lululemon receives coal from Santa for its role in climate change

December 20, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. PST
ON THE GROUND CONTACT: Jeff Bradshaw, 604-803-1537
CONTACT: Emily Pomilio, Stand.earth Corporate Campaigns, emily@eriksongroup.com

Link to photos and videos

Lululemon receives coal from Santa for its role in climate change

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Territories (Vancouver, BC) – On Tuesday, Dec. 20, Stand.earth activists dressed as ‘Santa’ and ‘Mrs. Claus’ delivered bags of coal to the lululemon flagship store in downtown Vancouver, highlighting the company’s use of fossil fuels in its clothing production and manufacturing. In conjunction with Stand.earth volunteers holding a banner outside the store reading “lululemon pollutes our climate,” ‘Mrs. Claus’ accompanied a team of singing supporters and entered the store presenting coal to the manager. 

“A company that promotes itself as climate-friendly and part of the holistic wellness industry has no business relying on fossil fuels to produce its clothing,” said Rachel Kitchin, corporate fashion campaigner with Stand.earth. “Santa has put lululemon on the naughty list and personally delivered this sack of coal because he’s very disappointed with its failure to clean up its act on climate change by continuing to burn coal to produce its clothing line.” 

In September, lululemon released a report revealing its climate pollution from manufacturing (scope 3 emissions) increased by over 60 percent in just two years, failing its own weak emissions targets and heading in the wrong direction on climate action.


“lululemon is growing fast, and so are its emissions,” said Gary Cook, Climate Campaign Director at Stand.earth “If lululemon wants to get off the naughty list next year, it needs to commit to transitioning its manufacturing to clean, renewable energy and stop pumping out climate and community-harming pollution.”

With 2030 rapidly approaching, lululemon now faces the enormous 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-percent renewable energy that is local to the grid by 2030, lululemon’s emissions will continue to rise. 

Burning coal contributes to climate change and is known to cause heart disease, lung and throat cancers, and respiratory diseases among communities located near coal-powered facilities. lululemon’s use of coal is particularly harmful to people and communities and habitats in countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, where its products are made. 

“lululemon needs to transition to a clean and renewable manufacturing model if it wants to be on the nice list next year,” said Erdene Batzorig, Stand.earth Digital Campaigner and ‘Santa’ for the event. “As it stands, the company is receiving coal for the part it plays in polluting local communities and greenwashing to its consumers.”

Stand.earth has been leading a global campaign to move fashion brands like lululemon — one of the biggest, most profitable, and fastest-growing sportswear brands in the world — to shift their suppliers off of coal to renewable energy, protecting both the planet and the public health of local communities near factories. Earlier this year, Stand.earth released an analysis that revealed lululemon’s lip service to climate change – the company’s supply chain emissions actually increased in 2020. In February 2022, Stand.earth continued in its campaign to hold lululemon accountable, criticizing the company’s Team Canada Olympics gear for contributing to climate change and threatening the very future of the winter sports it was sponsoring (see photos).This September, hundreds of yoga teachers and students from around the world sent a letter to lululemon asking it to quit coal and go renewable. Dozens then participated in Stand.earth’s “Yoga for Coal-Free Fashion” yoga protest outside of the company’s headquarters

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About Stand.earth

Stand is an advocacy organization that brings people together to demand that corporations and governments put people and the environment first.