Under Armour declares commitments to address climate change

Amerian apparel & footwear company, Under Armour, revealed three commitments to reduce the environmental effects of its activities as part of its vision to protect the earth for future generations of Focused Performers.

Under Armour commits to convert all electricity consumption in owned and run facilities to 100 percent renewable energies by 2030, and to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, when climate change becomes a central focal point of its corporate sustainability activities.

VP and Chief Sustainability Officer of Under Armour, Michael Levine said that with clean air, water, and home fields, they want Focused Performers, their teammates, and the communities to flourish. They will sync their business planning with the world they want to achieve – the highest performance possible on the cleanest planet Earth possible – and they’ve committed to clear climate goals and milestones.

Specific Under Armour commitments announced include: Reduce absolute scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 from the base year of 2018, according to the Research Focused Targets initiative’s science-based emissions target (SBTi); through 2030, increase annual renewable energy sourcing in owned and run facilities to 100%, with an initial target of 80% by 2025. This announcement coincides with Under Armour’s participation in RE100.

And the last one- as a commitment to the Industry Ambition for 1.5°C Campaign, which is supported by a national alliance of UN leaders, companies, and NGOs, achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. SBTi is leading the initiative in collaboration with the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business alliance.

These goals are in line with the SBTi science-based standards and the RE100. Under Armour’s science-based goal has been reduced in scope 1 and 2, which is in line with the thresholds needed to avoid global warming below 1.5°C, as set out in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

The CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature collaborated on the Science-Based Targets initiative (WWF). The SBTi establishes and encourages best practices in science-based target selection, as well as evaluating and approving corporate carbon reduction goals. The SBTi is being used by over 1,200 businesses around the world.

Under Armour will offer feedback on progress toward these climate targets and will continue to look at ways to collaborate with other climate change innovators and leaders in the development of long-term industry solutions.

Levine says that they’re committed to creating not only a quality product but a better future as well. They will be open and honest about the problems they face, and they want to collaborate with others to find new ways to mitigate environmental impacts.