When it comes to promoting a sustainable natural ecosystem, companies can’t think about the future without prioritizing the present.
With that in mind, Polartec, a Milliken & Company brand and the premium creator of innovative and more sustainable textile solutions, unveils its multifaceted “Beyond Begins Today” campaign—the first of several short films. The shorts in the first three chapters feature Eva Karlsson (CEO, Houdini), Chris Parkes (Natural World Photographer), and Karen Beattie (director of product management, Polartec) exploring and discussing the intrinsic value of our natural world.
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This global initiative shines a light on universal themes of sustainability, diversity and positive change, with the aim to unite viewers into understanding how individuals, as well as companies, can be a part of the mission and make a difference. “Beyond Begins Today” will leverage static and multimedia content published on multiple touchpoints and channels throughout the year.
Chapter 1: the Planet, is the first of three chapters, with the second and third chapters dedicated to Product and People, respectively. The underlying premise that the future is what we make it; extending to the fundamental belief that if we change behaviors, we can change the narrative. For our Planet. For our People. For our Products. Chapter 2 will launch end of July, with Chapter 3 coming out this December.
Polartec has always been an early adopter around sustainability and environmental causes, and the fiber company has upcycled 2 billion plastic bottles into sustainable fleece since 1993. More recently, it has committed to be net zero, or carbon neutral, by 2050.
“Our journey may have begun by creating the world’s first fleece made from recycled plastic water bottles, [but] it didn’t end there,” said Karen Beattie, director of product management, Polartec. “By accepting that yesterday’s achievements are the benchmark for tomorrow’s innovations, we can push harder and go further to safeguard our planet. At Polartec, prioritizing environmental responsibility and contributing to a more sustainable future through innovative textiles and technologies brings us one step closer to leaving the world a better place than how we found it.”
Beyond Begins Today looks at how Polartec fabrics are made to last and meant to be used and enjoyed from one generation to the next and beyond. It explores innovative monomaterials, repurposed plastic and the plant-based nylon membranes that Polartec uses to set new standards for high performance fabrics. Also included are the ambitious climate-related objectives across the entire value chain that exceed existing mandates. This holistic strategy allows Polartec to stay at the forefront of its industry by producing top-notch textiles that champion environmental stewardship and pave the way for a more sustainable tomorrow.
On the Chapter 1 short film, Eva Karlsson, CEO Houdini Sportswear, weighs in from the brand perspective, with the urgency to create a more circular system. “With human ingenuity, we can turn things around. We can design the chemistry, we can move from linear to circular practices, where we don’t extract resources all the time in the natural world, but rather circulate the ones that we already have,” she said.
Photographer Chris Parks asks viewers to think about what photography means to nature, noting photography is a way of unpacking the complexity and putting it in front of people how much nature’s receded from their lives.
“[Photography has] opened a doorway into a world I’d never seen before, whether that world was somewhere overseas, or a microscopic world that I wasn’t able to see in front of me,” he said. “In my work, there wasn’t a single part of the planet where humans have not had a negative impact, and what I want people to understand is what’s available. No matter where you sit in the world, is that companies are making sustainable choices for you in the first place.”
“Beyond Begins Today” is the outgrowth of an earlier campaign titled “Made to Go Beyond.” Created in 2023, that positioning statement represented the evolution of the brand and formed a base for Polartec’s future communications; resonating with changing consumer preferences and market trends.
“There is no overnight solution. There is no finish line. It’s why we say beyond begins today,” continued Beatty. “Because going beyond means recognizing that we aren’t perfect. Yesterday’s achievements become the benchmark for today’s innovations.”
