Katie Ioanilli, Chief Global Impact & Communications Officer, said in the company’s announcement:
“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.”
Instead of targeting net zero by 2040, Ralph Lauren will now set rolling five-year reduction goals, beginning with its SBTi-validated 2030 target of cutting emissions 30% from the FY20 baseline. This change reflects a science-based approach aligned with the Paris Agreement while addressing the realities of infrastructure and regulatory development.
Lewis Perkins, President and CEO of the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), noted:
“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.”
The company is supporting supply chain decarbonization through initiatives such as the Future Supplier Initiative, a financing mechanism from The Fashion Pact, Aii, Guidehouse, and DBS Bank.
The fashion sector remains one of the largest contributors to global emissions, accounting for an estimated 2–8% of annual carbon output according to the UN Environment Programme. Industry coalitions such as the Fashion Pact and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) are pushing brands toward standardized climate reporting and supplier engagement, areas where Ralph Lauren has aligned its strategy.
Ralph Lauren’s report also includes enhanced disclosure frameworks, anticipating regulatory shifts such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and evolving U.S. SEC climate disclosure rules.
Ralph Lauren will publish updates on its 2025 calendar-year goals in early 2026 and unveil the next phase of its Timeless by Design strategy, with a focus on embedding sustainability commitments deeper into operations.
