The UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action upgraded its commitments during COP26. This charter included signatures from 130 different brands - ranging from Primark and H&M, to Inditex and LVMH. Under this new Charter, all signatories agreed to set science-based targets by the end of 2023 or halve their emissions by 2030, and then reach zero emissions by 2050. As such, these fashion retailers now have 12 months (until 2022) to submit their plans to achieve the new targets - which will include elements such as switching energy in their supply chains to renewable sources, eliminating coal entirely, and ensuring that garments are made from net-positive materials.

Another element of the charter is that retailers will need to work with their suppliers to implement the changes. For example, coal must be phased out of tier one and two suppliers by 2030, including avoiding the use of any new coal power by 2023. Suppliers will need to put in place science-based targets to meet wider climate objectives by the end of 2025.

While this might seen quite far off, one real-world example that is already growing is the push for “Degrowth” - essentially, a growing movement that combats the capitalist idea of "continued growth at all cost". Such examples of degrowth would be the increase in "make do, and mend" mentality, the growing interest in vintage (this includes clothing from the 90s and early 00s), or the increase in apps such as Vinted. De-growth pushes the opposite of society’s current mind-set.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, the Co-op and Marks & Spencer have pledged to halve the environmental impact of the weekly shop by 2030. They made promises as part of COP26 to reduce carbon emissions, food waste, packaging, and deforestation connected to the food they produce. The chief executives of the food groups, which together serve more than half of UK food shoppers, said in a joint statement: “We recognise that a future without nature is a future without food. By 2030 we need to halt the loss of nature.” All five said they would set science-based targets to help limit global warming to under 1.5 degrees. Their efforts will be monitored by environmental organisation WWF.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, the Co-op and Marks & Spencer have pledged to halve the environmental impact of the weekly shop by 2030. They made promises as part of COP26 to reduce carbon emissions, food waste, packaging, and deforestation connected to the food they produce. The chief executives of the food groups, which together serve more than half of UK food shoppers, said in a joint statement: “We recognise that a future without nature is a future without food. By 2030 we need to halt the loss of nature.” All five said they would set science-based targets to help limit global warming to under 1.5 degrees. Their efforts will be monitored by environmental organisation WWF.

More than 100 countries also signed up to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, which will mean a crackdown on deforestation related to the production of foodstuffs such as soya (an overwhelming majority of soy is grown for animal feed), cocoa and beef in countries such as Indonesia and Brazil, which are imported cheaply to Western countries. That could mean higher prices for groceries – costs that will either need to be absorbed by supermarkets or consumers - or could mean smaller portions of imported meat, or even less meat available in general. This goes hand-in-hand with the growing sentiment amongst the UK population of "shopping local" or "eating local".

It also touched on shipping, which one of the most polluting industries in the world but is the go-to for most international retail supply chains. Nine companies including Amazon, Inditex, Patagonia, Ikea and Unilever committed to only move cargo on ships using zero-carbon fuel by 2040. Cargo shipping produces one billion tonnes of pollution every year, equivalent to the whole of Germany, but there has so far been little effort to regulate and reduce emissions. Decarbonising the shipping industry could cost upwards of $2trn (£1.49trn) of investment in cleaner fuels, as well as the production of new ship designs. The switch to greener shipping would have a knock-on effect on a retailer’s own carbon footprint, reducing overall emissions.

While these examples may take some time to filter through the retail industry, it marks a shift in the norm that could guide future retailers’ strategies.