‘Nature-Based Solutions’: Burberry Promises To Slash Emissions By 46% By 2030 & Be Climate Positive By 2040

Luxury fashion house Burberry has pledged to become climate positive by 2040 and aims to do so by slashing its emissions across its extended supply chain by 46% by 2030, with the brand promising to invest in initiatives that support taking action on climate change.

British-based Burberry announced its new commitment to becoming climate positive by 2040 and has shown support for the Fashion Avengers, a coalition of global fashion organizations that have come together to achieve the U.N. SDGs by taking action across their supply chains.

The globally popular brand says it plant to reduce its carbon emissions by 46% (from a previous target of 30%) by 2030, thus aligning its science-based targets with Swiss carbon finance consultancy South Pole’s recommendations, in order to meet the 1.5°C route set out in the Paris Agreement. In addition, Burberry says it will by becoming net-zero by 2040, it would have achieved the goals listed in the Agreement 10 years ahead of time.

The company is looking to advance low-carbon future solutions and invest in nature-based projects that have carbon benefits in an effort to protect natural ecosystems and better the livelihoods of people through its Burberry Regeneration Fund that supports several verified carbon offsetting and insetting projects. For its inaugural insetting project, the fashion house joined forces with PUR Projet to execute a regenerative agricultural program with wool producers in Australia.

Read: ‘Recognize Nature As An Asset’: Landmark Report Highlights Economic Importance Of Planet

Burberry will further invest in initiatives like programs that capture carbon from the atmosphere, climate resilience projects to help frontline communities adapt to the effects of climate change and advocate for a change in the fashion industry.

In a press release seen by Green Queen, chief executive officer at Burberry, Marco Gobbetti said: “Burberry was built upon a desire to explore nature and the great outdoors and they have remained our inspiration for more than 150 years. Drawing on this heritage of exploration and driven by our creative spirit, today, we are setting a bold new ambition: to become climate positive by 2040. As a company, we are united by our passion for being a force for good in the world. By strengthening our commitment to sustainability, we are going further in helping protect our planet for generations to come.”

By having its shows and presentations certified carbon neutral, it has brought down its emissions by 92%  and by switching 93% of its electricity to renewables, it is set to become carbon neutral across its own footprint by 2022 and run 100% of its operations on renewables.

Burberry was built upon a desire to explore nature and the great outdoors and they have remained our inspiration for more than 150 years. Drawing on this heritage of exploration and driven by our creative spirit, today, we are setting a bold new ambition: to become climate positive by 2040

Marco Gobbetti, chief executive officer at Burberry

As part of its support of Fashion Avengers, it is helping Forest for Change, a U.N. Global Goals installation developed by British designer Es Devlin for the 2021 London Design Biennale, which involves transforming the courtyard of Somerset House in London into a forest with visitors having the opportunity to explore the 17 U.N. Global Goals until June 27.

Furthermore, it has launched a program with the Apparel Impact Institute to help Italian manufacturers make the fashion industry in Italy sustainable and in September of last year, it was the first luxury brand to issue a sustainability bond.

With 8 in 10 consumers demanding climate action and social justice from companies, several brands have pledged to become climate positive like the owner of the largest share of IKEA stores – Ingka Group that has committed to increasing its sustainability investments by €600 million (US$712 million) over 1 year to become climate positive by 2030 and membership-based online retailer Thrive Market which sells organic products aims to be the “world’s first climate-positive grocery store” by 2025.

Lead image courtesy of Brand Pilots.