PLANET
INTRODUCTION –
When considering sustainability in the fashion industry, its impact on the planet needs to be taken into account. The industry has been labelled as one of the most polluting in the world, having a negative impact on the environment due demands for rapid production of garments. It is contributing to around 10% of carbon emissions, releasing significant amounts of microplastics into water sources and participating in deforestation by replacing biodiverse forests for fabric plantations (Charpail, 2017). The social development goals set by the United Nations in 2015 targeting the pillar of planet aspire that the resources we count with can support the needs of present and future generations (Brown and Rasmussen, 2019).
CIRCULAR ECONOMY –
A circular economy model is a system where goods are taken at the end of their service life to be utilised again as resources for something new. The idea is not to allow said goods to leave the cycle, reducing waste. This concept changes the normative replacing new production with longevity by reusing, recycling and repairing. Studies on this model found it could reduce carbon emissions by up to 70% if widely implemented across nations (Stahel, 2016). At different market levels, clothing characteristics might vary but production process tend to be the same, making circular economy a possible reality for most fashion brands. To do this, it is important to think about the item from the beginning of its production stage to the end-of-life destination. The EcoMetrics tool could help the industry measure the environmental impact of different textiles and cause a reconsideration of choices (Gwilt, 2020).
SUSTAINABILITY IN FASHION –
Fashion consumers have shown an increasing interest in sustainable shopping since 2020, as consumers start to make better choices businesses are obligated to listen to these demands. This means taking an ethical approach in energy sources, fabric selection, and product transportation. Additionally, recycling schemes need to be implemented to facilitate the redirection of unwanted clothes into circular economy. This has already been put in practice by high street brands like H&M. However, sustainable fashion cannot happen without transparency. This, in combination with greenwashing is often seen in fast fashion as they prioritise quick consumption. Therefore, slow fashion or second-hand shopping is preferable. (Thomas, 2022).
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL #12 –
Responsible consumption and production is more than thinking about the materials and processes behind turning these into clothing in a responsible way. It’s understanding that economic growth should be a separate idea from destroying the environment. These two shouldn’t be equalled and should be treated separately. (Swatski, 2021). Sustainability in the past was the norm as the market wasn’t as globalised, materials that were once limited to certain world regions are now accessible to all businesses. Sustainability became an option, and the fashion industry should aim to succeed in this goal. (Hethorn, 2021)
REFERENCES:
Brown, K. and Rasmussen, K. 2019. The Sustainable Development Goals in 2019: People, Planet, Prosperity in Focus. [Online]. [Accessed 13/10/2022]. Available from: https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/the-sustainable-development-goals-in-2019-people-planet-prosperity-in-focus/
Charpail, M. 2017. What’s Wrong with The Fashion Industry. [Online]. [Accessed 13/10/2022]. Available from: https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/whats-wrong-with-the-fashion-industry
Gwilt, A. 2020. A Practical Guide to Sustainable Fashion. 2nd ed. London, UK: Bloomsbury Visual Arts.
Hethorn, J. and Ulasewicz, C. 2015. Sustainable Fashion What’s Next?: A Conversation about Issues, Practices and Possibilities. 2nd ed. London, UK: Fairchild Books.
Stahel, W. R. 2016. The Circular Economy. Nature. 531, pp. 435-438.
Swatski, A.2021. Sustainable development goals: How can the fashion industry support it? [Online]. [Accessed 13/10/2022]. Available from https://fashinnovation.nyc/sustainable-development-goals-how-can-the-fashion-industry-support-it/
Thomas, C. 2022. How sustainable initiatives are shaping the fashion world. [Online]. [Accessed 13/10/2022]. Available from: https://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/short-courses/stories/how-sustainable-initiatives-are-shaping-the-fashion-world
IMAGE REFERENCES:
Fig 1: Klum, A. 2021. Greta Thunberg for Vogue Scandinavia. [Online]. [Accessed 13/10/2022]. Available from: https://www.voguescandinavia.com/articles/greta-the-great
Fig 2: Hollyharryoz. c2022 Circular economy model. [Online]. [Accessed 13/10/2022]. Available from: https://www.dreamstime.com/circular-economy-textiles-make-use-reuse-remake-recycle-eco-clothes-icon-sustainable-fashion-concept-image197995180
Fig 3: Gearson, T. 2019. Wearing upcycled and regenerated clothing. [Online]. [Accessed 13/10/2022]. Available from: https://www.vogue.com/article/sustainability-2020s-circular-fashion-textile-recycling
Fig 4: United Nations. 2022. Responsible production and consumption. [Online]. [Accessed 13/10/2022]. Available from: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12