UN Climate Change News, 21 November, 2019 - Condé Nast today announced it will join the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. Joining the Charter marks the first step of Condé Nast’s wider global pledge to act and inspire climate action. Through this commitment, the company aims to drive higher standards and systemic change in addressing the world’s most critical issue of climate change.

As the first media company to support the Charter, Condé Nast will use the influence of its brands, reaching more than one billion people around the world, to help step up climate action through its own operations and the fashion and media industries.  

Condé Nast joins other fashion industry players including Inditex, Kering and Stella McCartney in acknowledging the sector’s contributions to climate change and a responsibility to strive towards climate neutrality for a safer planet.

“I welcome Condé Nast’s announcement today. Condé Nast is the first media outlet to join the Fashion Industry Charter, which is a token of their commitment to play their part in reaching the Paris Agreement goals, and highlights the need to have every sector and everyone on board,” said Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary. “As a global media company, their engagement will be very valuable to disseminate information about the sustainability efforts and achievements of the fashion industry as well as informing the world about the need for wider and accelerated climate action.”

In line with the principles of the Fashion Industry Charter and with the goal of promoting broader climate action, Condé Nast will work with industry partners to influence consumers’ behaviours by promoting the re-use of clothes, sustainable fashion, innovative materials and technologies which can help to mitigate the environmental impact of fashion. 

Condé Nast will also lead by example to assess, disclose and minimise its environmental footprint. It will publish its first assessment report in early 2020 and outline a roadmap for a global sustainability plan including setting targets for its use of single-use plastic and greenhouse gases.

“We recognise that climate change is the defining issue of our time and pledge to lead by example in how the company operates and use our influence to inspire communities around the world to take action. We understand and accept our responsibility to drive global climate action throughout the fashion sector and across our publishing operations to inspire positive change for a safer planet and more sustainable future.” commented Wolfgang Blau, Chief Operating Officer & President, International, Condé Nast. 

With a new commitment to the Fashion Industry Charter and its broader Global Sustainability Strategy, Condé Nast intends to empower and educate consumers on how to lead more sustainable lives through the different lenses of the company’s leading media brands including Vogue, GQ, Wired and AD. 

Reaching 31 distinct markets worldwide, Condé Nast will use its position of influence to champion more sustainable industry approaches and collaborate with stakeholders across the fashion industry as a member of the Charter.

Read more about the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action here.