Sustainable efforts start from the inside out. At FASHIONPHILE, it starts with Nora.
Meet Nora Cummings, FASHIONPHILE’s Head of Impact, and the inspiring engine leading many of the sustainable initiatives and development at FASHIONPHILE. With the invaluable knowledge she has accumulated, she is eager to share some insights from her journey. But beyond her personal gains that may inspire you, Nora is proud of the advancements she is advocating to improve all aspects of FASHIONPHILE’s ESG goals from the inside out. Read on to learn more about Nora and some of the things she is working on to help advance our impact not just for the better, but for the best.
What are you working towards to help FASHIONPHILE achieve its goals?
I am always actively seeking opportunities to direct and advance FASHIONPHILE in all aspects of the business, but particularly its sustainability initiatives. My main motivation is to go from “good” to “better” with the ultimate goal of becoming the best at what we do.
Sustainably speaking, this means addressing areas of improvement in every step of the business. From deciding what kinds of lights to use for our internal operations to sourcing recyclable materials for our annual calendar and our packaging. All these choices may seem small at first, but when you look at the bigger picture, they greatly impact our progress and future sustainability goals.
Creating a healthy and sustainable foundation for FASHIONPHILE is my purpose. As the leader in ultra-luxury resale, it is important for FASHIONPHILE to stay transparent and be held accountable. I like asking the hard questions. When I feel the pressure, I know I am heading in the right direction. It is truly my passion to do everything I can to help establish and support a healthy foundation that can sustain itself now and for years to come.
Why is this important to you?
We feel a duty as a leader in circular fashion to do what we can to make the industry more sustainable. Personally, this is my passion and my calling. This is a constant effort with no end in sight. The concept, the conversations, the industry advancements are all constantly changing enabling us to become better. Recently I’ve begun studying the gold-tier standards of the GRI, and I continue to work towards educating myself from these rigorous courses. I couldn’t feel more ready to set FASHIONPHILE up for success.
What have you helped FASHIONPHILE accomplish so far?
I have gone through a learning journey that has invigorated my passion. While applying that knowledge, I have been dedicated to guiding FASHIONPHILE and our company structure through a corporate governance strategy with the goal of using business as a force for good.
Since October 2021, FASHIONPHILE has been working through the B corp assessment. It has been a very rewarding process for all involved. And this is just the beginning! This process has shined a light on some blind spots for us, and we are already a better company for it.
Another step I am very proud of is going solar. Our teams are brilliant and inspire me so much. They have worked hard to make this happen. It was kind of a hassle to figure things like parking during the install but it was well worth it. The solar on the roof of our FASHIONPHILE Global Headquarters has generated over 140,000 kWh of electricity, and is on track to produce well over 200,000 kWh before the end of this year!
