New Look commits to becoming climate positive by 2040 in new sustainability strategy

The retailer has commited to becoming climate positive by 2040 and reducing GHG emissions from products by 50% by 2030.

The ‘Kind to Our Core’ initiative focuses on four core pillars: Responsible Business, Responsible & Circular Product, Inclusive Culture and Positive Local Impact.

‘Kind to Our Core’ is a key pillar in New Look’s 3-year business strategy and reflects the values and actions that the retailer wants to embed across its business, in its efforts to deliver against ambitious ESG targets.

Nigel Oddy, CEO, New Look, commented: “At New Look, we have a responsibility to our people, employees, and wider society to embrace and accelerate the change needed to reduce our environmental impact. By ensuring that our business is ‘Kind to Our Core’ we are also building a brand that is fit for cultural evolution and global challenges, creating a sustainable future for New Look.”

The strategy updates on progress made so far against previous commitments and outlines a comprehensive set of new targets to offer transparency to all stakeholders.

New Look aims to be a responsible business by becoming climate positive by 2040, reducing GHG emissions from products by 50% by 2030, and improving transparency within supply chains.

When looking at producing responsible and circular products, the company already sources 55% of its products consciously. The retailer aims to go one step further with 100% of cotton being recycled, organic or Better Cotton Initiative sourced by 2022, and by using 100% sustainable viscose by 2023.

New Look is committed to supporting local communities and have partnered with 26 local charities across 24 regions in the UK and ROI.

To ensure the retailer has an inclusive culture, New Look is committed to having full representation and inclusion in product ranges, marketing, and communications.

Sue Fairley, Head of Sustainability, said: “We’re pleased to be making progress in an area which has been crucial to our business and the commitments build on the last 20 years of work in this area. This strategy will help us to shift our priorities, ensure best practice and improve transparency within our overall supply chain.”

The commitments build on New Look’s 20-year track record of sustainability, including last year committing to Science-Based targets (SBTi) to become climate positive by 2040.