Neiman Marcus Gets 35 Partners Including Alice + Olivia on Board with Supplier ‘Climate School’
Working to do its part to combat climate change, Neiman Marcus Group has committed to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). It is also encouraging its brand partners to do the same through support for an online supplier “climate school”.
The Dallas company announced its participation in SBTi, as well as its sponsorship of the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (Supplier LOCT) program, on Wednesday. The supplier community and digital educational platform, run by global consultancy Guidehouse, enables users to measure their carbon emissions, set science-based targets, implement plans for abatement and manage disclosures. Neiman Marcus has pledged to sponsor its suppliers’ enrollment in the six-month program.
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During the next stage of its sustainability journey, the company aims to reduce Scope 3 emissions by promoting supplier engagement, and Supplier LOCT will give supply chain partners the tools they need to cut carbon output. Neiman Marcus is the first luxury retailer to support the program.
The company recently released its second annual ESG report, showing that it increased its procurement of renewable energy to more than 19 percent in 2022, with the goal of hitting 100 percent by 2030. It also conducted its first Scope 3 emissions screening, revealing that emissions from purchased goods and services account for 87 percent of its total greenhouse gas footprint. The discovery spurred Neiman Marcus to join the Supplier LOCT program to address the significant upstream impacts in its supply chain.
“As a relationship business with the world’s most desirable brands, NMG is in a unique position to influence positive change in the industry,” said Eric Severson, Neiman Marcus chief people, ESG, and belonging officer. “While we are still in the early stages of our climate journey, I’m encouraged by our progress and excited to accelerate it through collective action partnerships like Supplier LOCT.”
“With the support of NMG and other leading brands committed to climate action goals, more than 800 global suppliers are now getting the practical, actionable instruction they need to measure, monitor, and reduce their carbon emissions,” added Supplier LOCT director Nicole DelSasso. “Supplier LOCT squarely addresses the missing link in the supply chain emissions puzzle.”
The program has already generated support from 35 companies, including Golden Goose, 7 for All Mankind, Eileen Fisher, Ulla Johnson, Alice + Olivia, Natura Bisse, Vince, LLC, Canada Goose and MCM, as well as business vendors like FM Global.
Alice + Olivia sustainability director Tsui Yuen-Pappas said the women’s wear brand was “thrilled” to enroll in Supplier LOCT to further its own sustainability goals, as well as those of Neiman Marcus. She added that “fashion is a powerful platform that brings about positive global change when we commit to collective action.”
Eileen Fisher has also recommitted to the educational platform, with sustainable impact associate Susan Scow confirming its value to the women’s lifestyle brand’s mission. “As a long-standing leader in responsible production, Eileen Fisher supports decarbonization efforts throughout our value chain,” she said. “In Neiman Marcus, we have a dedicated partner standing beside us as we all work for the betterment of our planet. The Supplier LOCT program is a testament to that.”
