The brand has created three key focus areas
November 15, 2021: Announcing its new biodiversity strategy supporting global conservation efforts, Burberry aims to take action to protect, restore and regenerate nature through this plan, helping to slow down further global warming as a part of the transition towards the 1.5° C pathway laid out in the Paris Agreement.
The luxury company’s biodiversity strategy builds on Burberry’s recent commitment to become Climate Positive by the year 2040, expanding the scope of its current initiatives, applying a nature-based approach in its own value chain and in the areas of greatest need beyond its operations.
The biodiversity strategy includes three focus areas:
• Protecting and restoring nature not just within but beyond Burberry’s own value chain through projects supported by the Burberry Regeneration Fund. This fund was established in 2020 to accelerate low-carbon future solutions and invest in nature-based projects.
• Expanding support for farming communities, amplifying the existing efforts around farm-level certifications and training where Burberry spices its raw materials.
• Developing regenerative supply chains, applying holistic and regenerative land management practices to grazing or farming systems.
In partnership with The Biodiversity Consultancy, Burberry completed a biodiversity baseline assessment this year to determine its highest ecological impacts. This highlighted that cashmere, leather and wool have the most notable impact on biodiversity and account for a high proportion of Burberry’s carbon footprint. The brand will also apply Nature Based Solution Principles and Guidelines that have been developed in partnership with The Biodiversity Consultancy to projects funded through its Regeneration Fund, ensuring that natural ecosystems are protected, restored and regenerated.
The first luxury brand to sign up to the LEAF Coalition, beyond its value chain, with an investment expected to become the largest public-private initiative in the world, providing results-based finance to countries which are committed to making ambitious reductions in tropical deforestation. Burberry is also facilitating the regeneration of the world’s grasslands in the leather supply chain and the livelihoods of their inhabitants, through a partnership with the Savoy Institute’s Land to Market programme. Both these programmes will play an integral part in global regeneration and conservation efforts.
The strategy is aligned to the ‘ARRRT’ framework, covering four impact areas which build upon Burberry’s long-established programmes:
• Avoid: Continuing efforts within Burberry and across its extended supply chain to avoid negative impacts on biodiversity, conservation or the environment.
• Reduce: Reducing Burberry’s impact on biodiversity through the responsible sourcing of key raw materials and ensuring that these materials are traceable certified or recycled by the year 2025. Burberry will ensure all key materials are 100% traceable by 2025, for example, sourcing more sustainable cotton, leather and wool, as well as recycled polyester and nylon.
• Restore and Regenerate: Restoring ecosystems within Burberry’s own value chain, working with key partners such as Land to Market at the Savory Institute and the Sustainable Fibre Alliance.
• Transform: Accelerating solutions to drive change and protect vulnerable ecosystems beyond Burberry’s own value chain through active participation in The Fashion Pact and UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.
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