The strategy, Design the Change, is both a commitment and a journey to accelerate the Company’s work across citizenship and sustainability and includes a new set of goals that bring clarity and focus to how Ralph Lauren will deliver the change required to create a better future. As part of its commitment, the company also announced it has signed onto the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), joining other companies across industries to implement universal sustainability principles and to take steps to support UN goals.
Design the Change is focused on three areas where Ralph Lauren can create the greatest positive impact: Creating Timeless Style, Protecting the Environment, and Championing Better Lives. Its foundation is 16 ambitious goals that will guide the Company’s work across each of these areas. 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.
Significant company achievements from the past year are, for instant, 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.
The company also donated more than 14,000 hours of time and talent to non-profit organizations through Ralph Lauren Gives Back. The company also 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.
Other goal was that the company achieved a global workforce gender balance of 64% female, with women holding 53% of positions at and above the Senior Director level; and 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.
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+ info: Design the Change Report