Fashion brand Reformation stated it is on track to become climate positive by the end of 2025, having reduced emissions intensity and invested in carbon removals exceeding its footprint. Chief sustainability officer Kathleen Talbot acknowledged shortfalls in some targets but highlighted advances in supply chain reductions and materials sourcing. The company now aims for full circularity by 2030.
Reformation set its climate positive target in 2020, aiming to cut its carbon footprint as much as possible and offset the rest. Kathleen Talbot, the brand's chief sustainability officer, explained the goal emerged amid anxiety from 2019 IPCC reports. In 2022, Reformation established science-based targets verified by the Science-Based Targets initiative: a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and 48% cut in Scope 3 emissions per value added, both from a 2021 baseline. Talbot noted that Scope 1 and 2 emissions rose due to retail expansion, with 10 to 15 new stores annually, despite operating on 100% renewable energy from the baseline year. The brand compensated by focusing on Scope 3, achieving a 25% reduction by end-2025 through 14 emissions programs covering 30% to 40% of production, in partnership with the Apparel Impact Institute. Total 2025 emissions reached 57,762 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, below the 58,750-ton goal, with 71,500 tons removed via offsets—125% of the footprint. Emissions intensity per product fell from 37 pounds in 2021 to 26.3 pounds in 2025. Materials sourcing, 40% of the footprint, saw key shifts: a 55% cashmere footprint cut via recycled yarns, partial elimination of virgin silk, and 97.5% of fibers from recycled, regenerative, or renewable sources by 2025. Transportation adjustments included reducing air freight from 40% to 33% of shipments, boosting trucks to 63% and starting ocean freight at 3.5%, to curb overproduction via smaller batches. Reformation adopted data-driven production, tying executive bonuses to sustainability. Looking ahead, the brand will use the Climate Label framework for decarbonization budgeting and pursue circularity by 2030, with partnerships yielding downcycling of 147,232 pounds of waste and resale of over 1.5 million units since 2021.
