By shifting towards a circular ecosystem we can address some of the biggest challenges facing our planet at this time such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
Our circular approach
For decades our industry has operated in a linear way – taking, making and wasting. At H&M Group, we’re committed to shifting to a circular system that uses resources responsibly. There is still a long way to go – for the entire industry – and we recognise the need for change at a system level. Our approach is aligned with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s (EMF) definition of a circular economy, which focuses on three key principles:
- Eliminate waste and pollution
- Circulate products and materials at their highest value
- Regenerate nature
For the fashion industry, this means products should be designed to be used more, made to be made again, and made from safe and recycled or renewable inputs.
A circular ecosystem
Our circular approach focuses on three interconnected areas that cover our products and services, supply chain, and non-commercial goods, such as packaging and store interiors, offices and distribution centres.
Circular products:
Creating products that are made to last from safe, recycled, regenerative or other more sustainably sourced materials, that can circulate multiple times.
Circular supply chains:
Building scalable systems that circulate products and materials for repair, reuse and recycling and uses lower impact production processes— such as dyeing, printing, finishing.
Circular customer journeys:
Providing convenient ways to engage in circular fashion where products are used more before being repaired, reused and recycled.
Grounded in science
We funded a report to look at how circularity could help the fashion industry operate in a way that keeps our planet within safe limits. Stockholm Resilience Centre worked with EMF on the research that resulted in a list of six targets for a sustainable textile industry. We will use these targets to guide our goal setting and plans, as well as sharing the findings with the wider fashion industry.
Putting people at the centre of circular fashion
We know a lot about the environmental impact of a circular fashion industry, but we have lots to learn about the impact on people, including understanding what it means for jobs across the fashion value chain.
In 2021, we worked with several partners on Keeping Workers in the Loop. This report looked at the impact on employment of moving to a circular fashion system and recommended how to create a just, fair and inclusive fashion industry. Since it was launched, we have worked with the report’s key learnings to build our knowledge and to define how we can secure fair and equal circular jobs across our value chain.
We publish our Sustainability Disclosure annually. In this document, we set out our goals and the progress we’ve made in the previous year. Find the latest version here. More up to date information can be included on this page.
