Today, Burberry announces its pledge to become Climate Positive by 2040, setting a new industry standard that goes further than the company’s current 2040 net-zero target. To achieve this, Burberry will take action within its own value chain, guided by climate science. This includes:
[1] Scope 3 emissions
[2] The Paris Agreement’s goal is to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5 °C, compared to pre-industrial levels. Burberry is already on its way to meeting its scope 1 and 2 reductions targets (95% by 2022 from a 2016 base year) in line with the 1.5°C pathway
Burberry will also invest in initiatives beyond its value chain that support the world’s efforts to create a resilient, zero carbon future. This includes:
The Burberry Regeneration Fund was established in 2020 to support a portfolio of verified carbon offsetting and insetting projects, which enable Burberry to compensate and store carbon, promote biodiversity, facilitate the restoration of ecosystems and support the livelihoods of local communities. 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.
Burberry’s new climate ambition builds on the company’s heritage of exploration and long-standing environmental and social programmes. On its journey to become Climate Positive, Burberry will also continue to advocate for changemakers and support programmes transforming the fashion industry, in partnership with NGOs, peers and policymakers.
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 1 - 27 June 2021, the courtyard of Somerset House in London will be transformed into a forest, inviting visitors to discover the 17 UN Global Goals.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Burberry’s climate change initiatives
Burberry’s contribution to the UN SDGs
Burberry’s ESG work is aligned to the Paris Climate Agreement and informed by the United Nations SDGs. It is dedicated to reducing its environmental footprint and enabling social progress. Recognising the power of working collaboratively to drive real change, Burberry often works with its peers, sector experts and NGOs to achieve these goals. Some of Burberry’s contributions towards the SDGs are here.
About Forest for Change
From 1 - 27 June 2021, the courtyard of Somerset House will be transformed into a forest, as part of London Design Biennale. Forest for Change – The Global Goals Pavilion, invites visitors to discover the 17 UN Global Goals.
The Forest is created from 400 juvenile trees, individually selected for their differing canopy shapes, heights and form. Species have been selected with the aim of ensuring future resilience to the changing London environment, and the trees will be donated to and replanted in London boroughs after they have graced the Somerset House courtyard, creating a living durable legacy. At the heart of the Forest, seventeen mirrored pillars will bring the Goals to life as the world’s To Do List for people and planet. As part of this experience, visitors will be invited to record a short message expressing the change they wish to see in the world. This will be instantly added to a participatory music installation composed by Robert M Thomas and will become part of ‘Voices for Change’, a Google Arts & Culture Lab collaboration bringing together the voices and passions of people from across the world in an interactive online experience for the Goals.
A powerful collective message for change, Forest for Change was designed by leading international artist and designer, and Artistic Director of the Biennale, Es Devlin, in collaboration with Landscape Designer Philip Jaffa and Urban Greening Specialists Scotscape, and presented in partnership with Project Everyone.