Message from the Head of Sustainable Business

Sustainability has long been rooted in our core values and embodied in the many initiatives and programmes we have built over the course of nearly four decades. In 2020, we launched the Plan for Change – an enterprise-wide roadmap designed purely as a means of formalising this journey, embedding sustainability more deeply into our core business, and establishing a consistent and accountable framework to guide the implementation of our sustainability efforts over time.

Looking back on the past five years, our journey has been challenging – yet it has also shaped and defined who we are. As we navigated global disruptions and transformation across our markets and value chains, we had to adapt, reprioritise, and make difficult choices. At the same time, these experiences highlighted the importance of being anchored to a clear long-term direction. While the path was not always linear, the Plan for Change kept us grounded in our core purpose. It helped us to remain focused on our long-term impact and purpose, even as our strategies and approach evolved.

From Intent to Impact

Over time, the Plan for Change has shifted how we have embedded sustainability across our processes. What we once achieved through individual initiatives is now more closely integrated into how we operate. Today, rather than being considered in isolation, sustainability considerations shape decisions, partnerships, and the way we work from day to day.

One of the more important developments has been in how we view our role as a manufacturer. Traditionally, we responded to the requirements of our customers. Today, we are more involved in shaping those decisions – engaging with value chain partners and customers to influence choices, invest in next-generation solutions, and support the adoption of more sustainable products. This has strengthened how we work together to achieve industry progress, while supporting a wider transition towards more sustainable apparel.

Our ESG credibility is not built at the point of disclosure – it is shaped through the systems, governance, and discipline embedded across our operations. As expectations continue to transform, we see our role as not being passive participants but as active contributors to a more aligned, resilient and purpose-driven apparel sector.

Partnerships for Progress

We know that lasting progress can only be achieved by empowering and strengthening the communities and the ecosystems in which we operate. Partnerships are a vital part of our movement from independent action towards more system-level impact, and we believe that real change can only be achieved by combining our strengths. It is only then that we can build more resilient and self-sustaining communities across the areas in which we operate.

Our partners are also a key enabler of how we progress against our plan. Collaboration with technology partners, industry platforms, communities, and public institutions has been instrumental in enabling us to align with evolving standards. Our engagement with platforms such as bluesign®, as well as broader initiatives such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) have helped us to anchor our efforts towards responsible manufacturing within globally recognised frameworks. Our collaborations have also enabled us to participate in wider industry dialogue, ensuring that the perspectives of manufacturers and emerging markets are represented and heard at every stage.

Products Changed for Good

In terms of products, our focus has been on making practical changes within our core programmes, shifting towards more consistent integration across what we produce.

Our partnerships with organisations such as Ambercycle, alongside investments in innovations like HeiQ AeoniQ™, are fast driving our ability to rethink how sustainable and circular materials are used across our products. What started as early-stage development is now finding its way into real-world use through wearer trials and customer-led collections – a clear indicator of how these materials are beginning to gain traction across our products and markets.

At the same time, we are playing a more direct role in shaping material choices upstream – supporting the transition from limited collections towards more consistent use of lower-impact materials across core product lines.

As a result, 46% of our revenue is now derived from sustainable products, and we remain deeply committed to building on this progress in the years ahead.

Lives Changed for Good

People continue to be at the heart of everything we do. Our sustainable development education programme Eco Go Beyond, now in its 19th year, works closely with schools and the Ministry of Education to build awareness and leadership among students, encouraging them to take forward solutions within their own communities, and drive positive change.

Our flagship programme Women Go Beyond, has also now been a part of our journey for over two decades, supporting women across our organisation and the communities. Alongside strengthening access to health and safety, building skills and leadership, and creating pathways for greater economic participation, we have also sought to address broader issues such as gender-based violence and emerging concerns among women in the workforce – because we believe that when women feel safe and supported, they are better able to grow, contribute, and lead change.

Across our community initiatives, we have created impact at scale, reaching over 1.8 million individuals through programmes across education, health, environment, local connect, and nation-minded activities. We don’t simply focus on reach – we also regularly reflect on the relevance and impact of these initiatives to ensure they continue to respond to real needs on the ground and make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.

Over the course of our journey, we have strengthened our focus on inclusion, with particular attention to persons with disabilities, reflected in the over 400 individuals currently employed across our workforce. Central to this commitment is creating meaningful opportunities that enable individuals to grow, contribute, and thrive, supported through initiatives such as the Dialog MAS Enabler Programme, which provides aspiring undergraduates with disabilities with workplace exposure and skills development. Our approach to inclusive employment has been recognised with the Zero Project Award by the Essl Foundation of Austria, reinforcing our continued commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable workplace where every individual matters.

Our Planet Changed for Good

Climate change remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, communities, and the long-term continuity of the systems we depend on. During the year, we strengthened our climate response by formalising a more structured, science-based pathway, with validated targets across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions – marking an important step towards building a more consistent and accountable approach to decarbonisation within our operations, as well as across our value chain.

We also continued to advance our resource management priorities by sustaining our zero waste to landfill performance while achieving 76.9% waste value enhancement. This reflects a growing shift in how we view waste – not as something to be discarded, but as a resource within our operations. In addition, renewable energy reached 42% of total consumption, alongside continued improvements in water efficiency as we move closer to our long-term intensity reduction targets.

Biodiversity conservation remains a key priority for us, as the health of natural ecosystems underpins the resilience of communities, supply chains, and the environments around us. Our approach focuses on long term, scalable restoration rather than one off initiatives, using a range of approaches including a pioneering aerial reforestation programme in partnership with the Sri Lankan Air Force. Through these efforts, we have exceeded our original target of 25,000 acres, restoring over 25,800 acres to date, and remain committed to responsibly expanding our footprint while protecting and restoring the natural systems that sustain us.

Looking Forward

As we come to the close of the first iteration of our Plan for Change, we reflect on the learnings we have gathered along the way – particularly in terms of the importance of building solutions that are measurable, scalable, and shared. These insights are shaping the next chapter of our journey as we move forward with our Plan for Change 2030, by raising the bar on our ambitions and accelerating our actions, while broadening the scope of our efforts.

As we transition into the next phase, we are eagerly anticipating what comes next. Our work thus far has given us a deeper and evolving understanding of what it takes to embed sustainability meaningfully within our strategy and operations. As we continue to build on this, we are learning how to create more tangible, lasting value – both within our own operations and across the wider industry, by sharing what works and advocating for more collective, system-level progress.

While we can take pride in our collective achievements, being an organisation of this scale brings with it an inherent responsibility to constantly elevate our standards. Given the unique knowledge we’ve gathered, the vision we’ve established, and as people fully invested in this cause, we believe it is up to us to act as torchbearers and share these insights with the wider world. Our vantage point across the value chain allows us to see both challenges and opportunities more clearly, and it is through this perspective that we seek to share what we have learned, support others on their journeys, and continue pushing beyond our own boundaries.