UK fashion brands including Ted Baker, Cath Kidston and Stella McCartney are on course to helping meet carbon and water reduction targets for 2020.

New figures reveal retailers and organisations across the clothing supply chain have cut water impacts by 12.5% per tonne of clothing in the last two years against a 15% reduction target by the end of the decade.

Carbon impacts have also been cut by 3.5% per tonne, according to the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

The targets were set under Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP) 2020, which sees leading organisations work together to reduce the environmental footprint of clothing.

A total of 82 companies have so far signed up to the commitment.

The amount of waste however “has remained stable so far”, WRAP added, calling on the businesses to work closely with the supply chain to reduce waste to landfill by 15%.

Rory Stewart, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ Resources Minister said: “Clothing brands and stores can make a valuable contribution towards a sustainable environment – by extending the life of clothes, making better use of resources and encouraging reuse and recycling.

“These early results demonstrate good progress and while there is still more to do I’m pleased so many companies have signed up and are taking on this challenge.”

According to WRAP, when all the SCAP 2020 targets are met, there could be annual carbon savings equivalent to removing 250,000 cars from the road, water savings equivalent to 170,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools and 16,000 less waste.

Earlier this year H&M launched its ‘Conscious Exclusive Collection’ – all made from sustainably sourced materials.