H&M Group has announced the successful independent validation of its science-based targets for land, making it a frontrunner in the fashion industry’s efforts to address biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
The targets, established under the guidance of the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN), focus on three core areas: halting land conversion, reducing the group’s agricultural footprint, and engaging in landscape restoration.
H&M has committed to a series of measurable goals to be achieved by 2030, using a 2019 baseline:
- Zero conversion: A commitment to ensure 100% sustainably sourced materials by 2030, with strengthened risk management to prevent the conversion of natural ecosystems.
- Footprint reduction: A target to reduce its absolute agricultural land footprint by 3.85%. This will be driven by increasing the share of recycled materials in its products to 50%.
- Landscape engagement: Active participation in regenerative projects, including the REEVA project in Central India and the Regenerative Wool Project in South Africa.
The validation follows H&M’s participation in an SBTN pilot programme throughout 2023 and 2024. By using the ARRRT framework (Avoid, Reduce, Restore, Regenerate, Transform), the retailer aims to build long-term resilience in its supply chain against the impacts of climate change and soil depletion.
“By committing to SBTN’s land targets, we anchor our decisions in science and strengthen our ability to safeguard ecosystems,” said Leyla Ertur, Chief Sustainability Officer at H&M Group.
The move has been praised by conservation partners, including WWF International, for raising the bar within the fashion sector. The group will now focus on supporting farmers in “priority landscapes”—specifically for cotton and wool production—to improve water retention and soil health.
Erin Billman, CEO of the SBTN, noted: “H&M Group is demonstrating how companies in complex global value chains can translate ambition into a clear, accountable pathway for action.”
