Burberry partners with UN to tackle climate change

At COP24 in Katowice, Poland, Burberry announced its partnership with Un
Climate Change to launch Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Change. The
company said that this charter aims to drive change across the fashion
industry with an initial goal of reducing aggregate greenhouse gas
emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

Issues that will be addressed by
signatories include reducing carbon impacts at production stage,
selecting climate friendly and sustainable materials, exploring circular
business models, improving consumer dialogue and awareness and working with
policymakers to catalyse scalable solutions.

Commenting on the initiative, Marco Gobbetti, Burberry’s Chief Executive
Officer, said in a statement: “While we have committed to becoming carbon
neutral in our own operations, achieving a 30 percent reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions across the entire global fashion industry by 2030
will require innovation and collaboration. By working together with other
signatories of the Charter, we believe that we can achieve systemic change
and build a more sustainable future.”

Last year, Burberry announced its plans to become carbon neutral in its
own operations by 2022. In support of the global effort to address the
threat of climate change set out by The Paris Agreement, Burberry committed
to improve energy efficiency, reduce absolute consumption and switch to
renewable energy sources, while offsetting any remaining emissions and the
company added that it is more than a third of the way to achieving this
goal. In 2017/18, almost 50 percent of Burberry’s total energy was procured
from renewable sources, an increase of 24 percent from the year before and
the company also achieved a 20 percent reduction in market-based CO2e
emissions and a 4 percent reduction in global, absolute energy
consumption.

“The fashion industry is always two steps ahead when it comes to
defining world culture, so I am pleased to see it now also leading the way
in terms of climate action. I congratulate the signatories of this
important charter, which represents a unique commitment and collaboration
from an array of fashion leaders,” added Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate
Change Executive Secretary.

The company further said that with an in-house team of sustainability
experts delivering the company’s Energy & Water Reduction Programme,
modelled on the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Clean by Design
principles, Burberry also helps its supply chain partners cut their energy
and water consumption.

Picture:Facebook/Burberry