Businesses are making bold promises on climate change, but progress has been limited. So says Remake World which has assessed dozens of the world’s leading fashion brands on progress in sustainability issues.

Only three companies meet all four of Remake’s climate criteria. These are disclosure of full emissions, short-term 1.5℃ pathway-aligned Science Based Targets, ambitious long-term net-zero targets and a reduction in their total greenhouse gas emissions.

A third of the assessed companies are reducing their packaging waste and 20 per cent now offer upcycling or repair services. Despite a rise in resale platforms and some repair initiatives there has not been a transition away from linear production. Companies are co-opting customer interest in circularity to greenwash.

While no company can show an overall reduction in production, some companies have reduced their use of virgin plastics like polyester. There is a continued lack of progress on living wages in supply chains, although some retailers are at least attempting to tackle this issue. Four companies have published some progress towards a living wage in their supply chains in addition to disclosing the methodology they use to quantify a living wage. Five companies have published partial information indicating that some of their direct employees, such as corporate employees or retail workers, earn a living wage.