Not too long ago, Burberry got extreme backlash for incinerating over $38 million worth of goods to control its supply and maintain luxury status. Seemingly, Burberry took a hint. Now, it plans not only to be a successful luxury brand but an eco-friendly one too.

Burberry Announces Targets

Burberry’s carbon and energy data. Source: Burberry 2018/2019 Annual Report

Burberry starts with announcing targets for its emissions from direct operations. There, it hopes to reduce carbon emissions by 95% by 2022 (with respect to a 2016 baseline).

But beyond its direct operations, the company hopes to also reduce emissions caused by operations in other parts of its complex supply chain, albeit on a smaller scale. Here, it hopes to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030, also with respect to the 2016 baseline.

According to company PR, these targets would allow Burberry to operate with standards consistent with the Paris Agreement as far as greenhouse gas emissions.

Lastly, Burberry announced that it hopes to eventually operate entirely on renewable energy. No target date was specified for this particular goal.

From Burberry’s VP of Corporate Responsibility

Pam Batty, Burberry’s VP of Corporate Responsibility echoed the company’s increased commitment to environmental sustainability. She shared, “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 target of becoming carbon neutral in our own operational energy use by 2022.”

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 target of becoming carbon neutral in our own operational energy use by 2022. See Also Business DuPont, Formerly The Largest Chemical Company, Announces Nine New Sustainability Goals Burberry’s VP of Corporate Responsibility echoed the company’s new sustainability targets.

A bold commitment by the company. To achieve it though, the company will need help from all of its partners.

Conclusions

As the fashion industry’s environmental impact continues to grow, Burberry’s commitment to reducing emissions and moving towards renewable energy is a step in the right direction.

It joins other high-end brands like Patagonia, for instance, which donated all of its Trump-era tax breaks to green groups. The question is, though: will Burberry be able to truly deliver on its lofty goals?