Major fashion and sporting brands like Hermès, H&M, and Nike have come under fire for suspected climate greenwashing after promising to cut carbon emissions in Asia, producing more than half of the world’s clothing. The Missing Thread, a report published by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), identified 65 fashion brands violating emission guidelines. Forty-four of these had publicly pledged to be environmentally sustainable. These findings have intensified scrutiny of fashion giants accused of climate greenwashing, especially in regions most vulnerable to environmental degradation.
According to the report, none of the companies implemented the “Just Transition” strategy, which was presented during COP27 in Egypt in 2022 and aims to ensure an inclusive move to a low-carbon economy while protecting workers’ rights and lives.
Poor Support for Workers in the Face of the Climate Crisis
The results of the BHRRC reveal a severe deficiency of safeguards for employees exposed to climate-related hazards. Just four businesses provided advice on dealing with stress brought on by heat. Moreover, only two, Inditex and Kering, have made initial efforts to promote worker welfare.
According to Natalie Swan, labour rights programme manager at BHRRC, companies were taking a risky shortcut by concentrating just on decarbonization without involving the workers and trade unions most impacted by climate change and insufficient workplace safeguards. She emphasized that while companies sought emission targets, they ignored vulnerable people in supply networks.
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Greenwashing Accusations Mount as Emissions Rise
False sustainability claims have become a greater worry as the fashion sector is expected to contribute more than 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions shortly. Swan urged companies to move away from ambiguous green marketing and toward a “cleaner, fairer, and more resilient” fashion business that benefits people and the environment.
The BHRRC study emphasizes that symbolic commitments or catchphrases are insufficient to fulfill climate responsibility. Strong regulations that safeguard employees, cut pollution, and maintain transparency must be part of it. The growing number of fashion giants accused of climate greenwashing has questioned the sincerity of their climate pledges and raised demands for stronger accountability measures across the industry.
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