Condé Nast has released a statement to announce that it has become the first media company to sign the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action and to make packaging pledges as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. Through these partnerships, new initiatives and clear targets of accountability, the company aims to drive higher standards and systemic change in addressing the world’s most critical issue, climate change.

As the first media company to sign the Charter, Condé Nast joins other fashion industry players including Inditex, Kering and Stella McCartney in acknowledging the sector’s contributions to climate change and a responsibility to strive towards climate neutrality for a safer planet. The fashion industry contributes to environmental issues, including textile waste, water contamination, pollution and more. 

In line with the principles of the Fashion Charter and with the goal of promoting broader climate action, Condé Nast will work with industry partners to influence consumers’ behaviours by promoting the re-use of clothes, sustainable fashion, innovative materials and technologies, which can help to mitigate the environmental impact of fashion. 

In continuing its transformative journey to a more sustainable business practice, Condé Nast will lead by example to assess, disclose and minimise its environmental footprint. It will publish its first assessment report in early 2020 and outline a roadmap for a global sustainability plan, including setting targets for its use of greenhouse gases.

“Fashion has always reflected the big changes in society and been part of the cultural discourse. It is that timeliness that makes fashion so influential. Today, it is the duty of designers, textile manufacturers, fashion houses and fashion journalists to completely re-imagine, re-design and re-engineer how we make and consume fashion. As the world's number one fashion publisher, we commit to doing our very best in championing these positive efforts. We absolutely must reach the Paris climate goals,” commented Wolfgang Blau, global Chief Operating Officer and President, International, Condé Nast.