Since its inception in 2023, the Low Carbon Transition Programme – designed and delivered by the British Fashion Council’s (BFC) Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF) – has supported 75 London-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to measure their scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, explore circular opportunities and develop tailored low carbon transition plans to 2030.
In total, the programme has measured almost 40,000tCO2e across 75 SMEs and submitted transition plans that reflect an average 25% emissions reduction by 2030.
In addition to core delivery, the IPF has designed and delivered workshops that aim to support participating brands move from ambition to action on their low carbon transition plans. Recognising the role that circular economy has to play in decarbonisation efforts, the IPF worked with an industry expert to deliver a circular business models pilot to selected participants.
These workshops have provided additional learning and development on key topics, provided external engagement with wider industry experts, and fantastic networking opportunities.
Overall, the programme has:
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Strengthened SMEs understanding of climate change and business-related carbon impacts by equipping the with the tools to measure greenhouse gas emissions
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Empowered SMEs to understand and act on key opportunities to decarbonise their businesses – with submitted plans averaging a 25% emission reduction by 2030 across 75 brands
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Enabled SMEs to better evidence and community their sustainability efforts, many of whom have embedded sustainable design principles from the outset
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Built a community of like-minded businesses who together can share knowledge, resources and best practice to drive collective action on decarbonisation within the fashion industry
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The programme has also deepened industry-wide collaboration through the Institute of Positive Fashion Forum, which welcomed over 300 attendees in 2025 alone.
The BFC would like to thank programme delivery partners QSA Partners LLP and partners, Think Circular and Seedling for their support. Together, our partners have provided practical, hands-on support with carbon literacy training on core sustainability topics, access to digital tools to baseline and track emissions and workshops to explore circular business models and products.
Participation on the programme is fully funded, thanks to support from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKPSF).