Holt Renfrew commits to going fur-free, reducing greenhouse gas

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Jun 27, 2021

Luxury Canadian retailer Holt Renfrew announced on Thursday a series of sustainability initiatives centered around products and science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Among the initiatives, the Selfridges Group-owned company said it will exit all animal fur and exotic skins by the end of the year. The announcement follows a similar commitment from Toronto-based brand Canada Goose, equally announced last week. 

Moreover, it said it will ensure that materials across the business will come from certified sustainable sources by the end of 2025 – with a focus on cotton, leather, down and feathers, plastic packaging, palm oil, and forest-derived fibers (paper, wood, and cellulosic). 

Also as part of its collections, it committed to offering a denim assortment that comes from certified/verified sustainable sources by the end of 2025. It will equally exit all cosmetic products that contain plastic glitter  and improve waste diversion rates in all store locations to 85 percent by the end of 2024. 

The new commitments also make it the first and only Canadian retailer to set approved science-based targets, or universal guidelines for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. By 2030, Holt Renfrew will lower scope 1 and 2 emissions, or greenhouse gas emissions, from its operations by 65 percent and lower its scope 3 emissions by 28 percent.

"Since joining Holt Renfrew last year, the team and I have been listening to our customers, our employees, and our communities across the country to better understand what they want from Holts," said Sebastian Picardo, president and CEO, Holt Renfrew. 

"Our customers are at the centre of our business, and we want to ensure that sustainability and innovation are at the forefront of their experience at Holts."

Picardo said further: "Retail can be a force for good, and we know that our customers want to make trusted, responsible purchases. Our 360-degree commitment to sustainability removes the barriers for them, allowing them to shop with confidence, in a responsible way."    

Most recently, Holt Renfrew launched a partnership with TerraCycle that recycles beauty products and packaging collected in Holt Renfrew stores across the country.