Mega department stores may not be the first thing you think of when you think “green”, but slowly even mass retailers have begun to jump on the green trend. Take Macy’s for example; the company has decided to make itself a greener, more sustainable retailer by making some changes to it’s department stores in order to be more eco-friendly while reducing their carbon footprint.

Step one: they’re getting rid of those clear, petroleum-based plastic hangers you’re used to seeing in the majority of department stores and replacing them with matte black hangers made of recycled materials. That’s a whopping 300 million hangers they will transition out!

Step two: Replacing more than 130,000 regular lightbulbs with more efficient and energy saving LED lights and solar panel power systems.

Macy’s is also eliminating all foam packaging in stores and will start asking credit card members to switch to electronic invoicing. They are currently in the process of trying to add electric vehicle charging stations to parking lots across the country.

Many of these changes have already been made and  some are still in the works. The next time you question shopping at a big retailer think about the major developments the green movement has made in shaping our world towards a more sustainable and responsible place to live. Read more about sustainability and Macy’s Five Point Action plan to make their stores a greener place to shop.