Primark cuts carbon emissions

Primark's latest Sustainability and Ethics Progress Report shows that the retailer's total carbon emissions for the 12 months ended 31 July 2024 have declined 11.6% year on year and 1.9% compared to its baseline year of 2018/2019.

The fall was driven by a reduction in Primark's Scope 1 and 2 emissions, which fell 21% year on year, and were 52% lower than the 2018/19 baseline.

The fall in carbon emissions were attributed to Primark's increased use of renewable energy, which today provides 64% of Primark's total electricity demand across stores, head offices and depots, as well as working with its logistics provider, Danish shipping giant Maersk, to replace traditional fuel used in product shipments for Biofuel.

Biofuel, which is produced from renewable biological sources, including plants and algae, emits approximately 40% less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually than traditional fuel.

Primark also revealed progress had been made in using recycled and circular textiles.

A third (66%) of all Primark clothes sold between 1 August 2023 and 31 July 2024 contained recycled or more sustainably sourced materials, the report said, up from 55% last year, as the retailer inches towards the 100% target set for 2030. 

The business also aims to use only cotton that is either organic, recycled, or sourced from its sustainable cotton programme by 2027: 57% of all cotton clothing sold during this period contained cotton that was either organic, recycled or sourced through the Primark Cotton Project, formerly known as the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme – up from 55% last year.

Founded in 2013, the programme supports cotton farmers to grow more sustainable cotton by using fewer chemical fertilisers and pesticides, as well as reduce the amount of water needed for irrigation. This year, it was renamed the Primark Cotton Project to comply with the EU's Green Claims Directive.

In addition, 3% of all clothes sold in Primark during this time were circular by design as part of its Circular Product Standard framework introduced in April 2023, which is based on principles established by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to increase durability and recyclability of products. Circular by design clothing collections this year included Primark's Rita Ora and Disney’s The Lion King ranges.

Product durability was one of the main themes of this year's Sustainability and Ethics Progress Report, Primark Cares director Lynne Walker told Drapers ahead of the report publication.

In October, Primark partnered with environmental action charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), as well as developed its Durability Framework, which aims to fill the legislative gap in clothing durability standards.

Backed by research from environmental charity Hubbub and the University of Leeds (UoL) School of Design, Primark’s Durability Framework aims to set clothing lifespan standards for the fashion retail industry, including the goal for clothing to still be in a wearable condition after undergoing 45 machine wash cycles.

Walker told Drapers: "We are going to hold our product teams and our suppliers to account on this, to make our garments last as long as possible."

"We're going to share [our Durability Framework] and call the industry to come with us to have a standard," she added.

Walker is working to expand Primark Cares' sustainability targets across the business through circular design training for Primark product teams. The training has so far been completed by 529 colleagues, 80% of those eligible.

"We've focused hard this year on getting Primark's wider team to understand sustainability and getting green skills, so they can learn from the sustainability team.

"I call it 'greening' our colleagues - we can all play a role in driving the mission of Primark Cares," said Walker.