As a thought leader, author, educator, and change leadership practitioner, I write a weekly article that benefits leaders who want to improve their organizations significantly.
Last week, we looked at how leaders can create a competitive advantage by incorporating altruistic business practices. Over the next few weeks, I will share examples of companies that embed altruism into their organizations. The series will begin with Eileen Fisher, the person and the company of the same name, a sustainability pioneer in the fashion industry.
Life-fulfilling work is never about the money. When you feel true passion for something, you instinctually find ways to nurture it. – Eileen Fisher
A definition I have been using for altruism is "the unselfish concern for other people – doing things simply out of a desire to help, not because you feel obligated to out of duty, loyalty, or religious reasons. It involves acting out of concern for the well-being of other people. The Eileen Fisher women's clothing company embodies altruism as a pioneer of sustainable fashion. A societal necessary approach for an industry estimated to create 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and send 25.5 billion pounds of reusable textiles to landfills annually.
The company's approach to clothing design begins with making clothes to reduce these negative environmental impacts. Shifting from a standard practice of liner design where a woman makes a garment purchase, wears it for a while, and then disposes of it in a landfill, to one of circular design. It is an approach where fibers in their clothing are regenerative, renewable, and recyclable at the end of the garment's life. From an altruistic perspective, eliminating clothing designs that benefit some while causing harm to others by avoiding injury to the well-being of others.
While circular design improves the front end of the life cycle of clothing, the best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and landfill impacts is to keep from making new products. The company has evolved the reuse of clothing over its history, resulting in two million pieces of apparel returning to them for repair to be resold or donated to those in need through what is now called the Renew-Take-Back program. These garments continue in a cycle of use that includes downcycling, mending, remaking, and reselling. An example of the impact of helping others is allowing them to purchase 'super wearable" slightly damaged pieces that offset the cost of new products.
Eileen Fisher has transitioned the operational aspects of the Renew-Take-Back program to Terus and Trove. Both companies work with many of the top fashion brands in this capacity. These companies operate highly sustainably, helping to keep some of the 84% of clothing out of landfills and incinerators and improving upon the 1% of currently reused clothing. By playing a role in improving the environment, they lessen the planetary harm that impacts the most impoverished significantly.
Eileen Fisher is an organization that embodies the founder's passion for life-fulfilling work. The impact of pursuing her passion is a company that operates altruistically through its business practices and company support of various causes for social justice. The design and renewal practices are two of many others the organization utilizes to be an environmentally and socially conscious company. They take measures to protect the welfare of the people across their entire supply chain. They engage in policy issues and projects that empower women worldwide. Their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility has earned Eileen Fisher a loyal following among customers who value ethical and eco-conscious products.
Eileen Fisher, both the person and the company of the same name, is a sustainability pioneer in the fashion industry. The Eileen Fisher women's clothing company embodies altruism as a pioneer of sustainable fashion. Their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility has earned Eileen Fisher a loyal following among customers who value ethical and eco-conscious products.
Individuals interested in learning about effective altruism can watch What is effective altruism? Philosopher Peter Singer shares several examples of people who have adopted this practice. Singer encourages that if we donate time, money, or a kidney in the extreme case in the video, we should ensure that it can make the most significant impact. He reminds us that we can and should do more with the gifts in our care.
I admire Eileen Fisher for many reasons. She launched an exemplary organization with $350 and four clothing shapes. The company was an early adopter of sustainable business practices. Fisher also leads with humility and modesty with her self-described "feminine" leadership style, where her priority is the happiness of her employees.
Next week's blog will continue to look at the success stories of companies that practice altruism, an integral aspect of becoming a humanist manufacturing organization.
To learn more about our work or read more blog posts, visit emmanuelstratgicsustainability.com.
I encourage you to read my book Humanist Manufacturing: A Humanitarian Approach to Excellence in High-Impact Plant Operations. The paperback and eBook versions are now available at Amazon and many other booksellers. You can also view the Humanist Manufacturing Book Launch to gain additional insight into the Humanist Manufacturing framework.
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