PUMA Surpasses Sustainability Goals With A 24% Reduction In Greenhouse Gas Emissions In 2023

In a significant stride towards environmental sustainability, PUMA has announced a remarkable reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 24% in 2023 compared to the previous year. This achievement comes amidst a period of strong sales growth for the Herzogenaurach, Germany-based sports company. The reduction in emissions has been attributed to a series of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing sustainability across its operations.

Key to this achievement has been the doubling of renewable energy usage by PUMA's core suppliers in 2023, a shift towards less carbon-intensive materials in product manufacturing, and the adoption of low carbon shipment tariffs by its logistics partner Maersk. Additionally, PUMA has made significant investments in renewable electricity, renewable energy certificates for its operations, and electric vehicles for its car fleet. These efforts have culminated in an absolute reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 29% compared to the 2017 baseline.

Anne-Laure Descours, Chief Sourcing Officer at PUMA, expressed pride in the company's progress on its sustainability journey, particularly in reducing greenhouse gases. She emphasized the company's commitment to continuing its sustainability strategy and achieving its "10FOR25" targets. Remarkably, PUMA achieved its first science-based greenhouse gas reduction target in 2023, seven years ahead of the target year 2030. This includes an 85% reduction in own emissions and a 65% reduction in supply chain emissions relative to sales.

PUMA's new climate goals have received approval from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), aligning with what scientists deem necessary to limit global warming below 1.5 degrees. By 2030, PUMA aims to reduce its absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 90% from a 2017 baseline year and commits to reducing absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions from its supply chain and logistics by 33% compared to 2017.

Beyond climate action, PUMA has also made significant progress with its other "10FOR25" sustainability targets, achieving two of them ahead of schedule. The company eliminated plastic carrier bags from its owned and operated stores and is exploring biodegradable plastic options. A notable achievement is the successful RE:SUEDE experiment, which will see a commercial version of its classic Suede sneaker launched in April 2024, designed to be compostable under industrial conditions.

PUMA has also excelled in its Human Rights target by training over 220,000 factory workers on women’s empowerment and mapping subcontractors and Tier 2 suppliers for human rights risks. Moreover, PUMA employees contributed over 57,000 hours towards community engagement. The company has increased the use of recycled materials in its products, with eight out of ten products now made with significant parts of recycled or certified materials. Starting from 2024, all PUMA replica football jerseys will be crafted using RE:FIBRE recycling technology, focusing on polyester textile waste.

This comprehensive approach towards sustainability underscores PUMA's dedication to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. As the company continues to innovate and implement sustainable practices across its operations, it sets a commendable example for others in the industry to follow.