Newbie owner Kappahl combines growth strategy with reduced climate impact

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Oct 22, 2021

Newbie’s parent Kappahl has joined the growing number of fashion brands, releasing its own climate strategy in order to “transition to a sustainable business model”.

This will cover the entire value chain – suppliers and customers alike – on top of emissions from its own operations.

The adults and children’s fashion retailer said the key goal is to halve its absolute climate impact throughout the entire value chain by 2030. That will involve Kappahl reducing its total annual emissions from around 200,000 tonnes in 2017)to 100,000 tonnes by 2030.

An intermediate goal in the strategy is to halve emissions per product by 2026. Currently, 70% of Kappahl’s products are made of more sustainable materials, and the goal is to reach 100% by 2025.

The Sweden-based group noted it’s own programme is “commercially viable and anchored within the fashion chain’s ambitious growth plan… environmentally realistic, as it is in line with The Paris agreement”. Kappahl’s CEO Elisabeth Peregi said its calculations were “based on us meeting our climate goals as well as our growth targets.”

Kappahl’s VP of sustainability, Sandra Roos, added: “Kappahl’s own operations currently represent 7% of the emissions across the entire value chain. But we feel that we in the clothing industry need to take responsibility for the entire value chain.

"That includes everything from the energy used in cotton cultivation, fabric production, clothing production and transportation on the supplier side of things, to us needing to support our customers to make sustainable choices and also provide efficient transport solutions.”