Ralph Lauren Announces Comprehensive New Global Citizenship & Sustainability Strategy and Goals
“When Ralph founded our Company more than 50 years ago, he did so with
the conviction that whatever we create is meant to be worn, loved and
passed on for generations,” says
Design the Change is led by senior leadership, with strong governance in place. The Ralph Lauren Corporation Board of Directors has expanded the responsibilities of the Company’s Nominating & Governance Committee to include oversight of environmental and social risks and opportunities; the Company formed a Senior Steering Team made up of members of the Global Leadership Team; and the Company recently appointed its first Chief Sustainability Officer, Halide Alagöz, who also serves as the Company’s Chief Supply Chain Officer.
Design the Change is focused on three areas where
Select goals include:
- Achieve 100% sustainably-sourced key materials – including cotton – by 2025
- Train design, product development and merchant teams on sustainable, circular, inclusive and culturally-aware design annually by 2020
- Set science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets by 2020 and 100% renewable energy targets by the end of 2019
- Achieve gender parity with equal representation in leadership positions at the Vice President level and above by 2023
- Increase female representation in factory management by 25% by 2025
The report also highlights significant Company achievements from the
past year. Of note,
- Unveiled the Earth Polo, a reimagination of the iconic Polo shirt crafted from an innovative fabric produced entirely from plastic bottles. The creation of the Earth Polo is part of the Company’s commitment to recycle 170 million bottles by 2025. Each Polo is made from approximately 12 plastic bottles – which may have otherwise ended up in oceans or landfills – and uses a completely waterless dyeing process.
- Donated more than 14,000 hours of time and talent to non-profit organizations through Ralph Lauren Gives Back. In FY19, the Company hosted three Ralph Lauren Gives Back weeks, during which Company teams volunteered with 80 organizations. Employees also took part in 64 fundraising walks for life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and AIDS.
- Achieved a global workforce gender balance of 64% female, with women holding 53% of positions at and above the Senior Director level.
- Launched the “Lead Like a Woman” campaign, a platform which aims to close the leadership gap between women and men, and includes media, products and events celebrating female leaders and providing support for the NGO Women in Film.
The 2019 Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report and the 2019 Standards Supplement are available for download on the Company’s website.
ABOUT
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Source:
MEDIA RELATIONS:
Neha Wadhwa
212 318 7442
RL-Press@ralphlauren.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Corinna Van der Ghinst
212 813 7868
IR@ralphlauren.com