Levi Strauss and Marks & Spencer have joined forces with Schneider Electric’s consulting practice to launch the Fashion Renewable Collaborative (FRC), an initiative designed to help suppliers across the fashion industry move toward renewable electricity at scale.
The three companies announced the initiative last week, presenting the FRC as a practical framework for suppliers ranging from garment manufacturers to fabric mills and dye houses. The program is intended to help businesses better understand the benefits of clean energy while providing guidance on how to put renewable electricity solutions into practice.
The initiative was formally unveiled on Sept. 22 during New York City’s annual Climate Week. Other fashion brands and companies have been invited to join the collaborative.
Turning climate commitments into supply-chain action
The launch comes as fashion companies look for ways to turn their individual climate commitments into measurable and lasting emissions reductions across increasingly complex global supply chains.
According to a 2021 World Economic Forum report, the fashion industry and its supply chain ranked as the world’s third-largest polluter. Separate analysis has estimated that the sector is responsible for nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions each year — more than the emissions produced by international aviation and maritime shipping combined.
The environmental pressure on the sector could become even greater if current trends continue. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that, under the industry’s current trajectory, fashion could consume more than 26% of the world’s carbon budget by 2050 in efforts to keep additional global warming within 2°C.
Suppliers at the center of decarbonization efforts
The role of suppliers is particularly significant. An Apparel Impact Institute study cited by Levi’s, Marks & Spencer and Schneider Electric in their announcement found that fashion suppliers account for more than half of the industry’s carbon footprint.
The same study identifies renewable electricity adoption among suppliers as “one of the fastest and most scalable paths to progress” in the industry’s decarbonization efforts.
The Fashion Renewable Collaborative is therefore built around a structured implementation model aimed at helping suppliers move from understanding renewable energy to applying it. Online educational modules will provide training and practical information, while the common framework is intended to give participating brands a consistent approach and suppliers more tailored support.
The initiative will also seek to broaden suppliers’ access to different renewable energy options. These include power purchase agreements, energy attribute certificates, local energy storage, as well as on-site and distributed renewable power generation.
As part of the program, suppliers will also have access to tools, market guidance and digital educational resources provided through Schneider Electric’s SE Advisory Services.
For Levi’s, closer collaboration with suppliers is essential to making meaningful progress on emissions.
“It’s become abundantly clear that the most effective way forward on emissions reduction is working in partnership with suppliers,” said Jennifer DuBuisson, Senior Director of Sustainability at Levi’s, in a separate company release.
She added that the FRC is intended to provide greater support to suppliers that want to gain access to renewable electricity or increase their use of it but have so far faced difficulties doing so.
