Lululemon Faces Criticism Over Greenhouse Gas Emission Projections

Despite Lululemon’s commitment to reducing emissions intensity by 60% by 2030, a recent report reveals that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its global supply chain could be up to nine times higher than its target. This places the Vancouver-based athletic apparel company among the worst-performing fashion brands, including major names like Nike, Adidas, H&M, and Chanel.

Rachel Kitchin, an advocate with environmental group stand.earth and author of the report, expressed concerns about Lululemon’s commitment to being environmentally conscious, stating, “For a company with the tag line ‘Be Planet’ as a core tenet of its business, this kind of emissions growth raises serious questions about how true that claim is.”

Lululemon’s manufacturing emissions have consistently risen each year since 2018, which serves as the company’s baseline emissions year. The company acknowledges in its 2022 Impact Report that efforts to meet its 2030 targets require acceleration.

Despite using recycled and plant-based nylon in its products and emphasizing efforts to decarbonize, Lululemon has not commented on the report’s findings despite multiple requests for response.

Fashion, as a multitrillion-dollar industry, contributes to eight percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The sector heavily relies on coal in its supply chain, particularly in Asia, where coal powers factories and production processes.