ASOS reveals 30% reduction in carbon emissions across its operations.

ASOS has revealed that after launching its sustainability strategy in 2015 it has reduced carbon emissions by 30% across its operations.

The clothing brand’s carbon strategy has allowed the company to cut emissions from its operations and delivery scheme.

In 2015, ASOS launched its Carbon 2020 strategy with a target to reduce operational carbon emissions per customer order every year until 2020.

The strategy defined key ambitions for ASOS, which have driven forward action on three main fronts: increasing energy efficiency, reducing delivery and packaging emissions, and increasing our use of renewable energy.

Since 2015, Carbon 2020 has delivered significant progress in each of these areas throughout the business, achieving a 30% reduction in carbon emissions per order, with reductions noted in each consecutive reporting year.

Nick Beighton, ASOS CEO said: “It has never been more important for businesses to step up and take account of the environmental impact associated with their operations. The climate crisis has crystallised the challenges that industry must face if we all are to continue to thrive.”

ASOS has grown significantly, becoming a £2.73 billion revenue business with 20.3 million customers. As a result, total emissions over this period have risen, but ASOS say through its Carbon 2020 strategy it has delivered an improved performance on a per-order basis.

In 2018/19, total emissions were 271,016 tonnes CO2e, growing by 14% when compared to the previous year.

However, ASOS number of orders we fulfilled also increased, while emission intensity (tCO2e/order) decreased by 3% year-on -year, making it the third year in a row where the company’s intensity per order fell.

In addition to this, ASOS will commit to ensuring all packaging is made from recycled materials and have signed up to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s New Plastic Economy Commitment. As a result, by 2025, ASOS packaging must be 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable.

6 March 2020

ClimateAction