Primark steps up sustainability progress as it scales up switch to preferred materials and circular design, new impact data shows

Primark has published its fourth Sustainability and Ethics Progress Report demonstrating further progress in its Primark Cares sustainability strategy and broader Ethical Trade programme.

Primark is continuing to embed its approach to circularity and extending product life within its business. This includes integrating circular design principles into the design and manufacture of its products; enhancing product traceability; supporting customers with repair and clothing care options and tackling carbon emissions throughout its supply chain. The company also continues to prioritise the wellbeing and rights of workers in its supply chain through a range of social impact programmes that support these workers.

To drive further transparency, Primark has this year developed a new interactive version of the report, which can be found here.

Commenting on the on the progress, Lynne Walker, director of Primark Cares, said: “People come to Primark for great value fashion and everyday essentials that are made to last. Four years on, we’ve shown that you don’t have to choose between sustainability and value. Our sustainability commitments belong to all of us at Primark and we continue to use our scale for good to help drive change both within Primark and outside it. We know we have a huge responsibility as a global retailer and there is always more to be done but this year’s report shows that our efforts, and those of our suppliers and partners, are starting to bring about meaningful change. We continue to learn as we gather insights and data and further collaboration across the industry, both crucial to help us achieve our ambitions in this space.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to focus its efforts where it can have the greatest impact, Primark is reviewing its sustainability strategy to align with evolving regulations and changing customer expectations, with further updates to be shared next year.

Primark’s Sustainability and Ethics Report Progress 2024/2025 highlights:

Product

• 74% of its clothing is now made with recycled or more sustainably sourced fibres (up from 66% in 2023). Of this, nearly 4 in 10 (39%) Primark clothes now contain recycled fibres.

• 57% of its clothing contained cotton that was either organic, recycled or sourced from the Primark Cotton Project – Primark’s unique training programme for cotton farmers in their supply chain.

• One in 20 items (5%) are now circular by design, meaning it easier to recycle at end- of-life. Specific categories such as jersey (20%) and denim (8%) show notable progress. Standout denim items from Primark’s recent Autumn/Winter collection were designed with the end in mind, crafted without elastane or metal rivets to make recycling easier at the end of their life.

• Collected its first full year of durability testing results for denim, socks, and jersey, measured against Primark’s Durability Framework. 77% of denim and jersey wear, and 69% of socks, products tested achieved “Aspirational” durability levels (maintaining quality after 45 washes). Insights from this work are helping shape Primark’s engagement with policymakers across the EU where new legislation on repair and durability is evolving.
• Building on its work in traceability, 100% of clothing, textile and footwear suppliers in Primark’s supply chain have been onboarded to its traceability programme.

Planet

• Achieved an overall 5.7% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions compared to the 2019 baseline, which included a 71% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions and a 4% decrease in Scope 3 emissions.

• Nearly one fifth (19%) of Primark’s ocean freight was transported using a biofuel blend, which is a more sustainable alternative to diesel, with a further 98% of journeys from ports to depots made using low-carbon fuel.

• 97 factories across Bangladesh, China and India have been onboarded onto Primark’s resource efficiency programme, which aims to support suppliers to reduce energy, water and chemical use, and greenhouse gas emissions and costs.
• Over 90% of farmers in Primark’s award-winning Primark Cotton Project have adopted at least two or more regenerative agricultural practices on at least 30% of their farmland.

People

• Nearly 1,400 colleagues have been trained to date as part of Primark’s ongoing work to embed responsible purchasing practices across the business.

• Four initiatives focused on supporting supply chain workers’ physical and mental health and wellbeing were implemented across more than 300 suppliers’ factories.

• Primark-funded grievance mechanism, Tell Us, designed for workers and stakeholders in its supply chain, has been extended to suppliers in most sourcing countries, covering both resale and non-resale goods.
• In collaboration with Vision Spring, 35,000 vision tests were conducted in 16 of Primark’s suppliers’ factories, with glasses provided to approximately 13,000 workers.

Connecting people to our purpose

• Advanced its commitment to accessibility through a 49-piece adaptive collection, developed with designer Victoria Jenkins and launched in 10 markets.

• Donated over £3 million to charitable organisations and community partners, with an additional £1.75 million raised and donated through customer fundraising campaigns. Initiatives include partnerships with Breast Cancer Now, UNICEF, UK Youth, and the Irish Cancer Society and local charities across many of its markets.

• Almost 700 colleagues are involved in Primark’s global colleague networks, including LGBTQIA+ and Disability and Neurodiversity, across 17 markets.