lululemon and climate pollution

Fashion is one of the worst climate polluting sectors on the planet, responsible for around 2-8% of global climate emissions - more than Germany, France, and Canada combined. It will be impossible to solve the climate crisis without the fashion industry taking bold climate action.

Known for its iconic yoga and athleisure wear, lululemon promotes itself as a “healthy lifestyle” brand, but unlike other sportswear brands, it has done very little to move its supply chain off of coal and other fossil fuels. As one of the biggest and most rapidly-growing sportswear brands in the world, the Vancouver-based company has to take immediate action to stop burning coal for manufacturing its products and transition to 100% renewable energy in its supply chain by 2030.

Take Action

lululemon under investigation for greenwashing

lululemon claims to ‘Be Planet’ but its own reporting shows its climate emissions grew by 83% from 2019-2021. The company has benefitted from a carefully constructed image of environmental sustainability & wellness but its exponential growth has been built on fossil fuels, from clothing literally made from fracked gas to polluting manufacturing that threatens the health of communities in the Global South. That's why we've submitted a complaint to the Competition Bureau accusing lululemon of greenwashing and to investigate the company. We've also launched a complaint in France!

Narwhal article on lululemon's greenwashing

lululemon earns C- in our 2023 Fossil Free Fashion scorecard

lululemon has shown signs of progress since the 2021 Scorecard, increasing its score from ‘D-’ minus to a solid C-. However, it still has a long way to go to decarbonize its supply chain, especially since its emissions increased by 83% from 2019-2021.

C+

Climate commitments & supply chain energy transparency

C

Renewable & energy efficient manufacturing

C-

Low carbon materials

D-

Greener shipping

D

Advocacy

C+

Climate commitments & supply chain energy transparency

C

Renewable & energy efficient manufacturing

C-

Low carbon materials

D-

Greener shipping

D

Advocacy

group of 11 people outside of lululemon store under a big lululemon logo carolling with posters and signs

lululemon, is it worth burning the planet for a pair of leggings?

As lululemon looks to double is profits, the company is facing more and more pressure to take urgent action to reduce its ballooning emissions. #Asklululemon to align its health and wellness values with its climate action and transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Watch Video
lululemon-yoga-action-vancouver

The pressure is growing

The company's inaction has prompted its customers and the yoga community to take action in its stores all around North America.

Watch Video

lululemon needs to do more

lululemon should be working hand in hand with its suppliers to get them off of coal and onto renewables today, but the brand has done next to nothing in this department.

We are accusing lululemon of greenwashing

lululemon claims to ‘Be Planet’ but its own reporting shows its climate emissions are skyrocketing. It has benefitted from a carefully constructed image of environmental sustainability & wellness but its exponential growth's been built on fossil fuels. We've submitted a complaint to the Competition Bureau to investigate lululemon.

lululemon's greenwashing at the Olympics

Just days before Team Canada's set to don Lululemon’s apparel at the Paris Summer Olympics at the end of this week, a street performance outside the Vancouver flagship store of Lululemon criticized the company’s failure to align its values with Team Canada while outfitting the nation’s finest athletes on the world’s biggest stage.

lululemon Summer Olympics podium outfit against a beige back drop and red text on the bottom left corner that reads, "lululemon Team Canda Podium Fit" and white and burgundy text around the model that point out % of renewables and fossil fuels used in production with angled arrows pointing to specific clothing items.

Lululemon: Fair Pay, Transparency & Climate

As lululemon struggles to keep up with its bold “Be Planet” climate claims, how is it doing on “Be Human”? We take a closer look with our partner Oxfam Canada on whether the company is making headway on fair pay and transparency.

A group of 20+ people in red shirts that read, "lulu, break up with coal" in white and black text hold yoga mats and pose in boisterous and happy manner in front of lululemon HQ in front of a big red banner

The momentum is on our side

It’s time for lululemon to truly elevate itself to greatness by cleaning up its coal pollution and to become a leader in renewable energy! Over 7,000 yoga teachers and students calling on lululemon to switch from fossil fuels to clean energy.