Kontoor Brands to launch new science-based targets in 2022

Climate change is a serious problem, and Kontoor Brands is taking significant steps to address climate change by announcing bold new science-based targets for its Lee and Wrangler brands.

Kontoor recently announced its official commitment to set a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target in accordance with the Paris Agreement. Kontoor has reaffirmed its support for the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which aims to drive ambitious climate change action in the private sector by allowing businesses to set science-based emission reduction goals.

Following the announcement, Kontoor will establish, validate, and publish a target for the following year, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.

Jeff Frye, Kontoor Brands’ VP of Procurement, Product Development, Innovation, and Sustainability said that the climate issue necessitates bold steps not only by governments and non-governmental organizations but also by corporations.

The latest commitment builds on Kontoor’s growth as a market leader in the garment industry since its initial public offering in May 2019. Kontoor released its first sustainability report in 2020, describing the company’s significant potential for achieving its sustainability goals.

CDP Global, the World Resources Institute (WRI), the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the United Nations Global Compact have collaborated on the Science-Based Targets initiative (UNGC). The 2015 Paris Agreement committed 191 world governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. The agreement is anticipated to hasten the world’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

Kontoor’s commitment to sustainability across the organization and combating climate change as an engaged member and stakeholder within the wider global community is reflected in this recent announcement.

Frye added that they joined the Science-Based Targets project to help create a more sustainable and just future, and we will keep stepping up our efforts to maintain a healthy planet for future generations.