Dunelm and New Look tout alignment with SBTi’s Net-Zero Standard

Dunelm has set a new near-term target to halve emissions across all scopes by 2030, against a 2019 baseline. This is aligned with the SBTi’s 1.5C pathway.

Then, in a target verified under the SBTi’s Net-Zero Standard, Dunelm will strive to reduce absolute emissions across all scopes by at least 90% by 2040. The baseline is, once again, 2019.

Both the 2040 and 2030 targets are set in terms of absolute emissions rather than emissions intensity.

Dunelm said in a statement that it is already exceeding its intensity-based emissions goals for Scope 1 (direct) emissions.

Dunelm chief executive Nick Wilson said: “We’re delighted to have received approval of our ambitious targets from the SBTi. We are increasingly focused on achieving our goals in this area whilst recognising that there is more we can do to lead the homewares industry in reducing our environmental impact on the planet.

“We are building sustainability into all that we do, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it is a business imperative that supports our vision to be the UK’s most trusted and valuable brand in homewares and furniture.”

New Look

In related news, British fashion retailer New Look has confirmed that it has applied for SBTi verification of new climate targets and stated that it expects the decision to be made in November.

New Look is proposing a near-term target of reducing emissions across all scopes by 46% by 2031, against a 2021 baseline. It believes this target aligns with the SBTi’s 1.5C pathway.

Like Dunelm, the business is then aiming for Net-Zero Standard verification for a 2040 net-zero target. This will include a 90% reduction in absolute emissions across all scopes.

“We are pleased to have submitted our science-based targets ahead of schedule, which shows our commitment to make significant improvements to our greenhouse gas emissions and net-zero target,” said New Look’s head of sustainability Sue Fairley.

New Look has already recorded an 18% decrease in its Scope 1 (direct) and 2 (power-related) emissions since 2021. It has also seen a 22% reduction in Scope 3 (indirect) emissions.

The business hosted a supplier conference in London earlier this month and requested that all suppliers begin calculating and disclosing their own CO2e emissions.

The retailer recently partnered with supply chain platform TrusTrace to enable the collection of more detailed sustainability-related data across its supply chain, all the way to Tier 4 suppliers.

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