Are you curious about the sustainability efforts being made by big fashion brands? We investigated the high-profile fashion labels’ audacious sustainability commitments. With a focus on acquiring raw materials from sustainable sources, the majority of big fashion businesses aspire to significantly reduce their Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and achieve net zero emissions throughout their whole value chain by 2050. The focus will also be on sourcing electricity from renewable sources and championing water recycling, ensuring no harmful chemicals are discharged from their wet processing units. Here’s a glimpse into the sustainability strategies of some of the industry-leading brands:
1. H&M
100% sustainable materials by 2030
The H&M group is actively working to achieve its goal that by 2030, all the
group’s brands will use only recycled or sustainably sourced materials in their collections – a goal that reflects the vision of a circular fashion industry.
H&M also announced plans to become climate-positive throughout its entire value chain by 2040. This entails a complete transition to renewable electricity and a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the brand targets a 25 per cent decrease in plastic packaging by 2025 and aims to make all its packaging from recycled or sustainable materials by 2030. Regarding chemical management, H&M pledges that all its supplier factories will adhere to the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) by 2030.
2. Adidas
Climate-neutral by 2050
By 2050, the German sportswear brand has committed to a series of aggressive targets in its journey toward achieving climate neutrality across its entire value chain. Adidas aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per product by 15 per cent by 2025 compared to 2017 levels. Simultaneously, the company plans to attain climate neutrality in its own operations. Part of its sustainability drive includes the expanded implementation of Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) efforts. By 2025, Adidas aims to establish a comprehensive system to identify and manage high-risk human rights issues throughout its value chain.
Adidas is also striving to make nine out of ten articles sustainable by 2025, defining articles as sustainable when they show environmental benefits versus conventional articles due to the materials used, meaning they are – to a significant degree – made with environmentally preferred materials. Additionally, Adidas targets a 15 per cent reduction in GHG emissions per product by 2025.
| 2025 Adidas aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per product by 15 per cent by 2025 compared to 2017 levels. |
3. Nike
To donate, refurbish or recycle 10X more used or defective products by 2025
The American sportswear company has set a 2025 goal to donate, refurbish or recycle 10X more used or defective products than it does now. To achieve this, the brand claims it’s making easier for people to return their used products back to them. Active in stores throughout the USA and Europe, it is scaling Reuse-A-Shoe to stores in Greater China and re-energising its operations. The Reuse-A-Shoe program collects old, worn-out athletic shoes for recycling and transforms them into Nike Grind, a material used in creating athletic and playground surfaces as well as select Nike products.
The brand is also hosting upcycling workshops and providing relevant content like the Nike Circular Design Guide to consumers, besides repair and care videos to extend the life of products. Recently, Nike rolled out Nike Refurbished in select North America stores.
Currently, 78 per cent of all Nike, Jordan and Converse products contain some recycled material. The brand says it’s working to increase that number because adjusting materials, which are about 70 per cent of its total carbon footprint, is one of its biggest opportunities to reduce impact.
4. M&S
To achieve net-zero across its entire value chain by 2040
The British multinational retailer has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 55 per cent compared to its new baseline (financial year 2016-17), which recorded 5.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e). Additionally, it has set a goal to slash emissions by 34 per cent by 2025. By 2035, the aim is for net-zero in its operations, eliminating carbon emissions from stores, offices, warehouses and its logistics network. Moreover, the company plans to achieve net-zero emissions throughout its entire value chain by 2040. The brand’s sustainability efforts also include sourcing 100 per cent verified recycled polyester by 2025-26, doubling the sales of vegan and vegetarian products by 2024-25 and ensuring that 100 per cent of packaging is recyclable by 2025-26, with plans to remove one billion units of plastic packaging by 2027-28.
| 2030 By 2030, Gap aims to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Scope 1 and 2 by 90 per cent compared to a baseline set in 2017 |
5. Zalando
To source 100 per cent of renewable electricity by 2025
Zalando, a European online retailer, pledges to cut its Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 per cent by 2025 as compared to the base year of 2017. Scope 1 emissions are directly the responsibility of businesses, but Scope 2 emissions are the outcome of the energy that businesses buy and use. Zalando pledges to source 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025, up from 34 per cent in 2017. It commits to reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions from private label products by 40 percent per million euros gross profit by 2025 from a 2018 base year. Finally, to have a positive impact on the entire value chain, 90 percent of Zalando’s partners, including fashion brands, packaging and last-mile-delivery partners, will implement science-based targets by 2025.
6. Uniqlo
Aiming to cut 90 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from its stores and offices by 2030
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Fast Retailing Company, Uniqlo commits to reduce absolute GHG emissions from its own operations such as stores and main offices by 90 per cent by fiscal 2030 from a fiscal 2019 base year; and absolute GHG emissions from raw materials, fabric and garment production by 20 per cent over the same time frame. The brand also commits to achieving 100 per cent sourcing of renewable electricity by fiscal 2030. These targets, the company claims, were approved by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as science-based targets (SBTs) and are in line with the level of decarbonisation required to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. Uniqlo will further extend its efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
7. GAP
To become carbon-neutral and water-positive by 2050
US specialty clothing retailer Gap Inc., which had a revenue of US $ 14.83 billion in the twelve months ending on 28th December 2023, has pledged to become carbon-neutral and water- positive by 2050, remove single-use plastics from its supply chain and promote a circular economy. The business also claims that it is on course to achieve its target of sourcing all renewable energy for globally owned and operated facilities by 2030. The brand also aims to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Scope 1 and 2 by 90 per cent and Scope 3 GHG emissions from acquired goods and services by 30 per cent by 2030 compared to a baseline set in 2017.
8. Zara
To source 40 per cent of its fibres from conventional recycling
Inditex, the parent company of Zara, has planned to source 40 per cent of the group’s fibres from conventional recycling and 25 per cent from sustainably farmed crops. By 2025, its aim is to have 100 per cent linen and polyester sourced from preferred sources, along with a 25 per cent reduction in water consumption across its supply chain. Looking ahead to 2030, Zara claims it’s dedicated to protecting, restoring and regenerating biodiversity across 5 million hectares and reducing emissions by over 50 per cent throughout its product lifecycle. Moreover, the brand’s goal is to solely use textile raw materials known as preferred fibres by 2030, which have a lower environmental impact. By 2040, Inditex aims to achieve net-zero emissions by reducing its carbon footprint by at least 90 per cent compared to 2018.
| 2035 M&S targets net-zero emissions by 2035, removing carbon footprint from all operations. |
9. PVH Corp
All cotton, viscose and wool to come from sustainable sources by 2025
PVH Corporation, previously known as Phillips-van Heusen Corporation, is the owner of several well-known brands, including Warner’s, Calvin Klein, Olga, Tommy Hilfiger and True & Co. The corporation has set forth ambitious sustainability objectives to be achieved by 2030.
Its goals include a 30 per cent reduction in Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions and the complete transition of all offices, distribution centres and retail sites to 100 per cent renewable energy. PVH says that it’s committed to ensuring that every product aligns with the circular economy, integrating sustainability from design through usage and until the end of the product’s lifecycle.
By 2030, the corporation aims for all polyester and by 2025, all cotton, viscose and wool used in its products will come from sustainable sources. Additionally, PVH plans to establish five CAPS (Community Agriculture and Purification Systems) projects in the most water-stressed sourcing communities by 2025. Furthermore, by 2025, the water discharged from its wet processing units will be free from hazardous chemicals and purified to eliminate any harmful microfibres.
10. American Eagle
To recycle 70 per cent of total water used in denim laundries by 2025
Pittsburgh-based apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters plans to recycle 70 per cent of total water used in denim laundries by 2025 and reduce its water footprint by 30 per cent by 2028 across its operations, factories and mills. Additionally, it is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and has set ambitious targets to reduce virgin plastic by 50 per cent and its total plastic footprint by 30 per cent by 2028. Moreover, its aim is to source sustainable materials for 75 per cent of all fibres by 2028. AEO is also a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and the Better Cotton Initiative.
