Primark sells 66% of clothes made from sustainable materials in 2023

This year, the international fashion retailer has focused on scaling the volume of its clothes that are circular by design in categories such as denim and jersey and continued to embed its product guidelines on circularity by training colleagues and suppliers. 3 per cent of clothes sold in Primark over the past 12 months were circular by design, meaning they met the criteria set out in Primark’s Circular Product Standard, including items in the Rita Ora and Disney’s The Lion King ranges.

Challenging the perception that longer-lasting clothes cost more, Primark has also launched its Durability Framework this year. Despite the EU’s focus on product durability, along with the higher cost of living and the impact of textile waste on the environment, there is currently no agreed industry or legal standard for physical durability. Backed by research from environmental charity Hubbub and the University of Leeds (UOL) School of Design, Primark’s Durability Framework is designed to set the bar for how fashion retailers can help consumers get more out of their clothes.

Lowering carbon emissions across its value chain during the last 12 months is a key achievement for Primark, having set out an ambition to halve carbon emissions across its value chain by 2030. Primark’s Scope 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions reduced by 21 per cent in 2024, compared to 2023, and were 52 per cent lower than the 2019 baseline. This reduction was achieved through energy efficiency measures in its stores and the procurement of renewable and low-carbon electricity. Primark achieved a 1.9 per cent reduction in total carbon emissions across its value chain since its 2019 baseline year and an 11.6 per cent decrease since last year. The retailer expects this reduction to fluctuate in the short-term as the company expands.

As cotton is the most used fibre in Primark clothing, evolving the Primark Cotton Project (formerly the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme) and training cotton farmers on more regenerative agricultural practices is an ongoing focus. Approximately 3,000 farmers have completed a pilot project across India, Bangladesh and Pakistan this year. They were trained in how to use biological alternatives to chemical pesticides and how to introduce cover crops that protect soil and create new revenue streams. Primark has developed a roadmap to 2030 to drive further uptake of regenerative agriculture within the Primark Cotton Project.

“Our sustainability commitments belong to all of us at Primark and we’re starting to see real impact. The progress we’ve made in the three years since we launched our Primark Cares strategy has given us the confidence to be proud of the work we are doing. As a brand for everyone, we know we have a huge responsibility to use our scale for good. Taking the lead on durability across the industry and proving that more sustainable and longer-lasting clothing doesn’t have to cost more, has been a significant achievement for us. Continuing to learn as we gather insights and data from across the Primark business and forging meaningful collaboration across the industry will be critical to achieving our 2030 ambitions,” commenting on the latest impact data, Lynne Walker, director of Primark Cares, said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)