Primark Report Showcases Strong Sustainability Gains With Primark Cares Strategy
Primark has released its fourth Sustainability and Ethics Progress Report, showcasing notable progress across its Primark Cares strategy. The company reported strong advancements in the use of preferred materials, expansion of circular design, improved traceability and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across its global value chain.
According to the report, 74% of Primark’s clothing is now made using recycled or more sustainably sourced fibres, up from 66% last year. Nearly four in ten garments contain recycled fibres. The retailer has also stepped-up efforts to embed circularity into its product development. Currently, one in 20 of all Primark items is circular by design, including 20% of its jersey clothing and 8% of its denim range. Recent denim products have been created without elastane or metal rivets, making them easier to recycle at end of life.
Primark also shared encouraging durability results from its testing programmes. Denim, socks and jersey products were assessed against the Primark Durability Framework, with 77% of denim and jersey items and 69% of socks meeting Aspirational durability levels, meaning they retained quality even after 45 washes. Insights from this work are helping the company engage with policymakers amid evolving European regulations on repairability and product life extension.
The report highlights Primark’s progress in strengthening traceability within its supply chain. All clothing, textile and footwear suppliers have now been onboarded to the retailer’s traceability programme, improving visibility across its sourcing network.
Environmental gains were also recorded, with Primark reporting a 5.7% overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with its 2019 baseline. This included a 71% cut in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and a 4% decrease in Scope 3 emissions. The company has also begun shifting transport operations to lower-carbon alternatives, with 19% of its ocean freight moved using biofuel blends and 98% of port-to-depot journeys using low-carbon fuels.
Efforts to support factory-level resource efficiency continue to grow, with 97 facilities in Bangladesh, China and India enrolled in Primark’s programme aimed at reducing energy, water and chemical use. In the agricultural segment, more than 90% of farmers in the Primark Cotton Project have adopted at least two regenerative practices across at least 30% of their farmland.
On the social impact front, Primark reported progress in worker wellbeing initiatives. Nearly 1,400 colleagues have been trained in responsible purchasing practices. The company has rolled out four health and wellbeing initiatives across more than 300 supplier factories. Its worker grievance mechanism, Tell Us, has also been expanded across most sourcing countries. In collaboration with Vision Spring, the retailer conducted 35,000 eye tests in supplier factories, resulting in roughly 13,000 workers receiving corrective glasses.
Primark also advanced its commitments to accessibility and community investment. A 49-piece adaptive clothing collection, designed with Victoria Jenkins, was launched in 10 markets. The retailer donated more than £3 million to charitable partners and raised an additional £1.75 million through customer campaigns. Almost 700 colleagues across 17 markets are now active in Primark’s global inclusion networks focused on LGBTQIA+ communities, disability and neurodiversity.
Reflecting on the progress, Lynne Walker, Director of Primark Cares, said the company has demonstrated that customers “don’t have to choose between sustainability and value.” She added that Primark recognises its responsibility as a global retailer and will continue refining its strategy in line with evolving regulations and customer expectations. The company is currently reviewing aspects of its sustainability framework and is expected to share updated plans next year.
