According to the recently released “UK Retail 2025 Net Zero Stocktake” report, there is an urgent need for both the fashion industry and the broader retail sector to enhance collaboration across supply chains to achieve net zero emissions targets. The findings are derived from responses collected from 15% of BRC members during the period from 30 June to 8 August 2025.
The report highlights significant progress in the fashion sector, with 80% of drivers in retail fleets trained in fuel efficiency programmes and 90% of new retail buildings using LED lighting. However, the fashion industry faces substantial challenges, as over 93% of emissions occur outside direct control, primarily within supply chains and consumer usage. This necessitates a concerted effort to influence global suppliers and encourage sustainable consumer behaviour.
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In the fashion industry, transparency and responsible sourcing are critical. Currently, only 30% of the largest suppliers provide GHG emissions data, and 70% of products lack information on responsible sourcing. This gap presents a significant barrier to achieving net zero goals, as consumers increasingly demand sustainable practices from fashion brands.
The BRC report also identifies systemic challenges impeding progress, including policy uncertainty, supply chain complexity, financial pressures, and technological limitations.
These factors contribute to the slow pace of change within the fashion sector, despite the industry’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
To address these challenges, the BRC is committed to supporting retailers by facilitating cross-industry collaboration, tracking annual progress, and shaping policies that unlock investment and drive momentum.
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By GlobalDataThe report calls for the fashion industry to leverage its influence to advocate for supportive government policies and to encourage large-scale behaviour change among British consumers.
BRC CEO Helen Dickinson said: “In 2020, we launched the Climate Action Roadmap to set the ambition for UK retail to reach net zero by 2040. Five years on, we must use the takeaways from this report to drive the industry from collective ambition to a step change in collaborative action.
“The climate emergency is no longer tomorrow’s problem. It is here today; disrupting supply chains, driving shortages, increasing costs for households – and threatening the long-term stability and resilience of UK retail. Climate change is a very real risk to businesses and the consequences of inaction are simply too big to ignore. We need more radical collaboration between companies to bring down emissions and step up the drive to net zero.”
Key findings of BRC’s UK Retail 2025 Net Zero Stocktake report:
- 91% of retailers have established a GHG emissions baseline and are publicly reporting their emissions.
- 80% of drivers in retail fleets have been trained in fuel efficiency programmes.
- 90% of new retail buildings are equipped with LED lighting.
- Only 30% of the largest suppliers provide GHG emissions data.
- 70% of products lack information on responsible sourcing.
- 75% of respondents are training employees on climate action.
- 69% of relevant respondents have programmes to reduce consumer textile and food waste.
The report’s findings come at a time when the UK fashion industry is grappling with weak sales growth. According to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor, UK retail sales growth in November 2025 was the weakest in six months, partly due to mild weather reducing demand for winterwear.
