Mammut makes fashion industry-leading climate commitment

August 17, 2021

Swiss outdoor gear brand commits to eliminate coal, switch to 100% renewable energy in supply chains

SAN FRANCISCO — International environmental advocacy organization Stand.earth is applauding Swiss outdoor gear brand Mammut for making a fashion industry-leading climate commitment to phase out fossil fuels and switch to 100% renewable energy to power the manufacturing of its products by 2030. Mammut is also the first retail brand to commit to ship goods on zero-emissions cargo ships by 2030, and its new climate strategy sets leading commitments to recycle fossil fuel-based fabrics like polyester and polyamide in a closed loop, bringing the brand closer toward a circular, and less wasteful, business model.

“To be recognized as a climate leader in the industry by Stand.earth makes us proud. We understand that we play an important part in the joint journey to Net Zero. We take the responsibility to think boldly and dare to reach high. And we are committed to inspire others to be part of this global journey,” states Oliver Pabst, CEO of Mammut.

“Taking collective action is the only way to tackle this challenge. Commitment is not enough; we need to start transforming – now. Every decision, every action we take in the 2020s will determine our future. It’s time to use our collective voices to demand a better future for people and the planet. It’s not too late, but we need to act now,” adds Adrian Huber, Mammut’s Head of Corporate Responsibility.

The announcement comes less than a month before the release of Stand.earth’s annual Fossil Free Fashion Scorecard, ranking the climate commitments of 47 top fashion companies.

“Mammut’s announcement couldn’t have come at a more crucial time for our global climate. With the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warning that we are at ‘code red for humanity’, we know we need massively polluting industries like fashion to step up and invest in bold solutions to address their outsized emissions,” said Muhannad Malas, Senior Climate Campaigner at Stand.earth. “By making a commitment to transition to renewable energy in its supply chain, ship its cargo on zero-emissions vessels, and reduce its reliance on fracked fabrics like polyester, Mammut is setting a standard the rest of the fashion industry must follow.”

The fashion industry is a multi-trillion dollar industry whose greenhouse gas emissions are expected to drastically increase in the coming decades, surpassing other polluting industries such as aviation and shipping. This emissions growth is significantly due to increasing demand for coal-fired power in manufacturing countries like Vietnam, China, and Bangladesh. Despite many major brands joining climate initiatives such as the UN Fashion Charter on Climate Change, the majority of the fashion industry is simply not doing enough to adequately tackle climate change and move from climate commitments to actions at the scale desperately needed.

“Many fashion companies have made renewable energy commitments tied to their headquarters and stores, but these pledges account for nothing more than marketing greenwash, as those locations typically only contribute to a mere 5% of a company’s total climate pollution. Mammut is now joining a small but growing group of influential companies like Apple, Google, and Ikea that are extending their 100% renewable energy commitments to their supply chains,” said Gary Cook, Global Climate Campaigns Director at Stand.earth.

ABOUT THE COMMITMENT

Mammut aims to reduce 55% of its absolute greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain (things like factories and manufacturers), and to reduce 70-80% of its absolute greenhouse gas emissions in its owned and operated facilities (things like headquarters and stores). Since approximately 95% of the fashion industry’s climate pollution is hidden in complex supply chains, Mammut’s commitment to address this pollution head on through a combination of renewable energy, coal phaseout, and zero-emissions vessels is significant.

Mammut’s focus on absolute reductions sets a new standard for the fashion industry, beating companies like Kering, LVMH, Arc’teryx and The North Face. Some of these companies have made similar commitments to reduce supply chain emissions, but those commitments are largely focused on intensity reductions, not absolute reductions. Climate experts call the focus on intensity reductions misguided, because companies only reduce pollution per unit of clothing, but if overall output increases, then emissions could still grow.

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Media contact: Virginia Cleaveland, Stand.earth, media@stand.earth, +1 510 858 9902 (Pacific Time)