Ralph Lauren retires 2040 net zero goal to focus on near-term reductions

US fashion brand Ralph Lauren has announced that it is phasing out its 2040 net zero goal in favour of rolling five-year targets, signalling a focus on concrete short-term action after reducing absolute emissions by 34%.

In its latest sustainability report, the company explains that this approach “is intended to deliver impactful results and drive accountability”. Ralph Lauren adds that it will continue to follow a science-based methodology aligned with the Paris Agreement and support industry programmes  to decrease the cost of decarbonisation for suppliers.

“Guided by Ralph’s vision of timelessness, our citizenship and sustainability work is fundamentally about supporting the longevity of our business and the resilience of the people and resources that enable it,” said Katie Ioanilli, Chief Global Impact & Communications Officer, Ralph Lauren Corporation. “Over the last three years, we’ve sharpened our focus, deepened our partnerships and evolved how we work to further embed our approach and progress into our business and culture.”

Ralph Lauren: 34% drop in absolute emissions since 2020

The company notes that it will start by focusing on its SBTi-validated target to reduce absolute emissions by 30% by 2030 – but its latest disclosures suggest this goal has already been met. Ralph Lauren decreased absolute emissions by 34% in 2025 compared to its 2020 baseline, a result driven by a reduction in units produced, as well as supply chain decarbonisation efforts.

Emissions are down across all scopes, though Scope 3 emissions increased slightly from 2024, from 1,206,000 tonnes to 1,217,000 tonnes – still 30% below the company’s 2020 baseline.

One of the supply chain decarbonisation programmes the company supports is the Future Supplier Initiative, a collective financing mechanism facilitated by The Fashion Pact in partnership with Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Guidehouse and DBS Bank.

“Ralph Lauren is setting progressive goals that keep the Company focused on science-based decarbonization methods while also accounting for the maturity of the wider ecosystem and regulatory environment,” said Lewis Perkins, President and CEO, Apparel Impact Institute. “Their investments in Aii are exactly the kind of measurable, on-the-ground efforts that drive meaningful decarbonisation outcomes.” 

Ralph Lauren stands out from fashion sector

With the phase-out of its net zero goal, Ralph Lauren is going against the grain compared to the rest of the fashion sector, but the brand is also outperforming competitors in terms of decarbonisation: in 2023, the apparel industry’s emissions went up 7.5% – the first real increase since 2019 driven by the popularity of ultra-fast fashion brands like SHEIN.