H&M Group has shared its Annual and Sustainability Report for 2024, highlighting major progress in its eco-friendly and social efforts. The company is making fashion more sustainable by reducing emissions, using better materials, and improving its supply chain.
“I am proud of the steps we have taken to demonstrate that exceptional design and sustainable solutions go hand in hand with our purpose to liberate fashion for the many. Sustainability is a key priority for us, fundamental to how we operate and essential for our long-term success. This report shows the result of the work of thousands of passionate colleagues around the world, united not only by our love for fashion and design, but also by our deep commitment to using our power and scale to push the fashion industry towards a more inclusive and sustainable future,” says Daniel Ervér, CEO H&M Group.
Major Sustainability Achievements in 2024:
- Better Materials: 89% of materials used were recycled or sustainably sourced, with 29.5% coming from recycled materials—almost hitting the 30% goal for 2025 one year early.
- Lower Emissions: Greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 41% in operations and 24% in the supply chain compared to 2019 levels.
- Less Plastic: The company cut plastic packaging by 54% from 2018 levels, surpassing its 2025 target.
- Phasing Out Coal: The number of factories using on-site coal boilers fell to 27, down from 118 in 2022. H&M Group plans to remove coal use entirely by 2026.
- Saving Water: Water use among suppliers dropped by 9.5%, nearly reaching the 10% reduction goal a year early.
- Promoting Second-Hand Fashion: Pre-loved fashion is now available in 26 markets, with second-hand shopping in 38 stores and through Sellpy’s online platform.
- Worker Rights: H&M renewed its agreement with global and Swedish trade unions, ensuring protections for over one million workers.
“We remain fully committed to our ambitious sustainability agenda. We are on track to achieve our goal for all our materials to be either recycled or sustainably sourced no later than 2030, and we almost reached our 30 percent goal for recycled materials by 2025 a year ahead of schedule. Our efforts to use less and cleaner energy across our supply chain are also delivering strong results in our decarbonisation journey, aligned with our science-based targets. We are aware of the challenges ahead of us and we remain confident that we are on course to fulfill our sustainability agenda in the years to come,” says Leyla Ertur, Sustainability Director, H&M Group.
With sustainability at its core, H&M Group is setting new standards for responsible fashion and working towards a greener future.
