shop second hand, and their actions. It involves making second-hand as convenient and appealing as traditional shopping, while integrating the service into our core business,’ says Sofia Snöborgs Tüll, and continues:  

We’re also experimenting with other services that keep products in use. In autumn 2023, we launched a children’s clothing rental service in the UK with Bundlee which is ongoing and performing well.  We are currently exploring repair service collaborations through the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’. 

Visit ARKET ARCHIVE (currently available in the UK and Sweden)