Saie and DL1961 have made history as the first beauty and denim brands to sign The Climate Pledge, accelerating the race to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and setting new standards for climate action across fashion and beauty.
The call for climate action has intensified across every corner of the style landscape, but meaningful milestones remain rare. When Saie became the first beauty brand and DL1961 the first denim label to sign The Climate Pledge, both companies carved out a new lane for their industries — one defined not by promises, but by public accountability.
The Climate Pledge is an ambitious commitment launched in 2019 by Amazon and Global Optimism, drawing together hundreds of companies around the world with a single, measurable goal: to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. That deadline arrives a full decade ahead of the timeline set by the Paris Agreement, positioning the initiative as a litmus test for which companies are willing to accelerate action on the climate crisis, not just talk about it. Participants must agree to three core principles: regular reporting on greenhouse gas emissions, implementing decarbonization strategies in line with the Paris Agreement, and neutralizing any remaining emissions through quantifiable offsets.
The list of signatories now includes some of the world’s largest and most influential brands, spanning technology, transportation, retail, and consumer goods. According to The Climate Pledge, signatories represent sectors responsible for substantial portions of global greenhouse gas emissions. More than 500 companies across 38 countries had joined the initiative, collectively employing more than ten million people and representing industries that account for a considerable share of global carbon emissions.
Recent data underscores the urgency of these efforts. The International Energy Agency reported in March 2024 that global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions hit a record high in 2023, reaching 37.4 billion metric tons, with the fashion and beauty industries playing a notable role. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the fashion industry alone is responsible for more than eight percent of global carbon emissions, while the beauty industry’s footprint has drawn increasing scrutiny for plastic waste and energy use.
Saie: redefining beauty through collective action
Saie, the cult-favorite clean beauty brand founded by Laney Crowell, has made history as the first beauty company to sign The Climate Pledge. The decision, announced by Saie in April 2024, marks a watershed moment for an industry that has historically lagged behind in measurable sustainability commitments. “We are so proud to announce that Saie is officially the first-ever beauty brand to sign The Climate Pledge — because real change starts with bold, collective action,” the brand stated in its official announcement.
Signing The Climate Pledge is not simply a badge for Saie. The brand has outlined a multi-faceted approach to climate leadership. Among its commitments is a pledge to collect five million pounds of ocean-bound plastic by 2027 in partnership with Repurpose Global. Saie’s leadership team has also created an all-women climate board, ensuring its sustainability efforts are rooted in equity and transparency. The company launched “The Saie Way — A Climate Docuseries,” which documents its progress and challenges in real time, with six episodes available online.
While climate pledges are nothing new in beauty, what distinguishes Saie’s approach is its emphasis on intersectional leadership and tangible targets. The brand’s all-women climate board sets a rare example in an industry where women are underrepresented at the highest levels of sustainability leadership. Crowell described the urgency of action in an essay titled “Why We Signed The Climate Pledge,” pointing to the need for collective effort in shaping a low-carbon future.
According to Crowell, the company’s environmental roadmap is part of a wider mission to push the beauty sector toward measurable results. “We are thrilled and honored to be rewriting the future of beauty, together,” Saie’s announcement continues. The brand’s willingness to share its journey — including missteps and learnings — adds a rare transparency to an industry often clouded by marketing gloss.
DL1961: denim’s first climate pledge signatory
Denim’s environmental challenges have become a rallying cry for reformers and sustainability advocates, with the industry’s heavy reliance on water, energy, and toxic dyes frequently making headlines. Enter DL1961, the New York-based denim label, which announced it is the first and only denim brand to sign The Climate Pledge. The move puts DL1961 in the global spotlight as denim’s sustainability vanguard.
“As the first and only denim brand to sign The Climate Pledge we’re proud to share exactly how we plan to reduce our carbon emissions to net-zero by 2040,” the company shared in its statement. The brand, known for its vertically integrated operations and transparency, has spent years refining its production methods. Its use of recycled fibers, laser finishing, and waterless dyeing has already reduced its environmental impact, but The Climate Pledge demands even more stringent accountability.
DL1961 has stated that it will continue to innovate in materials sourcing, water use, and energy efficiency while increasing transparency across its supply chain. Its plan for net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 involves measurable milestones, including transitioning to renewable energy, scaling circular design, and offsetting unavoidable emissions with credible carbon removal projects.
DL1961’s move could accelerate change across the notoriously resource-intensive denim industry, where most brands have set less aggressive sustainability targets or declined to make concrete climate pledges altogether. The decision comes at a time when consumer demand for sustainable fashion is surging. A 2023 survey by McKinsey & Company found that nearly seventy percent of Gen Z and Millennial consumers expect brands to demonstrate climate action, with more than 60 percent willing to pay more for sustainable products.
What these “firsts” signal for fashion and beauty
The significance of Saie and DL1961’s decisions goes beyond industry bragging rights. Their willingness to sign The Climate Pledge sets a precedent that other beauty and denim brands cannot easily ignore. Joining a cohort that includes Amazon, Unilever, Best Buy, and Procter & Gamble places these two companies among the vanguard of climate accountability in consumer products.
By signing The Climate Pledge, both brands have made public commitments that can be tracked, measured, and scrutinized by stakeholders, including consumers, investors, and activists. That transparency is critical. According to the Science Based Targets initiative, only about one in five major companies worldwide currently reports on its emissions in a way that meets global best practices. As scrutiny on “greenwashing” intensifies, brands that back up their climate claims with specific, time-bound goals are likely to stand apart.
The ripple effect of these “firsts” may be especially meaningful for sectors that have relied on incremental progress and vague sustainability language. Now, the expectation has shifted. If a fast-growing beauty startup and a vertically integrated denim label can make the leap, larger brands with greater resources may face increasing pressure to follow suit — or risk being left behind.
The beauty and denim industries together touch nearly every consumer, making their transition to climate leadership a bellwether for broader change in the world of style and self-care. As Saie puts it, “We are thrilled and honored to be rewriting the future of beauty, together.”
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