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2.1 BILLION TONNES OF CO2
According to the Fashion on Climate study published in 2020, the fashion industry is responsible for 2.1 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions – every year! This corresponds to 4% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, which make a significant contribution towards global heating. Looking after the climate is therefore our responsibility. Realistically, it is not possible to produce clothing without utilising resources and causing emissions. However, to reduce our negative impact on the climate to the greatest possible extent, we have set out a range of reduction and offsetting measures in our sustainability strategy.
TARGET: CLIMATE-NEUTRAL BY 2025
We have been working with ClimatePartner since 2020. ClimatePartner helps businesses to achieve climate neutrality. It does this on the basis of five pillars: the corporate carbon footprint, product carbon footprint, climate protection strategy, carbon offsetting by means of climate protection projects, and transparent communication concerning the whole process. ClimatePartner calculates the carbon emissions generated by Marc O’Polo and is helping us to gradually reduce and offset these throughout the supply chain with the aim of being climate-neutral by 2025. The results of our partnership are based on the GHG Protocol – an international series of standards for corporate greenhouse gas accounting.
CALCULATE. REDUCE. OFFSET.
As we work towards climate neutrality by 2025, we are pursuing a three-pronged strategy of calculating, reducing and offsetting emissions. It is important to note the order in which we go about this. First, we ascertain all our emissions data with the help of ClimatePartner, then we come up with a plan of how and where we can eliminate emissions entirely, and where reductions can be made. This applies to both our products and their supply chain and to the rest of the company, such as staff travel or electricity consumption at our stores. Only the remaining, unavoidable emissions are offset via climate protection projects such as reforestation.
PRODUCT EXAMPLE: MASTERS OF LINEN®
In the spring/summer 2022 season, we were able to offer a climate-neutral collection of linen – certified as Masters of Linen® – for the first time. The linen was made from European Flax® fibres grown in western Europe without artificial irrigation, free from GMO, and with comparatively little use of fertilisers and pesticides. This makes them naturally lower-emission fibres. The products’ whole value chain was based in Europe – from the field to the finished garment – leading to short transport distances. With average emissions of 2.9 kg CO2, products from this collection had a lower environmental impact than a conventional cotton T-shirt, which has an average footprint of 3.7 to 10.75 kg CO2*. All of the remaining emissions were offset via a climate protection project.
* IKW (2019); Systain (2009)