adidas says its 2030 climate targets are still within reach. But its 2025 Annual Report also shows the harder headline: total supply chain emissions went up.
In its sustainability statement, the company reports that absolute value chain emissions rose 19 percent year over year, even as several materials and energy programs continued to move forward. The figures were audited with limited assurance by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Emissions: the total rose, even as some measures improved
Adidas reports most of its footprint in Scope 3, which covers purchased goods and services, transport, business travel and end of life. In 2025, Scope 3 emissions reached 6.24 million tonnes of CO2e, up from 5.25 million tonnes in 2024. Adidas attributes the increase mainly to a 19 percent rise in purchased goods and services.
Measured against the 2022 baseline, Scope 3 is still 5 percent lower. Adidas also says carbon intensity per product fell 9 percent against a 2030 target of a 42 percent absolute cut. But another ratio moved the other way: GHG intensity per net revenue rose 13 percent, from 227 to 257 tonnes of CO2e per million euros.
Emissions from owned operations, Scope 1 and 2, look more positive. Adidas reports they fell 6 percent year over year and 22 percent versus the baseline. The company notes these operations account for about 2 percent of its total footprint.
Materials and energy: progress is real, but it does not erase the rise
Adidas says renewable energy consumption nearly doubled to 183,837 MWh from 92,066 MWh, while total energy use stayed roughly flat. It also reports that 99 percent of the polyester it has bought since 2023 is recycled.
On coal, Adidas says a phaseout with Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers is largely complete, or the suppliers that did not comply have exited the supplier base.
A European virtual power purchase agreement, live in 2025, is reported to have cut absolute emissions across European operations by 23 percent for the year.
Chemicals and water: one target met, one missed
The report lists two pollution related targets for 2025. It says wastewater discharge quality met its goal, with 90 percent of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers meeting ZDHC Foundational Level standards, up from 86 percent in 2024.
Chemical input management missed target, landing at 75 percent against an 80 percent goal, with no explanation given for the shortfall.
A separate water intensity reduction target for Tier 2 suppliers exceeded plan, reaching 43 percent against a 40 percent goal. Adidas then sets a new longer term target of 40 percent water recycling at Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers by 2030.
Governance: targets are clear, workforce detail is elsewhere
Adidas reports that one of its four Executive Board members is female (25 percent). It also reports that four of 16 Supervisory Board members are female (25 percent), meeting German legal minimums under the AktG.
The company states an ambition of 50 percent women in leadership positions, Director level and above, by 2033. Adidas says this is built into the Executive Board long term incentive plan alongside the carbon intensity target.
Workforce level pay and headcount detail sits in the Own Workforce (S1) disclosures beyond this excerpt and was not reviewed for this summary.
What this suggests
For brands already reporting under CSRD, the Adidas disclosure is a reminder that intensity metrics can improve while absolute emissions rise when volumes grow.
For brands without SBTi validated targets, Adidas reflects a common sequence: start with owned operations, then push supplier levers, then bring down absolute Scope 3. The 2025 increase is a warning that intensity gains alone do not guarantee a lower total footprint.
The adidas impact report is a section of the 2025 annual financial report.
