H&M has become the first international fashion retailer to join a global initiative led by The Climate Group that aims to save energy and reduce its carbon footprint by doubling their energy productivity.
Known as the EP100, the collaborative initiative includes nine other major corporations — one of which is Land Securities — to showcase that by doubling the economic output from every unit of energy consumed, companies demonstrate climate leadership while reaping the benefits of lower energy costs.
H&M announcement its membership of the campaign at the 2017 Energy Efficiency Global Forum in Washington DC, where leaders from business, government and leading NGOs gathered to assess the future of energy efficiency.
“Using less energy and increasing our economic output is a fundamental part of our strategy,” H&M’s global sustainability business expert Pierre Borjesson said.
READ MORE: H&M pledges to use 100% recycled materials by 2030
“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.”
Part of the EP100 pledge means H&M plans to build future stores using 40 per cent less energy per square metre by 2030.
To achieve this, the retailer aims to invest in new technologies for lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve its energy use.
In addition, H&M will work to have all 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.
The news comes just a few months after the retailer pledged to ensure the materials used in its clothing ranges were all from 100% recycled or sustainable materials.
“It is great to see a multinational such as H&M taking a leading role in enhancing energy efficiency by joining EP100,” The Climate Group chief executive Helen Clarkson said.
“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.
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