STRATEGIC COLLABORATIONS

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Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) – The Better Cotton Initiative is a not-for-profit organisation focused on improving global cotton production for its producers and the environment. As part of our responsibility strategy, we have set ourselves a goal  to procure 100% of our cotton* more sustainably by 2022 by using a portfolio approach.

 

Burberry Foundation – The Burberry Foundation was established in 2008 as an independent charity (UK registered charity number 1154468), and is dedicated to using the power of creativity to drive positive change in our communities and build a sustainable future through innovation. We support the Foundation with an annual donation and partner with it to achieve our goal to positively impact one million people by 2022. Since FY 2017/18, multiple strategic partnerships have been launched with Teach First, The Careers & Enterprise Company and MyKindaFuture, the Royal College of Art, Oxfam, Pur Projet, Elvis & Kresse, Ideas Foundation and City University of New York’s Creative Arts Team and Progetto Quid.

 

Ellen Macarthur Foundation/ Circular Fibres Initiative (CFI) – We are a core partner of the Circular Fibres Initiative, led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. This systemic initiative aims to move the fashion industry away from the traditional ‘take, make, waste’ linear approach to a circular model, by implementing the recommendations set out in the initiative’s latest report “A New Textiles Economy – Redesigning fashion’s future”.  We are proud to partner with The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and support its aim to inspire a generation to rethink, redesign and build a positive future through a restorative, circular economy.

 

Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) – We are a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative, a leading alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs that promotes respect for workers' rights around the globe. We were the first luxury brand to join the ETI in 2010, and are a member of several working groups, collaborating with key stakeholders to improve working conditions across our supply chain.

 

Forum for the Future – Forum for the Future is an independent not-for-profit organisation working globally with business, government and other organisations to solve complex sustainability challenges. Forum for the Future sits on the Burberry Responsibility Advisory Committee, a group of external expert stakeholders who help us review key responsibility objectives and commitments.

 

Leather Working Group – We are a member of the Leather Working Group, a multi-stakeholder organisation that aims to improve the tanning industry by creating alignment on environmental priorities, bringing visibility to best practices and providing guidelines for continual improvement. We encourage our tanneries to be audited by the Leather Working Group.

 

Living Wage Foundation – In 2015, Burberry became the first luxury retailer and manufacturer to achieve accreditation as a UK Living Wage Employer, and subsequently became a Principal Partner of the Foundation. Continuing our support for the Living Wage Foundation, in 2016 we joined the steering group of the Global Living Wage Initiative, to help harness the increasing interest in the Living Wage and address in-work poverty across all sectors and multiple geographies, as part of a unified, global approach with multi-stakeholder participation.

 

Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) – The NRDC is a United States based, not-for-profit organisation working to safeguard natural resources and deliver environmental justice. NRDC’s programme ‘Clean by Design’ has been the foundation for the development of our own energy and water efficiency programme with supply chain partners and we continue to work with the organisation to strengthen our programme as well as our monitoring and evaluation framework.

 

RE100 – In 2017 Burberry became a member of the RE100, a global initiative led by The Climate Group in partnership with The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) that brings together influential businesses committed to 100% renewable energy. As members of RE100, we hope to drive wider demand for low carbon power and encourage all energy providers to introduce renewable energy options.

 

Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) – In 2015, we became a founding partner of the SFA, a UK-based not-for-profit organisation working with key stakeholders involved in driving sustainable cashmere production in Mongolia; restoring grasslands, promoting animal welfare and improving the livelihoods of herders and their families.

 

Textile Exchange – We are a member of the Textile Exchange, which is a not-for-profit organisation working to increase the global market for sustainable fibres by creating certifiable sustainability standards for key raw materials such as down. Burberry is on the advisory board to the International Wool Working Group, which launched a new responsible Wool Standard in 2016 to promote animal welfare and good land management for rearing animals.

 

UN Global Compact – We are a signatory of the UN Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative supporting companies in aligning strategies and operations with 10 principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Each year, we submit a Communication on Progress, detailing actions we have taken to implement the ten principles and measured outcomes.

 

Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) – As an active member of the Board of the ZDHC group, we work with 20 other leading brands committed to driving industry-wide change to advance towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals in the textile and footwear supply chain.

 

The G7 Fashion Pact - In 2019, we became signatories of The Fashion Pact, a global alliance between 32 of the world's leading fashion companies to tackle climate change. Through the Pact, we will build on our work over the last decade to limit global warming, protect the world's oceans and restore biodiversity.

 

UN Climate Change - In December 2018, we became a founding signatory of the UN Climate Change Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. The initiative aims to drive improvements across the fashion industry with an initial goal of reducing aggregate greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.

 

Canopy - We are partnering with Canopy, an NGO that works to protect the world’s forests, species and climate by collaborating with business leaders, scientists and decision-makers, utilising Canopy’s hot button report and working directly with suppliers and producers to ensure we only source viscose from responsible sources. 

 

Year Up – We have partnered with Year UP, a charity, which aims to help young adults in their careers by providing them with the skills, experience and support, empowering them to reach their potential through higher education and professional careers.

 

* Where cotton is the product's main material