Burberry backs away from climate goals — should small firms follow?

As Britain swelters through record-breaking heat, luxury fashion giant Burberry has quietly watered down its climate targets, raising fresh questions about whether corporate Britain is losing its appetite for net zero. But while global brands may be able to shift course when the pressure mounts, small businesses face a tougher reality: climate change is no longer just an environmental issue. For many firms it is becoming a direct business risk affecting insurance costs, energy bills, staff productivity, supply chains and ultimately their survival.

BURBERRY MELTS ITS CLIMATE TARGETS

We have just broiled through one of the hottest May weeks with records falling like skittles. It’s the kind of blistering, out‑of‑season heat scientists have been warning about for years.

Given that experience you’d might think big brands would be stepping up their climate action. However, luxury giant Burberry has just done the opposite. It has quietly watered down its emissions‑cutting targets, making it the latest big name to row back on green promises.

Burberry’s move sends a clear message. To the hundreds of thousands of small and micro businesses trying to do what they’ve been told is necessary the message they must be taking away is: If the big firms can step away so can we. However, before you do that, the question to consider is how will that affect your business? Can you afford not to take the kind of steps that will safeguard your business.

For small firms already battling soaring costs, late payments and tight margins, cutting emissions is another cost they could do without. They’re told to go green, cut waste, switch energy, change suppliers. The problem for small business thinking of cutting back and emulating the big brands, is that for many climate change is a business risk.

• Heatwaves can make your premises too hot for employees to work in and reduce productivity
• Floods wreck stock and premises
• Insurance premiums soar as dangers to your business increase
• Energy bills spike whether from trying to keep workplaces to minimum temperatures or make them possible to work in during heatwaves
• Supply chains collapse because your suppliers haven’t been prepared for business interruptions

Doing nothing is becoming more expensive for many businesses than doing something. Unlike global brands, small firms can move fast, make changes fairly cheaply and win customers by being ethical, honest and practical.

SMALL BUSINESSES CAN WIN BUSINESS

• Customers like less packaging and materials
• People are moving to repairing, reusing and recycling options
• Tell customers what you’re attempting to do. They appreciate authenticity over perfection
• There are free local audits, grants and support schemes available

You don’t need a sustainability department. You need a plan.

BIG BRANDS’ EXAMPLE

When a global fashion house rolls back its climate goals, it is giving cover to every business that wants to delay. But small firms need to be ahead of the big brands and outpace them. The next wave of contracts, customers and supply‑chain opportunities will go to the businesses that can prove they’re cutting waste, saving energy and building resilience.

Burberry may be cooling on its climate ambition, but small and micro businesses can steal a march. They can lead where the big brands wobble and be ready for the future which belongs to the businesses that act to appeal to customers, not the ones that melt under pressure.

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