British fashion house Burberry is the first luxury fashion brand and one of the first companies in the world to have its net-zero emissions target approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
This endorsement demonstrates that Burberry’s targets to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 are based on the latest climate science and respond to the urgent need to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius provided for in the Paris Agreement.
Burberry’s net zero target is underpinned by a number of commitments in Scopes 1, 2 and 3. Scopes 1 and 2 include emissions generated by Burberry’s own operations, such as electricity and gas in stores, manufacturing facilities and offices. Scope 3 relates to emissions in Burberry’s extended supply chain, such as energy consumption from manufacturing and material sourcing partners.
“The Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative plays a critical role in ensuring that the targets companies set are consistent with the latest climate science and help combat the climate emergency,” commented Caroline Laurie, VP of Corporate Responsibility at Burberry, in a statement.
TGH reduction by 95 percent
The company has a short-term commitment to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 95 percent by 2023 compared to base year 2017 and absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 46.2 percent by 2030 compared to base year 2019.
Long-term, it commits to reducing absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by at least 95 percent from 2023 to 2040 compared to the 2017 base year and to reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to the 2019 base year.
“Anchoring our commitments to science has always been a priority at Burberry so we can ensure the steps we take have the impact needed and create lasting change. We continue to rise to the challenge of driving measurement, improvement and transparency across our operations, and we are committed to continuing to work with our suppliers and partners to accelerate the adoption of more sustainable practices. We hope this encourages others to do the same,” added Laurie.
“Climate science tells us that we need rapid and deep emissions cuts if we are to reach global net-zero and prevent the most damaging impacts of climate change. Burberry’s net-zero targets reflect the urgency of the climate crisis and are a clear example for other companies to follow,” confirms SBTi CEO Luiz Amaral.
Burberry’s net-zero emissions goal builds on the brand’s long-standing commitment to reducing its direct and indirect environmental impact and positively impacting the lives of people around the world. Burberry is currently carbon neutral in its own operations worldwide; all of the electricity it uses comes from renewable sources, and nearly every product the brand makes has a social or environmental benefit. Over the past five years, Burberry’s philanthropic programs have positively impacted more than a million people.