Design Life-Cycle

Umaima Hamid

DES40A Section A02

Professor Cogdell

5 June 2024

Raw Materials: Life Cycle of Coach Tabby Bags 

The Coach brand was founded in New York City in 1941 and has made a lasting impact in the world of fashion and textiles. Coach has become well known for its luxury leather goods and their emphasis on craftsmanship and creating designs that stand the test of time can be epitomized by the Coach Tabby Bag. The Tabby bag is available in many different styles and prints; however, it is the style itself that has become very popularized and timeless. Known for using a variety of premium materials, Coach has also made efforts to emphasize the importance of sustainability through various initiatives and collaborations to ensure ethical and eco-friendly practices are utilized in the production of these bags. The Coach Tabby Bag is crafted from various raw materials including cowhide leather, bio-attributed PVC, zinc and brass alloy hardware, polyester or nylon thread, and cotton or synthetic fabric lining. This paper will examine how these materials and others are involved in each step of the bag’s life cycle from acquisition, manufacturing, distribution, maintenance, and eventual recycling or waste management.  

One of the main materials used to create the Coach Tabby bags is leather. The process of creating leather is quite extensive and requires a large amount of energy. The production of leather begins with obtaining the raw hides from cattle. The cattle are usually slaughtered for meat and then their hides are removed shortly after to reduce any sort of rotting before being produced. It is important to consider the environmental impacts that occur when raising said livestock. These include significant water consumption for both the animals and the feeding crops, deforestation to create land suitable for grazing, and methane emissions from cattle. In order to make sure their leather is being sourced ethically; Coach has partnered up with the Other Half Processing. This company recognizes the benefits of regenerative farming practices and works with farmers and ranchers to ensure ethical practices are used to raise and slaughter cattle. These efforts aim to ensure that all parts of the animals are being used and that the farming techniques utilized are environmentally friendly. Once the hides have been removed, they must be transported to tanneries where they will turn into leather. To prevent any sort of decay or rotting during transport, the hides are cured either through a salting or drying process to remove any excess moisture. The next step is the tanning process. Before this process occurs, the hide needs to be treated again and these range from adding moisture back into the hides, removing any sort of hair or fur from the surface, and removing any leftover flesh or fat. The tanning process is what turns the raw hides into leather. The traditional tanning method is done through the use of various chemicals like chromium salts and water. These methods are effective in creating good quality leather however, they do have many environmental drawbacks like the contamination of water sources with the various chemicals and toxins used, high water usage, and air pollution (He). In an effort to reduce these impacts, Coach has partnered up with The Leather Working Group to ensure safe practices are used during this process as well as more transparency when it comes to leather supply chains. Furthermore, Coach has slowly adopted the use of vegetable tanning, in which natural tannins are extracted from a variety of plant sources like leaves, tree bark, and fruits to reduce the amount of toxins used and discarded. By using vegetables for tanning, the leather would become biodegradable (Sathish). After the tanning process, the leather is dried until it reaches the perfect moisture content needed to prepare. It is then conditioned to ensure the leather won’t crack and is pliable. The final steps in the process include dying, various surface treatments, and quality control to ensure it meets the high standards that Coach is known for. The ethics of leather sourcing is a complex issue that involves multiple factors like animal well-being and environmental impacts. Coach has made efforts to make sure that their leather is sourced responsibly by partnering up with groups like Tapestry, Inc., The Savory Institute, and the Land to Market program. 

Although the original Coach Tabby Bag is made mostly out of leather, Coach has also come out with a Coach Jelly Tabby Bag that is made up of bio-attributed PVC also known as Polyvinyl Chloride. Coach’s aim with this bag was to create a more innovative and eco-conscious version of their timeless design. The use of bio-attributed PVC demonstrates Coach’s commitment to reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and incorporating more sustainable materials in their items. The production of bio-attributed PVC involves a combination of various renewable biomass like plant materials and agricultural waste as well as other raw materials that are derived from fossil fuels. The plant materials are first turned into ethylene which is a key component of PVC. The ethylene is then turned into vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) which goes through a polymerization to form a sort of PVC resin (Amobonye). After the PVC resin is created, other chemicals are mixed in to create large sheets that are cut into the shapes necessary to craft the bag. A mass balance system has been put in place to keep track of how much of the PVC is bio-based. Coach states on their website that their Jelly Tabby are made up of about 55% bio-attributed PVC, however, they disclaim that there is no way to know the exact amount of bio-attributed content in each bag. Regardless, it is clear that Coach is making efforts to utilize innovative practices to reduce the amount of fossil fuels that go into making their products.

The interior of the Coach Tabby Bag is just as important as the exterior when it comes to creating a premium and long lasting product. In the past, polyester, which is a fiber made of plastic, was the main material used to create the interior lining. However, in order to move towards more sustainable practices and products as of Spring 2023 Coach has transitioned to creating linings made up of both cotton and other synthetic fibers. Cotton is a plant-based fiber that comes from the cotton plant. Cotton requires intensive agricultural practices like the significant use of water and pesticides. Coach is making efforts to ensure their cotton is ethically sourced through various partnerships. Synthetic fibers are usually extracted from petrochemicals which are chemical byproducts from crude oil and natural gas (Lackner). To move away from the use of fossil fuels, Coach has started to adopt the use of recycled synthetic fabrics. After the raw materials are acquired, the fibers must be spun into yarn and then woven together to create the inner lining fabric.

When it comes to creating the thread used to sew the various linings and different parts of the bag together, Coach has started to switch over from polyester or nylon thread to recycled cotton and polyester. The source of these recycled yarns is used plastic bottles that have been cleaned, shredded, and melted to form new fibers. Not only is this more environmentally friendly but the production process utilized to create this yarn is less energy-intensive than the process used to create new polyester (Rasel). This again, demonstrates Coach’s shift to eco-conscious practices and products. 

The final component of the Coach Tabby is the hardware used to create the clasps, zipper, buckles, and other metal components of the bags. The primary raw materials to make this hardware are brass which is an alloy of copper and zinc as well as zinc alloy. One of the key benefits of using metals like brass and zinc ensures that the hardware will be long-lasting. 

These raw materials are acquired through various mining practices that have significant environmental impacts. Once the raw materials are obtained, they go through a smelting process to create the alloys and once they are created the metals are heated, melted, shaped, and cast for the desired shapes and hardware. This process is very energy intensive, and it is not clear if Coach has made efforts in this area to reduce their carbon footprint.

After the raw materials are acquired and the bags are manufactured, the next step is distribution and transportation. Most Coach bags are manufactured in China which means that are transported through ships and planes. Coach has also emulated the same ideas of sustainability when it comes to packaging and shipping practices. The packaging Coach now uses is made up of 75% recycled content. This promotes the use of existing materials to be reused rather than utilizing fossil fuels to create new packaging. Another benefit of using recycled materials is that the packing itself is also 100% recyclable which reduces the waste that goes into landfills (Radhakrishnan). This cycle ensures that packing is being reused rather than filling up landfills. By prioritizing the use of recyclable materials in the packaging aspects as well as the product itself, it is clear that Coach is making active strides in reducing their carbon footprint and ecological impact.

In an effort to move towards more sustainable practices, Coach has also created innovative initiatives to reduce and minimize waste when it comes to the recycling and maintenance of their bags. Coach’s Upwoven Leather Collection is a program that utilizes the various scraps that are left over after bags have been produced to create other new products. The upcycling of these scraps decreases the amount of waste that goes into landfills and since the leather has already been produced there is less energy used in the manufacturing processes of these bags.

Another program that Coach has introduced to minimize waste is the Coach (Re)Loved Program. Customers can now return old and worn-out Coach bags to be refurbished, recycled, or resold to extend the life span of the product and keep them out of landfills. By utilizing these programs Coach once again highlights the brand's shift towards more sustainable practices and promotes a circular economy model that reduces overconsumption by making products that are sustainably made and long-lasting.

In conclusion, the life cycle of the Coach Tabby Bag highlights the various practices Coach is implementing to ensure that their products are long-lasting and are created in a responsible and sustainable way. Each step of the cycle showcases the efforts Coach has made to reduce the amount of energy used to create their products. These practices have not affected the high quality of Coach products, which shows that sustainability in the fashion industry is possible and hopefully, more companies implement these practices moving forward.

Bibliography

Ayodeji Emmanuel Amobonye, et al. “Biodegradability of Polyvinyl Chloride.” Elsevier EBooks, Elsevier BV, Jan. 2023, pp. 201–20, https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-89858-4.00017-8.

‌He, Qiang, et al. “Biodegradability of Tannin-Containing Wastewater from Leather Industry.” Biodegradation, vol. 18, no. 4, Springer Science+Business Media, Nov. 2006, pp. 465–72, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-006-9079-1.

‌Lackner, Maximilian, et al. “What Are ‘Bioplastics’? Defining Renewability, Biosynthesis, Biodegradability, and Biocompatibility.” Polymers, vol. 15, no. 24, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, Dec. 2023, pp. 4695–95, https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15244695. 

‌Murali Sathish, et al. “Leather Solid Waste: An Eco-Benign Raw Material for Leather Chemical Preparation – a Circular Economy Example.” Waste Management, vol. 87, Elsevier BV, Mar. 2019, pp. 357–67, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.02.026. Accessed 3 May 2024. 

Navarro, Diego, et al. “Life Cycle Assessment and Leather Production.” Journal of Leather Science and Engineering/Journal of Leather Science and Engineering, vol. 2, no. 1, Springer Nature, Nov. 2020, https://doi.org/10.1186/s42825-020-00035-y.

‌Radhakrishnan, Shanthi. “Environmental Implications of Reuse and Recycling of Packaging.” Environmental Footprints and Eco-Design of Products and Processes, Springer Nature, Nov. 2015, pp. 165–92, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-913-4_7.

Rasel, Shamsuzzaman, and Joy Sarkar. "Manufacturing of fabric by recycling plastic bottles: an ecological approach Part 2: manufacturing Process." J. Toxicol. Risk Assess (2019).

REGENERATIVE GRAZING for CLIMATE, ECOSYSTEM, and HUMAN HEALTH. savory.global/wpcontent/uploads/2022/11/Regenerative_Grazing_for_Climate_Ecosystem_and_Human_Health.pdf.

Stavroulakis, Paul, et al. “Machinable Leaded and Eco-Friendly Brass Alloys for High Performance Manufacturing Processes: A Critical Review.” Metals, vol. 12, no. 2, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, Jan. 2022, pp. 246–46, https://doi.org/10.3390/met12020246.

Ye, Liping, et al. “Life Cycle Assessment of Polyvinyl Chloride Production and Its Recyclability in China.” Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 142, Elsevier BV, Jan. 2017, pp. 2965–72, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.10.171. Accessed 3 May 2024.

‌

 Ryan Song

Katie Chen, Umaima Hamid

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

Embodied Energy in Coach Bags: A Detailed Analysis

The high fashion brand, Coach, has built its empire around bags. Currently, the general public views Coach Bags to be a luxurious item that most would want in their closet. The quality, material, service, and visuals that come with these bags are what make it so desirable. Coach Bags provide a clean and rich look, and the quality of the material is on par with the quality of its design. Other than its quality, Coach Bags are a sought-after item because of their widespread influence through advertisements. Coach Bags are seen everywhere, from your TV, phone, and billboards, you might even see someone with a bag sitting right next to you. Although immensely popular, not many people are aware of the amount of energy that is used to create and distribute these bags. The process of creating Coach bags, from its harvesting of materials, manufacturing the bag, distribution of products, and managing the waste requires a significant amount of energy, resources, and time in order to keep their commitment to keeping their product eco-friendly.

The main material for Coach bags is recycled leather. The complicated process of creating the bag itself starts with finding recycled leather. There are multiple methods of acquiring recycled leather. Scavenging leather from previous bags, furniture, clothes, and shoes is one way, but with the large-scale demand that Coach has, a better method would be to gather trashed leather scraps that are already heading to a landfill [5]. After transporting the tons of leather scraps to the Leather Working Group’s factories, it is then shredded into tiny trimmings. Transporting tons of materials through ground transportation uses a significant amount of horsepower. According to International Used Truck Centers, one semi truck’s horsepower ranges from “400 to 600 hp” an hour [6]. Although Coach has not publicly disclosed the exact number of trucks in use, it is fair to assume they have a considerable amount of vehicles that are active throughout most hours of the day. With the average large industrial shredder using up to 300 kWh [7] the shredding process adds a tremendous amount of energy to the already high energy cost of the transportation process. After securing the leather and distributing it to Coach’s manufacturing companies, the use of human labor and electrical hardware comes into play. 

Turning the leather scraps into a functional Coach bag involves a series of complicated steps. Coach strives to only use 100% recycled materials in their bags including leather to keep the process as eco-friendly as possible [4]. To create recycled leather or bonded leather, the scraps are “mixed with a binder, pressed onto a fabric backing and dried, then it is dyed and finished with a coating of wax and shellac [3]. Large industrial mixers use around 5-8 kWh, but the extent of power consumption extends far more than its average range. According to a study on the energy usage of high-shear mixers, it was stated that power requirements can fluctuate depending on the size of the mixer and its operational demands [9]. Considering leather is a tough and durable material, it is safe to assume that the power used in specifically just shredding exceeds far more than 5-8 kWh. After creating the bonded leather, it is then cut, stitched, and has hardware installed. Assembling the bag uses both human labor and electrical power. Coach doesn’t publicly state what kind of machinery they use to cut their leather, however, Coach would most likely use CNC machines and laser cutters. Industrial-sized CNC machines typically use up to 11 kWh while smaller desktop laser cutters for finer details use around 40 watts. Industrial-sized stitching machines take up around 0.1-1 kWh which is fairly tame, but the quantity of stitching machines that are active during factory hours ramps the energy usage exponentially higher. Human labor comes from workers who operate machinery and those who hand cut or stitch the finer details and hardware onto the bag. After final inspections to ensure the quality of the bag, these products are then sent and distributed to retail stores, warehouses, and third-party shipping companies. 

Coach’s fast online shipping combined with their copious amount of physical stores located all around the world raises the concerning question, how much energy is Coach using to deliver their bags? When looking on their website, Coach states that their online orders will be delivered around 1-7 days when ordered domestically and 7-15 days when ordered internationally [8]. The steps for shipping products are warehousing, transporting, and finally delivering. Warehousing is the process of maintaining products by ensuring it stays at the right temperature, checking that there is constant lighting, and operating equipment such as forklifts to move products in and out of the building.  Warehouses consume around 6.1 kWh per square foot, which is a staggering amount of energy when considering how large Coach warehouses must be to store all of their products [1]. Once an order is processed online, it is then packaged and ready to be transported to delivery hubs. As mentioned before, trucks have 400-600 HP [6] and consume on average a gallon for every 6 miles, while planes take around 2-5 times more fuel per mile compared to trucks. Considering the fact that every gallon of diesel fuel used is equal to 33.7 kWh of energy, the transportation process is incredibly costly in terms of energy consumption. When the products get transported, it is then delivered in smaller vehicles to distribute them to the respective customers. Delivery trucks take around 400-500 HP and consume a gallon around every 12-25.5 miles. 

Once the product is delivered, there is no energy needed for the customer to start using the bag. Other than the process of carrying the bag around, the wearer has no need to add any more embodied energy. However, maintaining the bag may cost energy because of Coach’s lifetime warranty on leather repairs. It may cost some fuel to drive a vehicle to a retail store in order to repair damages to the bag. An average car in the year 2024 can go 24.4 miles per gallon, the energy expended for repairs depends on the distance between the customer and a retail store [10]. The process of repairing the bag may cost some energy depending on how severe the damages are. Most leather repair tools don’t require electricity, and the energy used to repair Coach bags is mostly going to consist of human labor. One average human expends around 1.2 hp. 

If the customer happens to throw the bag away, the process of gathering materials and manufacturing can restart. The bag would eventually head to the landfill where it will turn into scraps for Coach or other companies to create recycled leather products once again. However, if the scraps happen to not be used by other companies, they may just sit in a landfill and would take many years to decompose. Another process is incineration where the recycled leather is burned and turned into energy. An industrial incinerator consumes around 550 kWh per ton of waste [2]. Although an incinerator may consume a large amount of energy, its purpose of burning waste creates more net amount of energy allowing the entire process to be energy efficient. 

The energy consumption throughout the lifetime of manufacturing, distributing, using, and recycling a Coach bag is taxing, to say the least. To ensure quality products and fast services, Coach has invested a great deal of money, effort, and energy into their primary movers. However, the amount of energy being constantly consumed raises some red flags on the harmful effects it may have on the environment. Unfortunately, Coach is only one of the many corporations that follow the same processes and consume an equal or more amount of net energy. 

Luckily, there are a variety of ways to start becoming more energy efficient. For the distribution system, corporations could start investing in electric trucks and vehicles.  Other methods could include designated lights off hours in warehouses or opting for longer shipping times to reduce the use of cargo planes for deliveries. 

Overall, the energy consumption from a luxury brand such as Coach should be worrying. In order to conserve as much energy as possible, more attention and effort are needed to find more alternatives for transportation. Coach seems to give their best when it comes to customer service, perhaps they should try doing the same with energy conservation. 

Work Cited

[1] “25+ Warehouse Energy Consumption Statistics - Meteor Space.” Meteor Space - Warehousing & Order Fulfillment Services in Ireland & Europe: Meteor Space, 15 Mar. 2023, www.meteorspace.com/25-warehouse-energy-consumption-statistics-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=An%20average%20non%2Drefrigerated%20warehouse,per%20square%20foot%20each%20year.

[2] “Energy Recovery from the Combustion of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/smm/energy-recovery-combustion-municipal-solid-waste-msw. Accessed 3 June 2024.

[3] “Everything You Need to Know about Bonded Leather.” Vintage Leather Sydney, Vintage Leather Sydney, 7 Sept. 2022, www.vintageleather.store/blogs/vintage-leather-sydney/what-is-bonded-leather#:~:text=Making%20bonded%20leather%20starts%20with,finish%20such%20as%20a%20shellac.

[4] Glicksman, Michelle. “The Sustainable Side of Coach.” City Lifestyle, citylifestyle.com/articles/the-sustainable-side-of-coach. Accessed 3 June 2024.

[5] “How It Works.” Recyc Leather, recycleather.com/pages/how-it-works. Accessed 3 June 2024.

[6] “How Much Horsepower Does a Semi-Truck Have?” International Used Trucks Center, www.internationalusedtrucks.com/how-much-horsepower-does-a-semi-truck-have. Accessed 4 June 2024.

[7] Shan. “Industrial Shredding & Crushing Solution Provider for Dispose of Solid Waste.” GEP ECOTECH, www.gepecotech.com/. Accessed 3 June 2024.

[8] “Shipping Details & Fees.” COACH, www.coach.com/support/shipping-details. Accessed 3 June 2024.

[9] Vipin Michael  vipin.michael@manchester.ac.uk  Umair Ahmed  Mahmoud Assad  Robert Prosser  Adam Kowalski  School of Engineering, et al. “Flow Characterisation and Power Consumption in an Inline High Shear Rotor-Stator Mixer Using CFD.” Ar5iv, ar5iv.labs.arxiv.org/html/2305.16738. Accessed 3 June 2024. 

[10] “Maps and Data - Average Fuel Economy by Major Vehicle Category.” Alternative Fuels Data Center: Maps and Data - Average Fuel Economy by Major Vehicle Category, afdc.energy.gov/data/10310. Accessed 4 June 2024. 

Katie Chen

Ryan Song, Umaima Hamid

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

Waste Management of the Coach Tabby Bag

Coach has become synonymous with luxury, with their bags serving as an icon for those seeking a fashionable and functional accessory.  What sets Coach bags apart from competitors is the high-quality material used to craft each one of their styles—most notably the Coach Tabby which features a rounded silhouette and a turn-lock closure decorated with the Coach signature.  The brand is transparent about their sustainability measures and openly shares their partnerships with organizations working toward a more circular and environmentally responsible production process. Despite the generation of various waste products such as leather scraps, gas emissions, and packaging materials, Coach stands out among luxury brands for reusing and recycling their materials in an attempt to minimize its environmental footprint through more sustainable practices.  

The acquisition of raw materials for Coach Tabby Bags involves a multifaceted approach to sustainability.  Coach regionalizes the sourcing of their materials, reducing transportation needs and consequently lowering carbon emissions.  The brand partners with the Leather Working Group and Textile Exchange to promote and practice responsible leather production, promising that they are committed to using at least 90% gold and silver rated tannery leather by 2025 (“Sustainability Sustainable Materials | COACH®”).  Through its parent company, Tapestry Inc., the Leather Working Group engages in supporting regenerative agricultural practices and commits to a deforestation-free approach by confirming that none of the raw materials used by the Leather Working Group tanneries were sourced from the Amazon Rainforest which continues to face significant deforestation challenges (“Coach Sustainability Report”).  Additionally, to minimize the use of leather for physical samples of their products, Coach employs 3D technology in their product design, development, and approval process.  Despite these commendable efforts in reducing waste for sourcing materials, the manufacturing process of Coach Tabby Bags still generates significant waste, highlighting the ongoing environmental impact of luxury fashion production.

During the manufacturing and production process of Coach Tabby Bags, a primary amount of their waste comes from the burning of fossil fuels and the emission of carbon dioxide used in tanning the leather.  The transparency provided by the Leather Working Group allows the public to scrutinize the process of which their leather is made, including the various chemicals used.  Tanning, a chemical process that stabilizes the hide thermically, mechanically, chemically, and microbiologically, is central to leather production (“Modern Cow Leather Processing”).  Although tanning chemicals can be non-toxic when properly handled, the overall process in tanneries produces substantial waste.  Tanneries are the leather processing units that comprise chemical and mechanical processes alongside waste treatment.  The different stages of leather-making, rawhide, tanning, crust, finishing, require significant energy to power mixers and other equipment, leading to considerable gas emissions.  The tanning process involves a variety of chemicals, resulting in chemical waste and air pollutants.  Depending on the color, size, and finish to the Tabby bags, additional chemicals, pigments, oils, and waxes are applied, further contributing to chemical waste.  The leather is then dried and may undergo more rounds of the finishing processes, each adding to the cumulative waste produced.  Coach collaborates with independent manufacturers in Asia who handcraft their bags ensuring production only in safe and responsible facilities (“Coach Sustainability Report”).  By adhering to international human rights, labor practices, and workplace safety standards, Coach reduces the reliance on machinery for bag assembly.  This approach not only upholds ethical labor standards but also significantly decreases fossil fuel pollution and waste generated from machinery use, highlighting Coach’s commitment to minimizing environmental footprint through responsible manufacturing practices.  Even with these conscientious efforts in production, the distribution and transportation of the finished product introduces another layer of environmental challenges.

Coach is committed to using recycled and recyclable materials in their packaging to distribute their products (“Coach Packaging”).  In collaboration with Tapestry Inc., Coach plays a role in their use of 73% recycled content in their packaging, actively encouraging customers to reuse and recycle these materials (“The Fabric of Change”).  However, carbon emissions remain an inevitable aspect in transporting goods and products.  From their factories in Asia, Coach Tabby Bags travel worldwide, whether to retail stores or directly to customers’ homes.  Gas emissions will come from planes to boats to trains, to loading trucks, to delivery trucks.  The transportation process involved multiple stages, including planes, boats, trains, loading trucks, and delivery vehicles, each contributing to significant gas emissions.  While the specific transportation methods used by Coach are not fully disclosed, it is evident that carbon dioxide emissions run the international transportation industry. 

Coach Tabby Bags, renowned for their timeless fashionable and functional design, require no additional energy or waste during use. Handcrafted from high-quality leather sourced and produced by the Leather Working Group, these bags are built to last for decades.  This durability is evident by the presence of vintage Coach bags still in use today, often recycled to create new Coach products.  The long lifespan of the Coach Tabby Bag significantly reduces leather waste and minimizes the gas emissions associated with the breakdown of materials. Furthermore, Coach offers a repair service done by hand to address any fixable issues, ensuring prolonged and more sustainable use of the product.  This commitment to longevity and maintenance is a testimony to Coach’s dedication to reducing waste throughout the lifecycle of their bags. 

If the owner decides to part ways with their Coach Tabby Bag, Coach offers a circular ecosystem called Coach (Re)Loved, where they refurbish, reimagine, and recycle pre-loved and damaged Coach products (“Sustainability Coach Reloved | COACH®”).  Purchasing a Coach (Re)Loved bag reduces a product’s carbon footprint by 76%.  Bags can be exchanged through Coach, where they will recycle eligible bags in exchange for credit.  Coach provides this service as part of their commitment to addressing the issue of more than 85% of unwanted clothes and bags ending up in landfill for extended periods.  Bags in typically good condition are eligible for exchange in Coach (Re)Loved, allowing the brand’s designers and craftspeople to “give their products a second life” through. The circular ecosystem comprises four branches: Upcrafted, Remade, Restored and Vintage.  In Upcrafted, Coach’s designers express their creativity using exchanged bags.  In Remade, designers deconstruct damaged goods to create entirely different and unique pieces.  In Restored and Vintage, expert craftspeople rejuvenate products, restoring them to their original beauty.  Through these branches, Coach designers and craftspeople recycle products by hand, minimizing waste and expanding the lifecycle of materials and products.

If a Coach Tabby Bag does not qualify for Coach (Re)Loved, it faces the possibility of being sent to a landfill or an incinerator.  Coach claims that scraps from the manufacturing and recycling processes are eventually reused, but bags that are discarded by customers may undergo incineration.  When leather products are burned, pollutants such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are released.  This process emits harmful chemicals and massive amounts of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.  Additionally, the incineration process requires energy sourced from fossil fuels, further contributing to the carbon footprint.  

The life cycle of the Coach Tabby Bag highlights the brand’s effort to manage and minimize waste, yet it also reveals the ongoing environmental challenges associated with luxury fashion.  Coach’s initiatives which include working with the Leather Working Group and Tapestry Inc. to be transparent about their environmental footprint demonstrate a clear commitment to reducing waste.  Despite these efforts, the manufacturing and transportation of the Coach Tabby Bag still generates a substantial amount of waste including chemical by-products and carbon emissions.  However, the brand’s emphasis of recycling and reusing reduces the frequency of disposal.  Through their program—Coach (Re)Loved—Coach is able to contribute to cutting down waste and extending the lifespan of their products.  On another note, the bag may ultimately face the risk of being either put in a landfill or incinerated, leading to the release of harmful pollutants into the environment.

While Coach remains one of the top most proactive luxury brands when it comes to recycling and reusing their materials, the complete elimination of waste is an ongoing challenge.  Nonetheless, the brand’s efforts to address these issues set a standard for the rest of the luxury industry to be more responsible in production and waste management practices. 

Works Cited

“Coach Packaging.” Coach, https://www.coach.com/content/sustainability-packaging. Accessed 5 June 2024.

“Coach Sustainability Report.” Tapestry Inc., https://tapestry.gcs-web.com/static-files/9d28703b-278a-4b35-aabc-ee0303e7c66a. Accessed 5 June 2024.

“Environmental Impact.” Leather Working Group, https://www.leatherworkinggroup.com/our-impact/environmental-impact/. Accessed 5 June 2024.

“The Fabric of Change.” Tapestry Inc., https://assets.tapestry.com/tapestrycorp/assets/docs/2024/Tapestry_Annual_Corporate_Responsiblity_Report_FY2023.pdf. Accessed 5 June 2024.

Hakansson, Emma. “What is the Leather Working Group certification, and does it make for sustainable and ethical leather? — Collective Fashion Justice.” Collective Fashion Justice, 16 February 2022, https://www.collectivefashionjustice.org/articles/what-is-the-leather-working-group-certification-and-does-it-make-for-sustainable-and-ethical-leather. Accessed 5 June 2024.

“Leather.” Textile Exchange, https://textileexchange.org/leather/. Accessed 5 June 2024.

“Modern Cow Leather Processing.” Leather Working Group, https://www.leatherworkinggroup.com/fileadmin/uploads/lwg/LN_Guide_to_Modern_Leather_Making__Concise.pdf. Accessed 5 June 2024.

“Sustainability Coach Reloved | COACH®.” Coach, https://www.coach.com/content/sustainability-coach-reloved. Accessed 5 June 2024.

“Sustainability Sustainable Materials | COACH®.” Coach, https://www.coach.com/content/sustainability-sustainable-materials. Accessed 5 June 2024.

“TAPESTRY, INC. AND COACH SUPPORT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE MOVEMENT THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH SAVORY INSTITUTE.” Wikipedia, https://assets.coach.com/na/Press_Release.pdf. Accessed 5 June 2024.