H&M Group sets science‑based targets for nature
H&M Group becomes one of the first in its sector, and the third company to date, to set independently validated science-based targets for land, validated by the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN).
These targets define how the company will reduce its impact on nature in line with what science says is needed to protect ecosystems.
WWF has worked closely with H&M Group throughout this process, helping assess risks in its supply chain and supporting the development of credible, science-aligned goals.
This milestone shows how major companies can take real, measurable action to help reverse biodiversity loss.
© Angus Burns / WWF-Sweden
Why SBTN
Wildlife populations have plummeted by 73% in less than 50 years, and ecosystems worldwide are reaching critical tipping points.
There is a clear need for science-based, measurable action to halt and reverse nature loss — just as we do for climate change.
The science-based targets for nature are measurable, time-bound goals that align business operations with what science tells us the planet actually needs to thrive.
WWF technical experts contributed to developing the SBTN guidelines, collaborating with scientists and practitioners worldwide.
SBTN is also aligned with major international frameworks, including the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the United Nations Land Degradation Neutrality targets.
These targets are grounded in the best scientific understanding of ecological thresholds.
If ecosystems collapse, business as usual is not an option.
At the same time, companies are well-placed to innovate, adapt and lead change at scale.
That is why WWF works with corporate partners to drive large-scale, systemic change by leveraging the private sector's economic influence, resources and innovation to tackle environmental crises like climate change and biodiversity loss.
H&M Group, a long-term partner of WWF since 2011, has now reached an important milestone, having set science-based targets for land, validated by SBTN.
The journey to now
WWF and H&M Group are early supporters of SBTN’s efforts to drive corporate action at the scale and pace needed to put nature on the path to recovery by 2030.
The partnership is focusing on key environmental impacts in the H&M Group value chain, especially water, climate and biodiversity.
In 2023, a pilot project was undertaken by SBTN with 17 companies to test the new guidance on setting science-based targets for nature.
WWF worked closely with H&M Group on several aspects of applying these guidelines to their company.
Specifically, WWF supported H&M Group's use of the WWF Risk Filter Suite to assess its modeled sourcing locations against nature-related impact indicators.
The suite was a key part of the assessment, a free online tool that enables companies and financial institutions to inform, explore, assess and act on biodiversity risks.
WWF also worked with H&M Group to prepare submissions on the partnership's landscape projects in India and South Africa for assessment against the requirements of the SBTN.
Some learnings from this experience are shared in the report Integrating Companies within Planetary Boundaries.
“Through our long-standing partnership, WWF and H&M Group have pushed the boundaries for corporate environmental leadership; they are proof that companies can—and must — become agents of regeneration," said Cris Close, deputy chief conservation officer, WWF International, and SBTN Advisory Board member.
"By adopting SBTN-validated land targets, H&M Group’s commitment raises the bar for the entire fashion sector and sends a strong signal to all companies to accelerate their own journey toward a nature‑positive future."
© WWF-Sweden
H&M Group’s SBTN Land Targets
The company has adopted the three core land targets defined by the SBTN: avoiding deforestation and conversion, reducing land footprint, and supporting landscape engagement projects in identified priority landscapes.
Read more about the targets here.
“The threats and depletion of nature also impact the resources our industry relies on — soil health, water cycles, biodiversity," Leyla Ertur, chief sustainability officer, H&M Group, said. "By committing to the SBTN’s land targets, we anchor our decisions in science and strengthen our ability to safeguard ecosystems together with our supply chain, farmers and communities.”
Why should companies consider setting science-based targets for nature?
From a business perspective, the SBTN methodology helps companies identify some of the most significant environmental impacts within their supply chains and set credible, science-based targets to reduce them.
For companies that depend on land for their business, SBTN land targets can reduce physical risks and help build supply chain resilience.
This proactive approach mitigates reputational and regulatory risks. With EU corporate disclosure standards requiring businesses to report on biodiversity impact and establish management targets, science-based targets have become a valuable tool to prepare for compliance.
Even if a company does not feel ready to go through the full validation process, the guidelines and tools can still be helpful in assessing and understanding their impacts on nature.
The time is now
More than 10,000 companies have set independently validated science based targets for climate.
Science based targets for nature are the next logical and essential addition to climate targets.
Increasing numbers of companies recognize this, with 30 companies currently part of the SBTN Step Up for Nature campaign through which they commit to specific next steps toward science-based targets for nature.
Any company that feels it is ready to submit a target for independent validation can reach out to the SBTN team directly or contact WWF at [email protected] for external queries.