UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 1PM BST 1ST AUGUST 2024

PRESS RELEASE

WHAT FUELS FASHION?: NEW REPORTFINDS BIG FASHION IS FALLING SHORT OF
MUCH-NEEDED CLIMATE INVESTMENTS
Fashion Revolution launches new ‘What Fuels Fashion’ Report
revealing the world’s largest fashion brands are not working fastenough to cut fossil fuels.
1st August 2024, London. Big fashion brands must urgently invest at least 2% of their annual
revenue into a Just Transition away from fossil fuels - like coal - to renewable energy to power
their manufacturing sustainably, according to the latest report from Fashion Revolution, theworld’s largest fashion activism movement.
The What Fuels Fashion? report, a special edition of Fashion Revolution’s annual Fashion
Transparency Index was released today. It analyses and ranks 250 of the world’s biggest fashion
brands and retailers (turnover of USD$400m or more) based on their public disclosure of climate
and energy-related actions. The in-depth report covers accountability, decarbonisation, energy
procurement, financing decarbonisation, and just transition and advocacy; covering 70 data points.
Fashion remains one of the most polluting industries with fossil fuels burned at every stageof production. However, the report finds that despite the escalating climate crisis, big brands’
reduction targets are not ambitious enough to meet the global goal of limiting temperature rise to
1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Instead of investing in a fair transition away from fossil fuels likecoal to renewable energy sources like wind and solar to power fashion’s supply chain in a cleanway, fashion brands are shifting the costs onto the factories they work with; burdening workers andcommunities with fixing a problem they didn’t create.
While extreme weather could cost nearly 1 million jobs in the sector, Fashion Revolution also
reveals that most big fashion brands are not protecting their supply chain workers. Only 3% (justseven brands) disclose efforts to financially support workers affected by the climate crisis. This is
critical given the weak social protection in garment-producing countries and the poverty wages
and high debt levels of these workers. Frequent climate events like heat waves, monsoons, anddroughts are devastating their livelihoods. Fashion Revolution says that big fashion must urgently
provide compensation mechanisms for these workers, not as charity but as a matter of justice.
“By investing at least 2% of their revenue into clean, renewable energy and upskillingand supporting workers, fashion could simultaneously curb the impacts of the climate
crisis and reduce poverty and inequality within their supply chains. Climate breakdown isavoidable because we have the solution - and big fashion can certainly afford it.”
Maeve Galvin, Global Policy and Campaigns Director at Fashion Revolution
What Fuels Fashion Press Release

1/3

OTHER KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:
Nearly a quarter of the world’s biggest fashion brands disclose nothing on decarbonisation,
signifying that the climate crisis is not a priority for them. Only four out of 250 have ambitious
emissions reduction targets that meet the level of ambition called for by the United Nations.
Meanwhile, of the 117 out of 250 brands with decarbonisation targets, 105 brands disclose updates on
their progress - but 42 brands report increased scope 3 emissions against their baseline year. Withthe 2030 deadline to limit global warming to 1.5°C approaching in tandem with record-breaking heatwaves, the industry faces a critical challenge.
The fashion industry is lagging significantly in achieving climate targets and reducing
emissions, with 86% of companies lacking a public coal phase-out target, 94% without a public
renewable energy target, and 92% without a public renewable electricity target for their supply chains.
Less than half (43%) of brands are transparent about their energy procurement at the operational
level, and even fewer (10%) at supply chain level. Additionally, no major fashion brand discloses
hourly matched supply chain electricity use. As a result, big fashion’s zero-emissions claims may bedisconnected from grid realities, creating a false sense of progress against climate targets.
The fashion industry is evading accountability both for churning out excessive amounts ofclothing and the associated emissions released into the atmosphere. Most big fashion brands(89%) do not disclose how many clothes they make annually. Alarmingly, nearly half (45%) failto disclose neither how much they make nor the raw material emissions footprint of what isproduced, signalling the industry prioritises resource exploitation whilst avoiding accountability forenvironmental harms linked to production. The fashion industry wants to have its cake and eat it too.
So-called ‘sustainable’ clothes may still be produced using fossil fuels. The fashion industry’s
climate impact has largely been scrutinised through the lens of the materials used in our clothes,rather than the manufacturing processes behind them. While 58% of brands disclose sustainable
material targets, only 11% reveal their supply chain’s energy sources, meaning ‘sustainable’ clothes
might still be made in factories powered by fossil fuels.
Suppliers need funding, not debt. Despite being the largest emitters with the greatest financial
responsibility to decarbonise, nearly all (94%) big fashion brands fail to disclose how much they are
investing in supply chain decarbonisation. Only 6% disclose contributions, often to joint climate
funds like the Fashion Climate Fund and Future Supplier Initiative. These funds offer supplier loans
for infrastructure like solar panels. However, burdening suppliers with loans to meet brand climate
targets is unfair and perpetuates existing power imbalances between fashion brands, their suppliers
and the people who make our clothes.
Long-term investment is key to decarbonising fashion’s supply chains. The industry’s
prioritisation of short-term profit is at odds with supply chain decarbonisation. A clean, fair, and justenergy transition must be driven by fashion embracing long-term supplier relationships and financial
investments through fair purchasing practices. Vertically integrated brands and specialised segments
like sportswear, outperform others in this research due to greater leverage and commitment to longterm improvements. The renewable energy transition in fashion hinges on systemic changes thatprioritise collective brand action, responsible purchasing, and investment in a stable supply base.

What Fuels Fashion Press Release

2/3

The overall average brand score is 18%. See below for lowest and highest scorers.

LOWEST SCORING BRANDS IN 2024
32 major brands scored a 0% rating including: Aeropostale, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Beanpole, Belle,Billabong, Bosideng, Celio, DKNY, Fabletics, Fashion Nova, Forever 21, Heilan Home, KOOVS,Longchamp, Max Mara, Metersbonwe, Mexx, New Yorker, Nine West, Quicksilver, Reebok, Revolve,Roxy, Saks Fifth Avenue, Savage X Fenty, Semir, Smart Bazaar, Splash, Tom Ford, Tory Burch, VanHeusen, Youngor.

HIGHEST SCORING BRANDS IN 2024
Puma – 75%, Gucci – 74%, H&M – 61%, Champion – 58%, Hanes – 58%, Calzedonia– 52%,
Intimissimi – 52%, Tezenis – 52%, Decathlon – 51%, ASICS – 50%, lululemon – 50%,
Hermès – 49% and Adidas – 49%.
Help us fuel change: Fashion Revolution is urging citizens to demandthat major brands and retailers put their money where their emissions are.
To take action, visit www.fashionrevolution.org/transparency and use our email-a-brand tool.

NOTES TO EDITORSFor more information, visit: www.fashionrevolution.org/transparency
For interview requests, contact press@fashionrevolution.org
Download images for press here.

ABOUT FASHION REVOLUTION
Fashion Revolution is the world’s largest fashion activism movement, mobilising citizens, industry
and policymakers through research, education and advocacy work. Fashion Revolution’s global
movement spans across 75 countries with a collective vision for a fashion industry that conserves
and restores the environment and values people over growth and profit.

What Fuels Fashion Press Release3/3