Tapestry Invests in Carbon Removal for Next Decade

The handbags in your closet might soon come from a company actively pulling carbon dioxide out of the sky.

Tapestry, the parent company behind Coach and Kate Spade New York, just partnered with Climeworks to remove carbon emissions over the next decade. This marks the first time a major North American retail company has invested in direct carbon removal technology at this scale.

The deal combines five different approaches to pulling CO₂ from the atmosphere. Some methods speed up natural mineral processes that trap carbon, while others capture CO₂ directly from the air and store it permanently underground. Nature-based solutions round out the portfolio, creating a diversified strategy that spreads risk across multiple technologies.

Tapestry is using these carbon removal credits to address emissions they can't yet eliminate, specifically their Scope 1 emissions from operations they directly control. The company views this as one piece of their broader push to reduce their carbon footprint across their entire supply chain.

Climeworks, which operates the world's largest direct air capture facility in Iceland, selected each project in the portfolio based on scientific rigor. The Swiss company has been pioneering carbon removal technology for years, but this partnership represents their first major retail customer in North America.

The Ripple Effect

This deal signals a turning point for the fashion and retail industry. For years, brands have focused on reducing emissions by changing materials or shipping methods. Now they're investing in technologies that actively reverse climate damage.

The partnership shows that carbon removal is moving from experimental phase to mainstream climate strategy. When a company known for leather handbags and luxury accessories commits a decade to atmospheric cleanup, other retailers take notice.

Other consumer goods companies are already watching this collaboration closely. The retail sector produces significant emissions through manufacturing, shipping, and stores, making carbon removal an increasingly attractive tool for meeting climate goals.

The technologies Tapestry is funding also create benefits beyond carbon storage. Many of these projects generate renewable energy, restore land, and support local communities where the work happens.

As more companies follow Tapestry's lead, the carbon removal industry gains the funding it needs to scale. What starts as one fashion company's climate commitment could help bring these technologies to a point where they're affordable and accessible for businesses of all sizes.