The REP Wrap: ASOS signs legally-binding due diligence deal with union

Your weekly summary of corporate sustainability news.

ASOS has signed a legally-binding human rights due diligence agreement with the International Transport Workers’ Federation. The fast fashion giant will work with the union to ensure the protection of transport workers’ rights, and increase the sustainability and safety of its supply chains. The pair will also cooperate on climate change and gender equality as part of the collaboration.  

Brazilian firm ODATA has bagged more than $1bn in sustainability-linked loans to build new data centres. The money will be spent on sustainability projects including renewable energy use, energy efficiency and eco-friendly construction practices, the company said. 

Mars has signed its largest clean energy deal as part of a programme to cut its carbon emissions by 10% by 2030. The company claims it will avoid the equivalent of 700kt of CO₂ each year by purchasing renewable energy through a deal with the US arm of Italian energy firm Enel.  

The US government’s clampdown on diversity-related initiatives has influenced the spending decisions of most large companies with major operations in the country. That’s the conclusion drawn by The Conference Board after polling 80 corporate citizenship and philanthropy leaders. The organisation found that more than half had rethought their philanthropic strategies this year, with many scaling back or reframing identity-based programmes.  

Nike’s chief sustainability officer (CSO) Jaycee Pribulsky has announced her departure after just 19 months in the role. Having been at the company since 2017, Pribulsky said on social media that she is leaving for “an incredible opportunity back in New York”. Nike did not respond to a request for comment on whether it will replace her. Earlier this year, the firm’s new CEO, Elliot Hill, overhauled its senior leadership as he attempts to improve its corporate strategy after poor performance. In 2024, the firm made major reductions to its ESG team, reportedly cutting 150 jobs.

Academics claim to be able to attribute recent heatwaves to the carbon emissions of companies for the first time. A study published in respected journal Nature this week found around a quarter of the heatwaves recorded between 2000 and 2023 can be directly linked to the emissions of energy firms, with more than a quarter being “virtually impossible” without human-induced temperature rises. The emissions driven by companies and other big emitters increased the likelihood of some heatwaves by a factor of more than 10,000, according to the research, which is likely to be used to bolster future legal challenges against the private sector.