Burberry adds two new emissions targets to sustainability strategy

The first target focuses on emissions from the company’s direct
operations – including electricity and gas consumption at stores, offices,
internal manufacturing and distribution sites – and is consistent with the
Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5
degrees Celsius. The second target relates to indirect emissions in its
extended supply chain, including the impact from the sourcing of raw
materials and manufacturing of finished goods.

These newly announced goals expand on Burberry’s current target of
becoming carbon neutral in its operational energy use by 2022, which it has
already achieved across the Americas region, EMEIA retail stores and its UK
operations.

The company said it is also on track to achieve its RE100 commitment to
go 100 percent renewable, with 58 percent of its total energy (including 68
percent of its electricity) currently obtained from renewable sources.
During 2018/19, Burberry achieved a 43 percent reduction in market-based
emissions compared to its 2016/17 base year.

“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,” Pam Batty, Burberry’s VP corporate
responsibility, said in a statement. “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.”

Cynthia Cummis, director of private sector climate mitigation at World
Resources Institute (WRI), one of the Science Based Targets initiative
partners, added: “The fashion industry’s environmental impact is
significant and growing. Burberry’s ambitious science-based target
demonstrates the leadership and innovation needed to succeed in a
zero-carbon world. To prevent catastrophic climate change, it’s important
that all major apparel and footwear brands set science-based targets and
pursue comprehensive strategies to decarbonize their businesses.”