Impact and dependencies assessment
The company has not holistically assessed its impacts or how it depends on nature, including biodiversity. It has an opportunity to start such an assessment across its value chains, focused on quantification of its impacts or dependencies.
Key areas and species
The company does not disclose key species or areas important for biodiversity affected by its operations or suppliers. It has an opportunity to increase its transparency.
Ecosystem conversion and restoration
No evidence was found regarding Ralph Lauren’s efforts to avoid ecosystem conversion, including deforestation, or promote restoration. The company has an opportunity to develop a strategy and publicly report on specific, time-bound targets. Furthermore, it does not disclose a commitment to restore ecosystems, nor the details and outcomes of ecosystem restoration projects in areas affected by its own operations or by its suppliers.
Resource exploitation and circularity
No evidence was found regarding Ralph Lauren’s efforts to work towards a circular economy or which organisms it exploits. The company has an opportunity to develop a strategy and publicly report on specific, time-bound targets. Although it discloses its financial contribution to the Soil Health Institute, it is unclear whether the support leads to direct improvements in soil health in its production or sourcing practices. The company does not disclose a target to improve soil health in its production or sourcing practices.
Water
Although the company is working towards reducing its water withdrawals in its upstream value chain activities, no evidence it reduces water withdrawal across its own operations was found. Ralph Lauren does not report how much water is withdrawn for its own operations in water-stressed areas nor does it engage with suppliers to reduce water withdrawal. The company does not report a decrease in water pollution or its processes for managing and monitoring discharge water quality. Ralph Lauren does not regularly report on water pollution or any targets to reduce water pollution.
Solid and air pollution
Ralph Lauren does not disclose a commitment to avoid developing or marketing new chemicals or products with SVHC (substance of very high concern) properties. No evidence that it is reducing the production of hazardous waste was found. No evidence that the company reduces plastic use and waste in its own operations was found. It also does not report on the amount of plastic waste generated and proportions directed from or to disposal. Ralph Lauren does not report on air quality parameters of emissions of harmful air pollutants, nor report time-bound targets to reduce air pollutants across the most material parts of its value chain.
GHG emissions
Ralph Lauren is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, across all three scopes. It commits to reducing its absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. Furthermore, it discloses a target to achieving net zero on its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, aligning with a 1.5-degree trajectory. However, no evidence was found regarding its scope 3 target being aligned with a 1.5-degree trajectory.
Invasive species
The company has not identified any activities that could lead to the introduction of invasive alien species in its own operations.