June 10, 2021: British luxury brand, Burberry, has announced its pledge to become Climate Positive by 2040, which goes further than the company’s current 2040 net-zero target. To achieve this, Burberry will shake up its own value chain, guided by climate science.
Some of the goals drafted by Burberry include accelerating the process to reduce emissions across its extended supply chain, aiming to reduce them by 46% (from a previous target of 30%) by 2030; becoming Net-Zero by 2040, 10 years ahead of the 1.5°C pathway set out in the Paris Agreement; and accelerating low-carbon future solutions and investing in nature-based projects with carbon benefits that restore and protect natural ecosystems and enhance the livelihoods of global communities through the Burberry Regeneration Fund.
“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,” said Marco Gobbetti, Chief Executive Officer at Burberry.
Apart from hauling up its own operations and processes, Burberry will also invest in initiatives that support the world’s efforts to create a resilient, zero carbon future. The brand promises to invest in programmes that protect and restore natural ecosystems that remove carbon from the atmosphere; and fund climate resilience projects that empower vulnerable, frontline communities to adapt to changing realities and protect livelihoods.
These investments will be sponsored by the Burberry Regeneration Fund, which was established in 2020, to support a portfolio of verified carbon offsetting and insetting projects. For its inaugural insetting project, Burberry is partnering with PUR Projet to implement a regenerative agricultural programme with wool producers in Australia. The project works at farm level to improve carbon capture in soils, strengthen watershed and soil health and promote biodiverse habitats.
In addition, Burberry announces its support for the Fashion Avengers, a coalition of global fashion organisations that have come together to inspire action towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this, Burberry is supporting the Forest for Change, a UN Global Goals installation created by British designer Es Devlin for the 2021 London Design Biennale. From June 1-27, 2021, the courtyard of Somerset House in London has been transformed into a forest, inviting visitors to discover the 17 UN Global Goals.
