Planet
(Lizzie Bernard)
Protecting the planet is vital for present and future generations. Being sustainable is an extensive goal, aiming to protect the planet from degradation through responsible consumption and production, while managing the earth’s natural resources. (United Nations, 2022) The United Nations Brundtland Commission constructed the definition of sustainability as ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future generations to meet their own needs.’ The fashion industry plays a huge part in the welfare of the planet. Unsustainable consumption and production of fashion means the planet is continuously compromised. This is evidenced in the high amounts of CO2 emissions in production which make up 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions. (Geneva Environment Network, 2022)
The circular economy is a method used to encourage sustainability within the fashion industry. The three key principles of the circular economy is to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials and regenerate nature. (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017) This circulatory method allows for the creation of restorative business models that regenerates clothing and increases clothing usage to reduce waste. Within the fashion industry, many brands and companies are not on track to reach their sustainability goals by 2030 according to the Business of Fashion Sustainability Index 2022. Therefore, it is highly encouraged that businesses adopt a circulatory method that allows for better products and services to customers while prioritising clothing reuse to reduce waste.
In 2015 all the United Nation member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to attain by 2030. An SDG that relates to the fashion industry is ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’.
Encouraging responsible consumption relates to buying second hand clothing, purchasing less fast fashion and using rental services. Similarly, overproduction in the fashion industry leads to the equivalent of a truck full of clothes being placed in a landfill every second (UNEP, 2019). The goal of responsible consumption and production relates to encouraging a reduction in purchasing fast fashion, which has a damaging effect on the environment. In addition to the waste it generates, it also damages the ocean with 500,000 tons of microfibers being released into the ocean every year from washing clothes. (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017) To support this SDG the Conscious Fashion Campaign and Network was established in 2019 to allow for innovative ideas in connection to industry leaders to create a way to implement sustainability. (United Nations, 2022) This Campaign has effectively educated and informed a society (Conscious Fashion Campaign, 2022) while continuing the process of accelerating the global industry to deliver the Sustainable Development Goal of Responsible Consumption and Production by 2030.
Reference list:
Sdgs.un.org. 2022. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. [online] Available at: <https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda> [Accessed 9 October 2022].
Ellenmacarthurfoundation.org. 2022. Circular economy introduction. [online] Available at: <https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview> [Accessed 9 October 2022].
Conscious Fashion Campaign. 2022. Conscious Fashion Campaign. [online] Available at: <https://www.consciousfashioncampaign.com/> [Accessed 9 October 2022].
Genevaenvironmentnetwork.org. 2022. Environmental Sustainability in the Fashion Industry. [online] Available at: <https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/sustainable-fashion/> [Accessed 9 October 2022].