H&M pledges to double energy productivity

H&M has become the first international fashion retailer to join EP100, the global, collaborative initiative led by The Climate Group to save energy and to encourage influential businesses to double their energy productivity as part of international efforts to transition to a net-zero economy.

The announcement was made at the 2017 Energy Efficiency Global Forum in Washington D.C., where leaders from business, government and leading NGOs gathered to assess the future of energy efficiency.

The aim of the collaborative, which includes nine other major leading businesses such as Woolworths, Land Securities, Dalmia Cement, Swiss Re, and Johnson Control, is to showcase that by doubling the economic output from every unit of energy consumed, companies set a bold target, demonstrating climate leadership while reaping the benefits of lower energy costs.

On joining the campaign, Pierre Borjesson, global sustainability business expert at H&M said: “Using less energy and increasing our economic output is a fundamental part of our strategy. We have long been working to reduce our climate impact and recently launched our new commitment to achieve a climate positive value chain by 2040.

“This means H&M will support reductions of greenhouse gases to larger extent than what our value chain emits. Two of our key priorities are leadership in energy productivity and using renewable energy throughout the value chain.”

H&M becomes first fashion retailer to join The Climate Group’s EP100 campaign

H&M has pledged that by 2030 at the latest it plans to build future stores using 40 percent less energy per square metre, compared to those constructed today. Adding that within its stores, the retailer aims to invest in new technologies for lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve its operational energy productivity.

Additionally, H&M aims to have 100 percent of its supplier partners enrolled in an energy efficiency program by 2025, as well as reduce the energy used in its logistics transport and warehouses.

Helen Clarkson, chief executive of The Climate Group added: “It is great to see a multinational such as H&M taking a leading role in enhancing energy efficiency by joining EP100. Already a member of our RE100 initiative that commits businesses to renewable power, H&M is going one step further in enhancing its commitment to climate initiatives.

“We hope that H&M’s leadership in this area can inspire other companies across sectors to embrace energy productivity initiatives, to align economic growth with environmental sustainability.”

The EP100 campaign is part of The Climate Group’s partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy.

Image: courtesy of H&M