London – Sportswear brand Asics has released its 2015 sustainability report,
which reveals its current sustainability performance as well as its
strategy moving forward towards 2020, which it plans to commit to
‘science-based’ targets.
In the past year the sportswear company has reduced CO2 emissions by 43
percent, water consumption by 50 percent, and solid waste emissions by 17
percent per pair of shoes manufactured, compared to 2009 baseline levels.
In addition, it has become one of the first companies in the industry to
adopt the Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management (AFIRM)
Restricted Substances List (RSL), and its has audited all of its tier 1
suppliers for its social and labour standards, and all it states meet or
exceed Asics basic CSR supplier standards.
Given its progress, the sportswear brand is now challenging itself to
medium-term sustainability targets with its 2020 Sustainability Strategy,
which includes setting ‘science-based’ targets for CO2 reduction, as well
as through ongoing partnerships with external stakeholders such as ILO
Better Work.
Its targets includes a 5 percent absolute CO2 reduction from direct
operations, compared to the 2015 baseline, as well as a 10 percent
reduction of CO2 impact per pair shoes produced by Tier 1 footwear
factories.
The idea of setting ‘science-based’ targets comes from an initiative
partnered by CDP, UN Global Compact, WRI, and WWF, which helps companies
determine how much they must cut emissions to prevent the worst impacts of
climate change. It supports companies to set emission reduction targets in
line with what the science says is necessary to limit global warming to 2°C
compared to pre-industrial era temperatures.
Image: Courtesy of Asics