Many companies have postponed their plans to digitize their supply chain, not believing in quick results that would cover the value of the investment. Others believe that it is possible to continue operating without the use of industry 4.0 technology solutions. However, while many of these companies delay digitizing their supply chain, they miss out on the opportunity to grow in an increasingly global and competitive market.
In order to fully digitize, Puma has joined the research service Zero100. A company made up of some of the industry's top leaders, its goal common goal is to reduce carbon emissions from the supply chain by fully digitizing it.
With this step, the German sportswear multinational is seeking to move forward in line with the sustainable goals it has set as part of its "Forever Better" sustainability strategy, which includes significant reductions in its carbon emissions.
Both companies are working together to accelerate the textile industry's decarbonization progress toward more resilient, responsive, and responsible supply chains. When it comes to shared supply chains, Puma believes that greater collaboration is needed in the sector if carbon emissions are to be drastically reduced and global climate targets are to be met.
Puma’s Carbon Goals
Last year, Puma was well on track to meet the climate targets it set itself, announcing that it had reduced its carbon emissions by -88 percent and those from its supply chain by -12 percent between 2017 and 2021 while maintaining strong business growth over the same period.
Recognizing that it’s just one company in a large industry, Puma forms part of the long and opaque supply chains that make up the textile sector and have established it as the second most polluting industry. It needs to work with its counterparts to improve carbon emissions in its shared supply chains.
Anne-Laure Descours, Head of Group Procurement, also called for the need for collaboration between industry players, reaffirming that fighting climate change while trying to make our supply chain more agile and responsive to changing consumer needs is not something that any one company can achieve on its own. By joining forces with like-minded companies, we can amplify and accelerate our combined positive impact and deliver on our mission to be even better.
Puma’s Sustainability Efforts
The sportswear company has ambitious targets in six impact categories: transparency, emissions, water and chemicals, waste, materials, and workers' rights. PUMA leads the BoF Sustainability Index ranking with 49 points out of 100, followed by Kering and Levi Strauss. These results corroborate the company's Forever Better initiative, a commitment to reduce its impact on the environment.
Within the product category, the challenge is to source basic materials from more sustainable sources. This is why, in terms of clothing, the goal has been set to have 90% of materials of sustainable origin, while in accessories this figure must be at least 50%.
In parallel, Puma has committed to increase the use of recycled polyester for clothing and accessories to 75%, with the experience that by 2020 100% of the cotton used will be sustainably sourced. Puma’s products mainly consist of polyester, cotton, and leather. By 2021, 99% of its leather obtained either a gold, silver, or bronze medal rating by the Leather Working Group. It has committed to sourcing 100% Better Cotton Initative cotton by 2025, and in 2021, it achieved 99%.
Zero100
Zero100 is committed to supporting supply chain transformation that enables both business success and the long-term protection of vital resources. Achieving more equitable and agile innovative supply chains is a challenge that, when met, will have a positive impact on a global scale.
Zero100 provides a community-based education and research platform. Its learning programs, events, content, and connections help members accelerate progress on critical initiatives and increase the credibility of their supply chain while allowing them to consult their own research and analysis.