H&M aims to become climate positive across the entire value chain by 2040, says its sustainability report 2017. The company has been making strong progress towards its vision to lead the change towards a circular and renewable fashion industry, while being a fair and equal company. H&M is therefore pushing the development towards a shift to a circular model.
The fashion industry needs to rethink the future of fashion. Clothes are and will continue to be an everyday necessity, but the fashion industry is today too dependent on virgin and non-renewable resources, H&M press release said.
“Innovation is key to solve many of the challenges the fashion industry is facing, especially when it comes to accelerating the shift from a linear to a circular model. But it will not be one technology, one innovation that will do the trick; instead it will be several ideas, scientists and companies putting the puzzle together, pushing the development forward. That is why we invest in and partner with innovation companies such as re:newcell and Treetotextile,” said Cecilia Brännsten, acting environmental sustainability manager at H&M group.
In spring 2018, H&M will pilot the innovative concept Take Care, aimed at inspiring customers to prolong the lifespan of their garments through refreshing, remaking and repairing.
“Every year we take new steps towards our bold goal to only use recycled or other sustainably sourced materials by 2030. This significantly reduces the use of natural resources and the negative impact our business has on the climate. It’s important to use already existing sustainable materials but also test completely new fabrics. When it comes to recycled materials, they are truly a win-win since they stop waste material going to landfill and at the same time reduce the use of virgin raw material,” says Mattias Bodin, sustainability business expert – materials and innovation at H&M group.
“Collaboration is the best way to tackle the challenges connected to working conditions and wages within the textile industry. That is why we value the ground-breaking collaboration with 16 other global brands and trade unions within the ACT platform. Our joint goal is to establish mechanisms to support freedom of association and industry-wide collective bargaining,” said Cecilia Tiblad Berntsson, social sustainability manager at H&M group.
