Most UK fashion brands still lack climate targets

Less than 4% of the more than 200 members of the British Fashion Council have set science-based climate targets, according to a new report by NGO Collective Fashion Justice.

The organisation’s research shows that 7 out of 206 members assessed (just 3.39%) have set any emissions reduction targets. Furthermore, only five (2.4%) have targets that are aligned with the Paris Agreement: Rixo, Mulberry, Margaret Howell, Kyle Ho and Burberry.

The British Fashion Council is an association of UK fashion designers and labels including the likes of Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Victoria Beckham.

With the report, Collective Fashion Justice is urging the Council and its members to set science-based emissions reduction targets that include transitioning away from both fossil fuels and animal-based materials.

“Leather, wool and cashmere have major methane footprints, and the IPCC states that we must slash methane emissions by one third, or face a cascade of catastrophic climate tipping points,” says the NGO, noting that while fashion brands are making efforts to phase out virgin fossil fuel-based materials, they are “less willing to acknowledge” the impact of animal-derived materials.

British Fashion Council’s Low Carbon Transition Programme

In April 2024, the British Fashion Council launched a two-year Low Carbon Transition Programme, funded by the Greater London Authority, to support 50 SMEs in measuring their carbon footprint and creating a decarbonisation roadmap. 

“The British Fashion Council received millions of pounds from government departments such as the Greater London Authority’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund to engage with designers and fashion businesses to support sustainability progress, and while this is positive, clearly more work needs to be done,” Collective Fashion Justice added. 

Fashion sector under increased scrutiny

Fashion brands have faced increased criticism over their perceived inaction on climate. Just a few weeks ago, another report by non-profit Fashion Revolution showed that less than half of the world’s top 250 fashion companies have an SBTi-validated decarbonisation target covering their entire supply chain.

Most of the work undertaken by apparel companies to make more sustainable garments has been around increasing the share of organic cotton and recycled polyester in supply chains – but progress has been slow. 

For Collective Fashion Justice, phasing out animal materials should be “a central tenet of climate strategies” in the industry.