Planet
Planet is one of the four pillars of fashion business industry, which is embodied by environmental sustainability. “Planet” has a influence on sustainability is mainly manifested in atmospheric environment, ecological environment and other natural factors.
The circular economy(Fig) is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended (
European Parliament,2022). The model of circular economy means that resources are fully utilized. It entails redesigning products to be more durable, reusable, repairable, and recyclable (CHATHAM HOUSE,2021). It also means changing the way we consume and use goods and services, and rethinking consumerism as a society (ibid). UNCTAD’s work on the circular economy started in 2015 with a collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation on resource-circularity potentials in large economies like India and China (UNCTAD, no date). Circularity is already part of many lines of work within UNCTAD, such as activities on tackling fossil fuel and fisheries subsidies (ibid).
Linking sustainability with fashion, the concept of sustainable fashion emerges. Sustainable fashion refers to clothing that is designed, manufactured, distributed, and used in ways that are environmentally friendly (Green Dreamer, no date).However, the fashion industry has a negative impact on sustainability. Arguably the fashion and textile industry is unsustainable in its current form. It makes a significant contribution to the global economy, but it uses a disproportionately large amounts of natural resources; its waste products pollute rivers and oceans; and when garments and footwear reach the end of their lives, most are burned or placed in landfill (Economist impact,2020).
climate action and fashion are interacting.
Reducing emissions has become one of the most important measures to deal with climate change. The fashion industry contributes a lot to climate change. McKinsey research shows that the sector was responsible for some 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions in 2018, about 4 percent of the global total. To set that in context, the fashion industry emits about the same quantity of GHGs per year as the entire economies of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom combined (McKinsey& Company,2020). To better cope with the effects of climate change, the fashion industry has also taken effective measures. They are taking action in three different areas: Reducing emissions from upstream operations；Reducing emissions from brands’ own operations；Encouraging sustainable consumer behavior(ibid
).
CHATHAM HOUSE (2021) What is the circular economy? Available at:https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/06/what-circular-economy (Accessed on Oct 9th)
Economist impact (2020) Is Sustainability in Fashion? Available at:https://impact.economist.com/sustainability/circular-economies/is-sustainability-in-fashion?utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=18156330227&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl-S_vKbU-gIVhWDmCh15xg4EEAAYASAAEgK8tfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds (Accessed on Oct 9th)
European Parliament (2022) Circular economy: definition, importance and benefits Available at:https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20151201STO05603/circular-economy-definition-importance-and-benefits (Accessed on Oct 9th.)
Green Dreamer (no date) What is Sustainable Fashion? Available at:https://greendreamer.com/journal/what-is-sustainable-fashion (Accessed on Oct 9th)
McKinsey& Company (2020) fashion on climate Available at:https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/fashion-on-climate (Accessed on Oct 9th)
UNCTAD (no date) Circular Economy Available at: https://unctad.org/topic/trade-and-environment/circular-economy (Accessed on Oct 9th)