H&M
Making great design available to everyone at an affordable price
H&M's Sustainability Rating:
Materials
Slow Consumption
Accountability
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Fair
Where H&M is doing well: H&M uses a majority of sustainable fibers in its garments. H&M helps keeps garments out of landfill by offering a resale program, repair services. H&M publicly reports on its emissions impact. Where H&M has room to grow: H&M is a fast fashion brand.
Detailed Summary
Materials
How is this brand using sustainable materials, sourcing, and shipping to reduce its impact?
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Raw Materials
H&M claims to use majority low impact materials in its garments, but it is unclear how it defines a sustainable fiber. There is evidence that it uses some low impact materials, such as recycled cotton, organic cotton, and TENCEL Lyocell. However, H&M does still use high impact fibers, such as virgin polyester, viscose, rayon, and spandex. H&M has targets to reduce its reliance on these high impact fibers by 2030.
Energy Use & Production
Commons could not find information on this brand's energy use. H&M sources and manufactures its materials globally, which is standard practice in the fashion industry.
Packaging & Distribution
Its eco-friendly packaging materials include fsc certified material. H&M is working to reduce the impact of shipping emissions by Using EVs, alternative fuels, etc for last mile (though only 11%)
Slow Consumption
Does this brand lower demand for new items by encouraging conscious consumption and facilitating the long-term use of its products?
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Repair & Care
H&M offers a repair program in select stores. H&M does not offer a warranty. It gives detailed and environmentally conscious care instructions for its garments.
Take Back Programs
H&M has a take back program that accepts its own brand's clothing for resale. It reports on the impact of this program.
Slow Fashion
H&M is a fast fashion brand. It has frequent new releases and limited editions.
Marketing
Commons analyzed its email marketing messaging and found it followed aggressive overconsumption tactics. It sent us num emails in the first seven days. Of these, nummentioned sales, and numused language to generate a sense of urgency.
Accountability
Is this brand transparent about its sustainability goals and how it’s working toward them?
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Transparency & Reporting
H&M has a sustainability page with information about materials, circularity, current initiatives and progress, energy use, emissions reduction. However, the page is not prominent. Larger brands have a greater responsibility to make this information clearly available due to its outsized impact. H&M has a detailed annual report, with a clear strategy and progress reporting.
Emissions Tracking
H&M internally measures and publicly reports its company-level emissions, including a detailed breakdown. H&M has one of the top 10 largest absolute carbon footprints among fashion brands. Its 2023 estimated emissions were 8,586,805 tCO2e.
Emissions Targets
H&M has SBTI-approved medium and long-term targets. It has shared progress on these targets in the last year and it is on track. Commons could not find verification that it offsets any emissions, and it has been outspoken in the media about avoiding offsets.
Supply Chain & Labor
H&M does not publish information about its supply chain partners. It has a supplier code of conduct, which includes provisions audits of partners, allowing collective bargaining.
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