H&M at Climate Conference in Paris
Climate change is one of the major challenges of our time. As a leading fashion retailer H&M wants to be a positive player in climate change, ensuring climate is kept on safe levels around the world for communities and environment. This demands important investments and collaborations. H&M supports the COP21 process and will be present in Paris with expertise from the sustainability department.
H&M has committed to run its operations on 100 percent renewable energy in all countries where it is credibly possible to purchase. H&M is a member of RE100, an organization only open to companies committing to 100 percent renewable energy. This commitment means that H&M has significantly reduced its greenhouse gas emissions compared to last year alongside a positive growth of its business.
As signatory of the Earth Statement H&M supports that countries and industries decarbonize their operations ensuring a 2 degree Celsius limit to safeguard ecosystems. This is done through collaboration, commitments and investments in environmental friendly technologies.
H&M is one of the first companies in the world to start setting goals on the value chain according to planetary boundaries, i.e. what scientists say the planet demands in order to stay within a safe temperature.
"We are committed to provide our customers with fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way. This includes how we operate in our own operation, our value chain and communities around the globe where we have a presence. Our commitment to 100 percent renewable energy and our work to influence policy makers to a carbon free future are two examples how H&M contributes to a safe climate generations to come", says Anna Gedda, Head of Sustainability at H&M.
H&M’s goal to solely use cotton coming from more sustainable sources (organic cotton, recycled cotton and Better cotton) by 2020 at the latest means tremendous improvements to its climate related impact. So does H&M’s garment collecting program which enables customers to return all their unwanted textiles, making them a part of the solution. By doing this H&M works for closing the textile loop in order not to use any raw material. These are just a few examples of how H&M makes sure the value chain is aligned with planetary boundaries.
Read more about the annual Conference of the Parties (COP), this year hosted by France: http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en