New science-based target guidelines offer clarity for apparel brands

LONDON – Luxury brand Burberry and German sports brand Puma have both announced ambitious goals for cutting GHG emissions in their owned and operated facilities. The announcements coincide with new Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) guidelines which provide clarity on measuring and reducing value chain emissions in the apparel and footwear sector. The SBTi, which defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting, is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). With a science-based target, a company ensures it reduces GHG emissions sufficiently to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

Sports company Puma said it aims for a 35 per cent reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The business has committed to reduce emissions from owned and operated facilities, as well as its energy needs (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) by 35 per cent by 2030 compared to 2017. The company also aims to reduce Scope 3 emissions, coming from purchased goods and services, by 60 per cent per €m in sales between 2017 and 2030.

“Recent scientific reports have highlighted the need for urgent action, as global warming is happening at a faster pace than previously anticipated,” said Stefan Seidel, PUMA’s head of corporate sustainability. “That is why PUMA wants to be a part of the solution by setting a bold path towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

“We know that the fashion industry has a significant impact on the environment, but rapid growth in global apparel and footwear production shows no signs of slowing,” added Cynthia Cummis, director of private sector climate mitigation at World Resources Institute (WRI), one of the SBTi partners. “We need more companies in the industry to follow Puma’s lead and pursue comprehensive strategies to decarbonize and do their part to prevent catastrophic climate change.”

Meanwhile, building on the environmental targets already included in its sustainability strategy to 2022, Burberry has set two new climate goals approved by the SBTi. These are to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 95 per cent by 2022 from a 2016 base year; and to reduce absolute scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions 30 per cent by 2030 from a 2016 base year

The scope 1 and 2 target focus on emissions from direct operations (including electricity and gas consumption at our stores, offices, internal manufacturing and distribution sites), while the scope 3 target relates to indirect emissions in extended supply chains (which includes the impact from the sourcing of raw materials and manufacturing of finished goods).

Pam Batty, Burberry’s VP corporate responsibility, said: “At Burberry, we are passionate about building a more sustainable future and setting these new targets in line with the latest climate science is an important milestone for us. For the first time, we are setting targets for greenhouse gas emissions that apply to our extended supply chain, which is a significant addition to our already ambitious target of becoming carbon neutral in our own operational energy use by 2022. Changing the system requires collaboration, and we will be working closely with our supply chain partners to take the action needed to stay on track and achieve our goals.”