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About WWF / H&M Group Partnership Results / CLIMATE

WWF & H&M Group: 10 year Result report [2021]

Taking climate Action together

The WWF and H&M Group partnership started to focus on climate issues in 2016. Climate is a prioritized area due to the high amount of negative impacts the fashion industry is responsible for. In 2017, H&M Group went public with a new climate strategy and renewed its ambitious commitments in 2022 to reaching net-zero by 2040. Since its inception, the partnership has focused on implementing and scaling up various initiatives in order to achieve the targets.

In 2016, WWF supported H&M Group in the development of its new climate strategy and encouraged the company to set ambitious and long-term climate goals; targets that would reach out beyond the company itself, to suppliers, consumers and peers in the industry.

In 2017, H&M announced its bold goal of reaching climate positive, now referred to as net-zero in the value chain by 2040. This target includes reducing emissions across the value chain by 56% by 2030.

The partnership has a strong and immediate focus on the supply chain, as this is where around 70 percent of H&M Group’s total emissions occur. This has started with addressing emissions from the production of garments and other H&M products, and will be followed by raw material sourcing. Examples of partnership work are projects to encourage suppliers to invest in cleantech and renewable energy. If successful, these models can be scaled and replicated to suppliers and companies in other regions.

H&M Group’s ambition is to demonstrate clear climate leadership including achieving net-zero by 2040. Collaboration and innovation are key to achieve net-zero. Our strategic partnerships such as the long-lasting one with WWF will help us meet our climate goals and we are a proud member of the WWF Climate Savers program amongst others.

David Dahl, Head of Climate and nature H&M Group

milestones and results

2017: H&M Group announced its new climate strategy, focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate resilience.

2017: H&M Group enrolled in the WWF’s global Climate Savers programme

2022: Ambitious goal set by H&M Group to reduce emissions across their value chain by 56% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2040.

2017/2018: Policy push in Brussels with the aim to encourage the European Parliament to vote for more renewable energy, more energy efficiency and a climate neutral EU by 2050 at the latest. The final outcome was more ambitious than experts initially had forecasted.

2018: H&M Group’s climate goals approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. This means, climate targets are in line with decarbonization levels required to keep global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial temperatures.

2018-2019: A partnership programme in Cambodia, SCALE, aimed to develop sustainable biomass solutions for the Cambodian textile sector while contributing to preserving biodiversity. The project gave birth to a tool to help track illegal deforestation (planned launch in 2022).

2019 – ongoing: ”We are one roof” project examined rooftop solar potential with H&M Group suppliers. The project ran in Bangladesh and is currently active in Vietnam.

2020 – ongoing: The partnership established clean tech programs for textile industry suppliers in India. Focus is on renewable energy and on energy efficiency.

2022: Together with other companies, WWF and H&M Group launched the Beyond-Net-Zero Guidance, outlining an ambitious pathway which detailed actions and examples to guide companies towards and beyond net-zero.

Why WWF and H&M Group partnered on climate

The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges of today. It is of outmost importance that we all – nations, societies and the private sector – act to limit global warming to no more than 2.0 °C and preferably no more than 1.5 °C.

The fashion industry emits large amounts of greenhouse gases, mainly due to the large use of fossil fuels in fashion value chains. Studies estimate that textile production is responsible for more emissions than international flights and maritime shipping combined. For WWF, addressing climate issues in the fashion industry is therefore highly prioritized and an area where a player of the scale and size of H&M Group can make a difference.

Beyond-Net-Zero-Definition

A group of companies including H&M Group have together with WWF been developing the Beyond-Net-Zero-Guidance. It offers companies support to implement ambitious climate strategies and actions to limit global warming to 1.5°C. This includes halving emissions by 2030 and achieving a net-zero by 2050 at the latest. However, companies need to go beyond reductions and emissions to restore our climate. This includes financing and supporting additional climate and nature solutions, engaging actively in climate policy, collaborating with other companies and stakeholders, and enabling customers.

THE H&M GROUP CLIMATE STRATEGY …

follows a four-step action framework to minimize their negative impact and maximize their positive contribution.

Measure & Disclose: To transparently track impact and progress across the value chain.
Reduce: To reduce emissions by 56% by 2030 and achieve Net-Zero by 2040.
Remove & Protect: Remove and store any unavoidable emissions to reach net-zero, and help protect existing carbon sinks.
Advocate: To push the climate agenda both within H&M Group’s industry and at a global level by advocating and engaging with policy makers.

For more detailed information please see: https://hmgroup.com/sustainability/circular-and-climate-positive/climate/

Many companies need sharper EU frameworks to reach their corporate climate goals and to deliver on the Paris Agreement. The private sector has an important role in emphasizing this to us politicians, both on national and international levels.

Ibrahim Baylan, Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation in Sweden

STORIES FROM THE PARTNERSHIP

SBTi trainings to H&M Suppliers and other Textile companies

Together with H&M, WWF has carried out Science Based Target initiative ( SBTi ) trainings to H&M suppliers as well as other textile companies that WWF works with in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh on how to set science-based targets.

INDIA: A cleantech programme to engage suppliers

If H&M Group is to reach its climate positive target, it is essential to engage the supply chain; suppliers account for around two thirds of the company’s greenhouse gas emissions. Looking for scalable and effective ways to reduce supplier emissions, the partnership set up a cleantech programme in India. If successful, the project will be replicated to other countries.

CAMBODIA & MYANMAR: A strategy for renewable energy investments

Renewable energy (RE), such as solar and wind, has a vital role to play in decarbonizing energy systems. In 2021, WWF and H&M Group set up a partnership project with the aim to increase renewable energy use in H&M Group’s supply chain in Asia.

INTERVIEW: Kim Hellström, Climate and Water Lead, H&M Group

Why does H&M Group focus on carbon law?

If the world is to deliver on the Paris agreement, we need to halve emissions before 2030, then halve again in ten years and reach net zero by 2050 at the latest. H&M Groups’ ambition is to align our targets with science and to be one step ahead, as our goal is to reach climate positive by 2040.

EU: A climate policy push

In 2017 and 2018, WWF, H&M Group and IKEA jointly pushed for stronger climate policies in the EU. Efforts were successful and showed that organizations stand stronger together.

VIETNAM: Exploring the potential to scale solar pv among suppliers

This partnership project gave us more knowledge on the potential for RE in Vietnam related to the H&M supply chain and providing some education and guidance to supplier factories in sourcing solar PV.

INTERVIEW: Milan Kooijman, climate expert, WWF

Why should companies set science based targets (SBTi)?

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is becoming the corporate standard for target-setting. It is currently the only credible way of assessing whether a company’s climate ambitions are in line with science. Any serious business should therefore set targets and have these validated by the SBTi, preferably aiming for the highest possible ambition level.

WHEN Our Planet GETS WARMER

The science is clear, the world needs to reach maximum 1.5 degrees of global heating. Every half a degree matters, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report.

Acting on sustainability makes good business sense. Generally, companies that have set bold targets have not only surpassed these targets, but have done so profitably and innovatively. The longer your company waits with taking action, the harder and more costly it will become to address the risks.

Milan Kooijman, Climate Business Expert, WWF