Boston-based New Balance Athletics has pledged to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025 across its global operations as part of two new major climate commitments.
The company, which owns five factories in New England in the US, and one in Flimby in the UK, has joined RE100, a global corporate leadership initiative moving businesses toward 100% renewable electricity.
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New Balance already sources renewable electricity that covers its US-based offices, distribution centres, and the five footwear manufacturing facilities in Maine and Massachusetts, while rooftop solar provides about 30% of the electricity at its Flimby facility – so far generating more than 1m kilowatt-hours in solar energy.
“New Balance has always believed that making things matters, but how they are made matters even more. By taking action across our own global operations, especially in our owned factories, we can demonstrate clear leadership as we pursue even wider adoption of renewables and other measures across our supply chain and industry,” says Joe Preston, New Balance president and CEO. “We recognise that addressing climate change requires innovation and new ways of doing business. We are excited to join with many of the world’s leading companies to amplify our voice, learn from those that have done so much already, and help accelerate change at a larger scale.”
In addition, beyond its own operations, New Balance has become the latest company to join the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.
Launched in December last year under the auspices of UN Climate Change, the Fashion Industry Charter goes beyond previous industry-wide commitments to collectively address the climate impact of the fashion sector across its entire value chain.
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By GlobalDataBy joining the initiative, New Balance commits to a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, prioritising materials with low climate impact, eliminating new coal from Tier 1 and Tier 2 supply chains, supporting more circular business models, and engaging in closer dialogue with consumers to increase awareness and change behaviour.
“Moving towards a low carbon future is a core part of our global Responsible Leadership program and illustrates how New Balance seeks to do business with purpose and integrity”, says John Stokes, head of global sustainability at New Balance. “Clean energy is good for the environment, good for public health, and good for business, and we believe now is the time for action and collaboration to affect positive global change.”
