New Look pledges to become climate positive by 2040

British global fashion retailer, New Look, an update to its sustainability strategy, as part of its ‘Kind to Our Core’ initiative, a key pillar in the retailer’s three-year business strategy that reflects the values and actions it wants to embed across its business in its efforts to meet its environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) targets.

New Look is committed to a broad range of actions centered on four fundamental pillars: Responsible business, Responsible and circular product, Inclusive culture, and Positive local impact.

Nigel Oddy, CEO of New Look, said that environmental and social responsibility has been an integral component of their business for more than 20 years. Acting sustainably has never been more crucial to them as a major womenswear store with a global footprint. They’re proud of their accomplishments too far, but their achievements to date commit to going even further and outlining their future aspirations.

Oddy added that at New Look, they have a responsibility to their people, colleagues, and society at large to embrace and expedite the transformation required to lessen their environmental effect. By ensuring that their business is ‘Kind to Our Core,’ they are also constructing a brand that is ready for cultural transformation and global difficulties, assuring New Look’s long-term success.

New Look has committed to becoming climate positive by 2040 and has pledged to reduce product greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by half by 2030. New Look will provide full visibility of suppliers through Tier 2 by FY23 and full visibility of its cotton, viscose, and polyester supply chains through Tier 3 by FY23 as part of its continued efforts to improve transparency within supply chains.

New Look will try to decrease its environmental effect across a variety of critical criteria, including the circularity of its products and packaging, as well as decreasing emissions and water usage, as part of its climate-positive commitment.

The store presently categorizes 55% of its products as “Kind”, which means they are products are sourced consciously, whether that’s by using less water, organic cotton, or through the Better Cotton Initiative.

Furthermore, New Look now go a step further by sourcing 100 percent recycled cotton, organic or Better Cotton Initiative cotton by 2022, and 100 percent sustainable viscose by 2023.

Meanwhile, through local charity partnerships, New Look continues to serve local communities. Along with 3 national organizations, 26 local charities from 24 regions in the UK and ROI have been chosen, ranging from mental health to women’s aid and environmental reasons. Each store will be given time, resources, and tools to help their selected charity by donating to them.

New Look has pledged to constantly represent and include customers in product lines, marketing, and communications. This includes guaranteeing model and influencer diversity, which will be reported annually beginning in 2022.

Sue Fairley, head of sustainability said that they’re happy to be initiating the next step of their sustainability plan. They have broadened the scope of their promises and committed to becoming climate positive by 2040, which is a significant milestone for New Look. They are thrilled to be making progress in an area that is critical to their business, and the commitments expand on the previous 20 years of work in this area. This approach will assist them in shifting their goals, ensuring best practices, and increasing transparency inside the organization.