Fourteen high-profile international athletes have signed a joint letter to Calvin McDonald, CEO of Lululemon, urging the Canadian retailer to invest in the electrification of textile manufacturing. Their letter asks Lululemon to use its power as the fourth largest sportswear brand in the world—and a significant sponsor of elite athletes—to transition from fossil fuels to clean heat from renewables in the manufacturing of its products.
The signatories, two-time winner on the LET Tour this season, Sára Kousková, Australian Olympic bronze medallist racewalker Rhydian Cowley, and Team USA Olympic hammer thrower Rudy Winkler, are supported by a climate advocacy nonprofit EcoAthletes and climate campaigning organization Action Speaks Louder. After experiencing the real-life impacts of the climate crisis on their sports, these athletes want Lululemon to reduce its carbon footprint so that the clothing they compete in can reflect their values as vocal advocates for sustainability in the sports industry.
“The recent news that fashion’s emissions grew 7.5% in just one year shows yet again that humanity is behind on the climate scoreboard. We are in dire need of a #ClimateComeback and athletes play a key role in helping to push corporate climate ambition, including in the athletic apparel industry. That’s why I’m excited that fourteen EcoAthletes Champions have signed on to the letter urging Lululemon to pick up the pace on real climate action.”
– Lewis Blaustein, Founder and CEO, EcoAthletes
The letter commends Lululemon’s new aspiration to increase renewable electricity consumption amongst core suppliers using high quality procurement methods such as onsite solar and power purchase agreements (PPAs). To build on this progress, the athletes emphasise the importance of Lululemon turning targets into tangible action, which means a measurable investment in supply chain decarbonization. Other brands are already stepping up to fund this work; like H&M, who spent SEK 1.7billion ($178million USD) last year to help suppliers with renewable energy infrastructure and clean technologies.
The greenhouse gas emissions from Lululemon’s supply chain have increased every year since 2020, and the biggest source of emissions in the lifecycle of Lululemon leggings, sports bras and running shorts is thermal energy used in the manufacturing of materials like cotton and polyester. This includes dyeing, washing and finishing; processes which require large quantities of hot water and steam. Traditionally, this heat is created by burning fuels directly on the factory floor for equipment like boilers – not from electricity.
According to industrial decarbonization experts Global Efficiency Intelligence, electrifying these processes through clean technologies like heat pumps is the most effective way to reduce emissions. To fully realise its vision of a cleaner supply chain, athletes are asking Lululemon to switch from coal and wood fuelled boilers to heat pumps powered by renewable electricity. Athleisure competitor H&M recently announced a heat pump pilot in Vietnam, expected to support the brand’s goals to reduce emissions by 56% by 2030.
“Clean heat is the most impactful intervention brands can invest in to decarbonize their supply chains. Lululemon has an opportunity to show true climate leadership by supporting its suppliers to electrify fossil-fuelled processes, and that starts with rolling out pilot projects to demonstrate the impact of ultra-efficient industrial heat pumps.”
– Ruth MacGilp, Campaign Manager, Action Speaks Louder
This letter builds on last year’s Paris Olympics, when six Olympians urged Lululemon to commit to a time-bound renewable energy target — a critical first step towards tackling the brand’s rising greenhouse gas emissions. Lululemon’s CEO responded, and the company subsequently set a renewable electricity target for its core suppliers of 25% by 2025 and 50% by 2030. Now, an even larger cohort of elite athletes is calling for this target to translate into real impact for the planet and for the future of sports: a clear plan to transition from fossil fuels to clean heat, and meaningful financial support to help manufacturers decarbonize.
“After learning about the impacts of fashion’s fossil fuel consumption on the climate crisis, I launched my own independent apparel brand designed to do things differently. But we also need global brands like Lululemon to invest in the green transition – especially clean heat in manufacturing – to support the next generation of athletes to thrive both on and off the pitch.”
– Jasmyne Spencer, soccer player at Vancouver Rise FC, Founder & CEO of Jas it Up
On 1st August 2025, a senior sustainability leader at Lululemon responded to the athletes via email, suggesting that ‘tools, resources and partnerships to help suppliers transition to clean energy’ are in development. Later this year, Lululemon will release its annual Impact Report, in which details about the brand’s strategy to accelerate supply chain decarbonisation are expected to be revealed. Athletes are ready to support this disclosure as important progress.
Link to the joint letter:
Athletes call on Lululemon to power sports with clean heat
Signatories:
- Leanna Carrière (Canada, ironman triathlon)
- Camille Chevalier (France, golf)
- Rhydian Cowley (Australia, racewalk)
- Fiona Crackles (UK, hockey)
- Jeanee Crane-Mauzy (Vanuatu, ski)
- Talia Green (USA, racewalk)
- Myra Fisun (USA, figure skating)
- Sára Kousková (Czech Republic, golf)
- Patricie Mackova (Czech Republic, golf)
- Celina Sattelkau (Germany, golf)
- Jasmyne Spencer (USA, soccer)
- Imara-Bella Thorpe (Kenya, swim)
- Kim Vinet (Canada, ski)
- Rudy Winkler (USA, hammer throw)
Notes to the editor
Action Speaks Louder is a not-for-profit organization galvanizing people around the world to hold major corporations to account for their impacts on the climate crisis. Action Speaks Louder calls on large corporations to live up to their climate commitments as part of the movement to transform the global energy landscape – reducing greenhouse gas emissions and boosting renewable energy procurement, whilst creating the political space for governments to increase ambition in the process.
EcoAthletes is a not-for-profit organization with the mission to inspire and coach athletes to lead climate action. Over 200 professional and collegiate athletes from around the world, including Olympic delegations and major league teams, are proud EcoAthletes Champions, using their platforms to advocate for meaningful climate action from consumers, companies and governments.
For any further questions, or to arrange an interview with pro soccer player Jasmyne Spencer, please contact ruth@speakslouder.org.