Ralph Lauren Corp. has revealed the next phase of its Global Citizenship & Sustainability strategy, Timeless by Design 2030. The strategy builds on the company’s progress over the past several years to enhance the resilience of the teams, communities, partners and natural resources essential to its business.
Since releasing its first GC&S strategy in 2017, Lauren has made advancements and evolved practices throughout its operations. These include reducing GHG emissions; decreasing total water use; meeting at least one sustainable material criteria in 99 percent of units produced, and expanding its reach and impact in the fight against cancer. Timeless by Design 2030 is focused on building on these efforts.
“By investing in the resilience of the people who shape our business, the communities we serve and the resources that make our products possible, we are reinforcing the long-term strength and durability of Ralph Lauren,” said Katie Ioanilli, chief global impact and communications officer at Ralph Lauren Corp. “Aligned to Ralph’s timeless vision that inspires everything we do, this work is enduring and foundational to operating a business that stands the test of time.”
Ralph Lauren has decreased total water use in its products.
Kate Mathi, courtesy of Ralph Lauren Corp.
Timeless by Design 2030 is built around four pillars, each with measurable goals. In addition to initiatives that advance the company’s longstanding commitments, each pillar is anchored by a flagship program reflecting where Ralph Lauren can make an impact.
The pillars and flagship programs are:
- Partner for Impact: This pillar outlines the key partnership that will help Ralph Lauren reduce carbon emissions and water use, expand empowerment and life skills programs for workers throughout its supply chain and strengthen strategic supplier relationships. Design With Intent, the company’s work to integrate culturally sustainable design into its products and storytelling, is the flagship program. By the end of 2031, the goal is to ensure Design With Intent programs are integrated within seasonal product launches across brands on a sustained basis.
- Protect Natural Resources: This pillar focuses on initiatives that address climate- and nature-related impacts, including creating products aligned to the company’s circular principles, enabling circular experiences for consumers and investing in innovative materials. As cotton is Ralph Lauren’s chief material, Cotton Stewardship is the flagship program accelerating the shift toward regenerative and recycled cotton. By the end of fiscal year 2031, the goal is to ensure 30 percent of their global cotton volume will consist of regeneratively grown cotton and/or recycled cotton.
- Engage and Enable Teams: This pillar focuses on the programs that support Ralph Lauren employees’ growth and development and foster a culture of belonging that attracts and retains the industry’s best talent. The flagship program, Only at RL, encompasses the distinct experience of working at Ralph Lauren and how employees build careers in an environment where everyone feels valued. By the end of FY31, the goal is to maintain Global Employee Survey engagement and enablement scores at or above the high-performing norm.
- Care for Communities: This pillar advances the company’s longstanding efforts to give back to the communities it serves, including employee volunteering, philanthropic giving and strategic partnerships. Pink Pony, Ralph Lauren’s global initiative in the fight against cancer, is the flagship program. The goal for FY31 is to increase their global financial support to cancer-related organizations, including the Pink Pony Fund of The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation, by 25 percent from a FY25 base.
Among some of the foundational programs, the goal by the end of FY31 is to reduce fresh water intensity associated with textile processing by 15 percent in priority water stress basins, measured from a FY20 baseline. Another goal is by the end of FY31 that at least 70 percent of their business is with high-performing suppliers that meet their strategic and key partnership expectations, including business, quality and impact.
For Worker Wellbeing, a goal is that by the end of FY31, to make empowerment and life skills programs available to 250,000 workers across their supply chain. Another goal by FY31 is to ensure all strategic and key suppliers will have the capabilities and systems in place to deliver fair and timely compensation.
In collaboration with industry partners and leading organizations, Ralph Lauren is engaging in collective efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the resilience of its supply chain. The goal by the end of calendar year 2030 is to reduce absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 30 percent from a FY20 base.
The company said it has made progress since formalizing its citizenship and sustainability work. The company is committed to advancing the progress it has made in the following areas: use safer and more sustainable chemicals throughout their business to address their human and environmental impact; maintain no on-site coal consumption in Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturing facilities; maintain 100 percent preferred material attributes for its key materials, and maintain 100 percent recycle, reusable or preferred material attributes for their packaging materials. In addition, all key wood suppliers for new Ralph Lauren store interiors continue to use preferred material attributes for wood substrates; maintain greater than 90 percent waste diversion at distribution centers, and power their owned and operated facilities with 100 percent renewable electricity.
Timeless by Design 2030 outlines Ralph Lauren’s priorities for the next five years and enables its Next Great Chapter: Drive strategy. The company will measure and report progress annually, aligned to the company’s fiscal year. The full strategy and its goals are available on the company’s website.
