Athleisure giant Lululemon has increased the climate pollution from manufacturing its products by a shocking 60% in just 12 months, a Stand.earth analysis has argued.
The analysis came in the backdrop of Lululemon Athletica—one of the biggest, most profitable, and fastest-growing sportswear brands in the world—releasing its second Impact Report, and its founder Chip Wilson announcing that he and his wife will give $75.8 million towards buying hundreds of acres of wilderness to protect in their native Canada.
- Lululemon's target of reducing its emissions intensity by 60% already falls short of the needs of the moment, but the Stand.earth report showed that in the last year Lululemon's emissions intensity actually increased by as much as 9%.
- With 2030 rapidly approaching, Lululemon now faces the challenge of cutting its emissions intensity by more than half in just eight years if it plans to reach its target.
- Without a commitment to transition its supply chain to 100% renewable energy that is local and additional to the grid by 2030, Lululemon's emissions will continue to rise.
The allegations:
- Lululemon’s factories are almost entirely reliant on coal (and other fossil fuels). So much for its commitment to "health and wellness."
- Every year the company grows without cleaning up its supply chain, it just continues to lock in MORE fossil fuels in the places where its factories are, like Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh—countries which are bearing the brunt of climate impacts.
- Lululemon needs to cut its emissions intensity by 6.8% yearly for the next nine years to hit its target.
- There’s only one way that’s going to happen—Lululemon has to commit to cutting out coal, and move its supply chain to 100% renewable energy by 2030. If H&M can do it, so can Lululemon.
