PVH announces scientifically-approved greenhouse gas reduction targets

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Dec 10, 2019

As fashion’s largest companies continue to work to fight climate change, PVH Corp.—the owner of brands like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Speedo—has announced new, scientifically-backed greenhouse gas reduction targets. 

The company’s absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets were approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, a collaboration between CDP, World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), which champions science-based target setting as a way of boosting companies’ competitive advantage in the transition to the low-carbon economy.

The approved GHG targets include goals to have all PVH offices, warehouses and stores powered by 100% renewable electricity by 2030, which will reduce emissions for the company’s Scope 1 and 2 GHG footprints by 71%; and to drive a 30% reduction in its global supply chain (Scope 3) emissions by 2030.

The new goals come as part of PVH’s 'Forward Fashion' strategy launched earlier this year. The strategy aims for milestones including business operations to generate zero waste, zero carbon emissions and zero hazardous chemicals, and to produce circular products, among other commitments.

In addition, the company’s green efforts align with the Paris Agreement’s decarbonization goal of 1.5 degrees celsius.

“This validation of our Science Based Targets reflects the science- and data-based underpinnings of PVH’s Forward Fashion strategy and our goal of driving fashion forward – for good,” said PVH Chairman and CEO, Emanuel Chirico.

“A critical aspect of our ambitions is helping combat climate change, and we are focused on cutting greenhouse gas emissions and driving renewable energy procurement in ways that will generate tangible and scalable change. We are working towards these goals as an individual organization, as well as with our peers and partners.” 

In order to reach these targets, the company said it has been engaging with the most energy intensive facilities in its supply chain to set targets and reduce GHG footprints, developing products with lower environmental impacts, promoting energy efficiency through mill improvement programs, collaborating with suppliers to drive renewable energy transitions and supporting the efforts of the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.