Can sustainability and profitability go hand in hand?
In the latest episode, we review the H&M Group Sustainability Report 2025 to explore how financial objectives can be aligned with a sustainability agenda.
Together with my guests — Piotr Oksza-Łapicki, Regional Public Affairs & Sustainability Manager at H&M, and Erik Lagerblad, CEO of Looper Textile Co. — we take a deep dive into the report to better understand the motivations, key initiatives, and latest data behind the sustainability strategies of H&M Group and Looper Textile Co.
We discuss progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly within Scope 3 — the most challenging area for apparel companies, where material production and garment manufacturing take place and which accounts for nearly 90% of total emissions.
We explain what sustainably sourced materials really mean, and why recycled polyester, while not a perfect solution, is still a better alternative to virgin polyester.
Piotr introduces the H&M Foundation and its startup accelerator program — and notably, one of this year’s finalists was a Polish startup.
Together with Erik, we explore how second-hand textile processes work through the Looper Textile model, as well as the impact of the upcoming EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) regulations across the EU. Under these regulations, fashion companies will become responsible for the collection and processing of textile waste. The system is already in place in countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Latvia — and Poland is expected to follow soon.
H&M Group is placing sustainability at the center of its business model, with the expectation that customers will follow this direction as well.