Primark has published its fourth Sustainability and Ethics Progress Report demonstrating further progress in its Primark Cares sustainability strategy.

The retailer, headquartered in Dubin, Ireland, with 2024 sales of approximately £9.44 billion from 451 stores, is continuing to embed its approach to circularity and extending product life within its business. This includes integrating circular design principles into the design and manufacture of its products, enhancing product traceability, supporting customers with repair and clothing care options and tackling carbon emissions throughout its supply chain. The company also continues to prioritise the wellbeing and rights of workers in its supply chain through a range of social impact programmes.

“People come to Primark for great value fashion and everyday essentials that are made to last,” said Lynne Walker, director of Primark Cares. “Four years on, we’ve shown that you don’t have to choose between sustainability and value. Our sustainability commitments belong to all of us at Primark and we continue to use our scale for good to help drive change both within Primark and outside it. We know we have a huge responsibility as a global retailer and there is always more to be done but this year’s report shows that our efforts, and those of our suppliers and partners, are starting to bring about meaningful change. We continue to learn as we gather insights and data and further collaborate across the industry.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to focus its efforts where it can have the greatest impact, Primark is reviewing its sustainability strategy to align with evolving regulations and changing customer expectations, with further updates to be shared next year.

Product

Primark has continued to strengthen the sustainability of its product offering, with 74% of its clothing now made using recycled or more responsibly sourced fibres, an increase from 66% in 2023. Of this total, 39% of garments contain recycled fibres, while 57% include cotton that is organic, recycled or sourced through the Primark Cotton Project, its dedicated training programme for farmers within the supply chain. Progress in circularity is also evident, with 5% of items now designed to be easier to recycle at end of life, supported by notable improvements in jersey and denim ranges. Denim in particular has seen thoughtful design advancements, with selected Autumn/Winter pieces created without elastane or metal rivets to simplify recycling. Alongside this, Primark has completed its first full year of durability testing for denim, socks and jersey, with a significant proportion achieving aspirational durability standards.

These insights are now informing wider engagement with EU policymakers as new repair and durability legislation evolves, while the company’s traceability programme now covers 100% of its clothing, textile and footwear suppliers.

Planet

Environmental performance has also shown steady improvement, with Primark achieving an overall 5.7% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions compared to its 2019 baseline. This includes a 71% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 4% decrease in Scope 3 emissions, reflecting progress across both direct operations and the wider value chain. Sustainable logistics have also advanced, with 19% of ocean freight using a biofuel blend and 98% of port-to-depot journeys now powered by low-carbon fuel.

In parallel, 97 factories across Bangladesh, China and India have been integrated into Primark’s resource efficiency programme, designed to reduce energy, water and chemical use as well as associated emissions and costs. The Primark Cotton Project has also driven positive impact, with over 90% of participating farmers adopting regenerative agricultural practices across a significant portion of their land.

People

Supporting those within its operations and supply chain remains a central focus, with nearly 1,400 colleagues trained to embed responsible purchasing practices across the business. Primark has implemented four wellbeing initiatives addressing both physical and mental health across more than 300 supplier factories, reinforcing its commitment to safer and more supportive working environments. Its grievance mechanism, Tell Us, has been expanded to most sourcing countries, giving workers and stakeholders a clearer channel to raise concerns across both resale and non-resale goods. In partnership with Vision Spring, Primark has also delivered tangible health benefits, conducting 35,000 vision tests across 16 supplier factories and providing corrective glasses to around 13,000 workers.

www.corporate.primark.com