A new report from Fashion Revolution reveals a significant drop in the commitment and execution of decarbonization strategies among major fashion brands. The "What Fuels Fashion? 2025" report, which analyzed 200 prominent fashion companies, indicates a concerning decrease in transparency regarding efforts to reduce supply chain emissions. The average score for brands has fallen from 18% in 2024 to 14% in 2025, highlighting a worsening trend in the industry's environmental accountability.
The report emphasizes that clean heat—the use of renewable, fossil-free energy for manufacturing—is the most effective method for emission reduction in the fashion sector. However, the adoption of these technologies remains alarmingly low. Only 6% of brands report initiatives to electrify high-heat processes, and a mere 10% have set targets for renewable energy within their supply chains. This lack of progress not Благоприятно влияет на глобальные климатические цели, но также имеет последствия для благополучия работников. The report highlights that it is precisely at the stages of dyeing, washing, and finishing fabrics, where most emissions in the supply chain occur, that the greatest dependence on fossil fuels is observed.
Experts, such as Jan Rosenow, Professor of Energy and Climate Policy at Oxford University, note that technologies for replacing fossil fuels already exist, but there is a lack of political will and funding for their scaling. He emphasizes that the textile industry has the potential to completely abandon fossil fuels, as process temperatures rarely exceed 250°C. While H&M Group achieved the highest score with 71%, some sources indicate that H&M Group already used 96% of electricity from renewable sources in 2024, with the goal of reaching 100% by 2030. However, many other well-known companies, including Aeropostale and Forever 21, received a score of zero, indicating no disclosed decarbonization efforts. The study also points out that The urgency for adopting clean heat technologies, such as heat pumps and electric boilers, is amplified by their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve working conditions by mitigating heat stress and indoor air pollution.
Beyond technological solutions, the report stresses the necessity of a Just Transition framework to support workers through this industrial shift, ensuring that the move towards a low-carbon economy is inclusive and equitable. The fashion industry, faces substantial challenges in decarbonizing its complex supply chains,