A Day In the Life of Forever New's Sustainability Specialist

Ever wondered what it's like to work at Forever New Head Office? Here, we get an inside look at our talented Sustainability Specialist, Anna Olsen’s day. Join her as she takes you behind the scenes.

Today is a ‘work from the office day’ for me, so I’m driving in. I like to practice what I preach so I’ve invested in an electric car, which I’m loving. Most days I’ll listen to a podcast while I’m in the car, something sustainability themed or if I want something fun, I like pop culture or celebrity news.  

The first thing I do is jump into my inbox and look through my emails. I also use this time to look at my calendar and prepare myself for the day. I have a bit on today so I’m thinking I’ll grab another coffee.

I pop down to the café and grab a soy cap. I bump into a work friend and stop for a chat. We’re so lucky having a café right downstairs, it’s so convenient.

Next up is a meeting to talk more about our Responsible Fibres and Wash and Care Guide. I’m very passionate about having information and tips on our website, accessible for customers to learn more. Here, I’m taking a few colleagues through how our viscose is processed and sourced, and what makes it a more responsible option.

Next on the list is researching responsible packaging options. This is an ongoing project that I have been working on and something that will always be a focus in our business. In 2022, we joined with Australian Packaging Convenant Organisation or APCO, a not-for-profit leading the way for a more sustainable approach to packaging in Australia. Moving over to more responsible packaging options is an integral part of our strategy.

I love taking a break from the screen and sitting in the nearby park. Eating lunch and catching up with my work friends gives me a much-needed energy boost for the afternoon.

One of the more fun parts of my job; getting to talk fabrics with our Buying departments. It’s important I understand what fabrics Buying wants to work with and what is trending, so then I can ensure we are sourcing more responsible alternatives in line with our Conscious strategy.

Luckily, I have some time this afternoon to read up on current news in the sustainability space. As a global brand, it’s important that we stay up to date with everything that’s going on in the industry. It’s one of my favourite things about working in sustainability within fashion; it’s such a new space, it’s always changing and so, you’re constantly learning. I love growing with the industry and upskilling along the way.

Time to log off. The day flew past. I pack up my bag and say goodbye to the team. I can’t wait to get home and walk my rescue dog, Douglas. He’s the best. Thanks for coming behind the scenes with me. Bye everyone!

Learn more about Anna and her journey into the sustainability space.

What is the best thing about working in this role, and what is the best thing about this industry as a whole?

My role is so collaborative, I get to work with every department and no day is the same. It’s also a rewarding job, that’s a big part of it; you get to work on projects that you know will make a difference, whether it’s big or small.

In terms of sustainability as a whole, I love how exciting and innovative it is; the landscape is everchanging and you have to be agile to keep up with it. It’s amazing to see all the cool, new innovations being made in the fashion industry with more sustainable options, whether that’s fabrics, packaging, or manufacturing technologies.

How did you get into this type of work? 

I’ve always worked in fashion, and I have a Masters of Sustainability and Environment. So, following this career path has always seemed natural for me. I started at Forever New almost 5 years ago in the Buying department. I took an interest in the sustainability space and started helping out in that part of the business and eventually, I started doing that work full time. I’ve been so lucky to be able to do something I love, and progress in this role that I’ve made my own.

Can you share some of your favourite moments in your role? Any special achievements that you were particularly proud of? 

It’s been a journey, one with challenges and successes, and reflecting on it, I’m very proud of what we’ve done so far and excited to see how our strategy develops as the space changes.

As for a specific moment, I think achieving our responsible fibre target of 80% across our garments was a big one. We set ourselves a pretty ambitious target, we wanted to get there in two years and we met the target in just under that timeframe. It’s such a testament to the team, we all worked together and achieved a great result.

I think looking at the bigger picture, I’m proud of just being part of this change within the business; being able to share knowledge and educate different teams on more responsible processes and options has been so rewarding. We’ve been able to achieve so much together in the last few years, which you can read about on the website – we’ve actually just completed our 2023 Achievements wrap up!

What is your go-to work outfit? 

Comfort is key for me. But I also want to look chic and ‘put together’. When I shop, I try to pick pieces made with more responsible fibres, which is quite easy to do when you shop with Forever New, so I tend to wear a lot of the brand, especially at work.

I like pairing a button-down with denim or a vegan leather pant if I want something a bit different. I’m looking forward to our trans-seasonal pieces, some great responsible fibres are coming through in our autumn and winter ranges.

What is a great way to start becoming more Conscious in terms of your wardrobe?

Thinking more about how to extend the lifespan of your clothing is a great place to start. Learning to care for your clothing so it stays in your wardrobe for longer is a great one. Doing a clothes swap with friends or hiring a stall at the local markets to resell is a fantastic way to say goodbye to your garments in a more responsible way. I think it’s important to make small but meaningful changes, things you can do in your everyday life. If you want to learn more, I’d recommend checking out our Wash and Care Guide, we have plenty of helpful tips listed there.