From Chanel to Patagonia, what fashion sustainability managers are working on in 2025

Sustainability may be falling out of fashion as we enter the mid-decade, but the work isn’t stopping.

I asked sustainability managers across the fashion sector, from luxury to mainstream, to share some of the initiatives they will be working on this year. From product lifecycle education and customer services, to continuing to work towards net zero goals and putting better protections in place for workers in the supply chain, here’s what we can expect from brands in 2025.

Chanel

Luxury fashion house Chanel will continue its efforts to be net zero in its value chain by 2040. The brand is confident that it will meet its target of using 100% renewable energy in its assets owned, including stores, offices and manufacturing sites this year, as part of its net zero work. This year, Chanel will invest in data collection and processes to identify emerging hotspots and drivers of carbon emissions to sharpen and improve its transition plan.

Chanel’s global head of sustainability, Kate Wylie, said: “Our goals include restoring nature, protecting the climate, investing in circulation and supporting dignity and opportunity for all, especially the empowerment of women. Working to achieve our net zero targets, leveraging our people as agents of change and continuing to embed sustainable practices in our value chain, from material sourcing to product creation, are just a few areas of focus.”

Last year, Chanel renewed its partnership with the University of Cambridge for another three years to educate its employees on key sustainability topics and prototype sustainable solutions.

Wylie added that the company is also open to new partnerships: “As sustainability remains a key priority for us, we hope to encourage collective action inside and outside our House, working with other organizations and partners to inspire ideas that bring about a world where nature, people and business thrive together.”

FY

The owner of Vans, The North Face, Timberland and other active lifestyle brands will continue to work towards its goals for inclusion, diversity and equality, community, supplier human rights, climate, materials, chemistry and traceability.

An area of ​​focus for 2025 will be health and safety and the prevention of gender-based violence among its suppliers. As of VF’s most recent sustainability report, published in November 2023, more than 1,300 factory workers had been reached through the gender-based violence and harassment training pilot in Bangladesh, and 35 of VF’s 123 supplier factories in the field they graduated in Life & Building. Safety initiative program in FY23. Its goal is to reach all supplier factories within the field by FY26.

Sara Stefanski, VP, global responsible sourcing at VF, said: “These critical programs are implemented in collaboration with stakeholders on the ground, including government agencies, NGOs, peers and others in the industry to set exemplary standards. We are always looking for opportunities for continuous improvement in these and our other responsible sourcing initiatives, and we ensure that the voice of factory workers is included in that improvement process. More updates will be shared in our next sustainability report.”

Barburi

British brand Barbour, famous for its waxed jackets, has been working on services to help its customers extend the life of their products and this year will roll them out to additional markets.

A spokesperson said: “Following the success of Wax for Life [Barbour’s long-time jacket rewaxing service]In October 2024, Barbour introduced a new Quilt for Life scheme that enables cleaning and repairs to be carried out on Barbour quilted jackets. Our skilled factory team in South Shields [in the UK] can repair rips and tears and replace zippers and studs helping customers extend the life of their quilted favorites. Quilt for Life is currently available in the UK with future plans to extend this repair service to other global markets.

Pangan

PANGAIA, a materials innovation company that tests solutions in its clothing range, became a cult hit during the pandemic for its colorful sweat suits. Earlier this month, its head of global engagement, Eva Kruse, founder of the non-profit Global Fashion Agenda, announced she was leaving the brand after four years, marking a time of transition for the brand’s leadership.

Despite the turmoil, next year is full of new launches for the brand. Chelsea Franklin, head of advanced concept design, said: “Our efforts are focused on our pillars of Responsible Innovation: moving away from fossil fuel-derived materials, protecting biodiversity, sourcing ethically, preserving water health and reducing waste through recycling. Our upcoming collection of PLNT Nylon capsules exemplifies this approach. An innovative 100% bio-based alternative to conventional nylon derived from fossil fuels. Made from castor bean biomass, this innovation shows how renewable inputs can replace non-renewable ones without compromising quality or performance.”

Franklin added that PANGAIA is also working on a new material category that will be announced later in the year.

Prada

All eyes in luxury have been on Prada recently, which posted strong financial results in 2024 despite a slowdown in the market. In her sustainability efforts, she has just launched a new campaign for her recycled nylon collection to kick off the year, accompanied by a four-part documentary with National Geographic. The first episode is out now, with further episodes released through March. A spokesperson for the brand said that Prada’s plans for 2025 will also include its SEA BEYOND ocean conservation education program with new events scheduled for June.

The spokesperson said: “Throughout 2025, the partnership between the Prada Group and UNESCO will continue to develop the SEA BEYOND program with new initiatives in Venice and Nice on the occasion of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference. Two new projects funded by SEA BEYOND will be announced soon, involving scientific research on glaciers and corals.”

Patagonia

Patagonia is on track to reach a milestone this spring, after more than a decade of research into the cleanest solutions for waterproofing materials that are also functional, 100% of its products will be free of intentionally added PFA . He aims to share this innovation with the industry to create wider impact.

Nina Hajikhanian, general manager, EMEA at Patagonia, said: “Our commitment to reducing emissions and supply chain responsibility goes beyond our operations – it’s about improving terms and conditions at a systemic level. We share our lessons and solutions, partner with other businesses and organizations and advocate for effective and ambitious policies. We know the scale of the challenge ahead and we also know that meaningful change is possible when we work together.”

In ongoing work for the outdoor clothing brand this year, it will continue to work with United Repair Center to make progress on its goal to repair 100,000 items annually in Europe by 2028. It will also focus in its 2030 climate targets, with the goal of becoming net zero throughout its value chain by 2040.

Holdfast Collective, the principal owner of Patagonia, which donates all profits not reinvested back into the company to organizations and initiatives that help restore and regenerate the planet, has donated $1.7 million to the Redford Center and Santa Barbara Botanical Garden in 2025.