H&M tops fashion climate rankings while Shein and Zara trail behind
H&M led a new climate scorecard ranking fashion brands by progress in cutting fossil fuel use, while Shein and Zara scored far lower despite increased public climate pledges.
Olivia Raimonde and Akshat Rathi report for Bloomberg.
In short:
- The 2025 Fossil-Free Fashion Scorecard by Stand.earth ranked 42 fashion companies on their decarbonization progress. H&M earned a B+ overall grade, topping the list, while Shein received an F and Zara got a C.
- Shein’s Scope 3 emissions have surged more than 170% since the previous report. Despite public pledges and investments in circularity, the company has not disclosed updated emissions data.
- H&M has committed $179 million toward decarbonization and is one of only three companies meeting UN net-zero integrity criteria. Its Scope 3 emissions were about half those of Zara or Shein.
Key quote:
“What we are seeing is that you can do it, despite the complexity and difficulty. There are no excuses left for the companies falling behind.”
— Todd Paglia, executive director of Stand.earth
Why this matters:
The fast fashion industry is a major source of global emissions, with production chains stretching across continents and relying heavily on fossil fuels. Scope 3 emissions — those from supply chains — make up the bulk of fashion’s climate footprint and remain largely unchecked. This report signals growing public pressure on brands to clean up these indirect emissions and invest in real, measurable progress. H&M’s leadership shows it is technically and financially feasible to cut emissions without halting business growth. Meanwhile, Shein’s continued surge in pollution despite splashy ESG pledges raises concerns about greenwashing. With climate impacts accelerating, the gap between action and inaction in corporate climate responsibility has never been more visible — or consequential.
Read more: Fast fashion's impact: land grabs and violence in Brazil
