H&M has become the first international fashion retailer to join EP100, a global initiative that encourages businesses to double their energy productivity as part of international efforts to transition to a net-zero economy. Nine major businesses such as Woolworths, Land Securities, Dalmia Cement, Swiss Re, and Johnson Controls are already part of EP100.

Led by The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy, EP100 was launched in May 2016. By doubling the economic output from every unit of energy consumed, companies set a bold target, demonstrating climate leadership while reaping the benefits of lower energy costs.

On joining the campaign, Pierre Borjesson, global sustainability business expert, H&M said: “Using less energy and increasing our economic output is a fundamental part of our strategy. We have long been working to reduce our climate impact and recently launched our new commitment to achieve a climate positive value chain by 2040. This means H&M will support reductions of greenhouse gases to larger extent than what our value chain emits. Two of our key priorities are leadership in energy productivity and using renewable energy throughout the value chain.”

By 2030 latest H&M plans to build future stores using 40 per cent less energy per square meter, compared to those constructed today. Within its stores, the retailer aims to invest in new technologies for lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve its operational energy productivity. Additionally, H&M aims to have 100 per cent of its supplier partners enrolled in an energy efficiency programme by 2025, as well as reduce the energy used in its logistics transport and warehouses.

Helen Clarkson, chief executive of The Climate Group said: “It is great to see a multinational such as H&M taking a leading role in enhancing energy efficiency by joining EP100. Already a member of our RE100 initiative that commits businesses to renewable power, H&M is going one step further in enhancing its commitment to climate initiatives.”

“We hope that H&M’s leadership in this area can inspire other companies across sectors to embrace energy productivity initiatives, to align economic growth with environmental sustainability,” Clarkson added.