Planet
Planet as a pillar of Sustainability
As one of the pillars of Sustainability, the planet undoubtedly plays a vital role in the entire fashion industry. Examples include the extraction of natural materials, fuel for production, and other material aspects. However, the development of the fashion industry is causing significant damage to the planet. The fashion industry produces over 120 billion tons of CO2 annually (Jasmine Chinasamy, 2018) and contributes to climate change and pollution. It is clear that human activities are causing climate crises, putting the planet in danger. Considering this fact and performing active steps, you can successfully achieve Sustainability. One of these steps is the circular economy, which will be discussed further.
Figure 1. Textile pollution in Bangladesh.
Circular Economy
The circular economy is the opposite of a linear economy. However, it is far more sustainable. One of the main issues with the linear economy is the disposal at the end of the lifecycle and extraction of new resources. The circular economy focuses on reusing resources, avoiding wasting and extracting new resources. It should be borne in mind that the planet is the vital pillar of sustainability. A circular economy is essential to maintain it. Following such a simple principle as re-using, re-manufacturing or recycling will reduce waste and achieve climate neutrality faster (André Gonçalves, 2019).
Figure 2. Visualisation of linear and circular economy
Sustainability and Fashion
The concept of Circular Economy can be easily applied to the Fashion Industry. Part of conveying this economy into fashion is using recyclable and eco-friendly fabrics. It can be seen that brands are starting to replace the usual fabrics with more sustainable ones. An example of such a material is Econyl, which has replaced traditional nylon. Econyl uses synthetic waste to create new nylon (Darcie Carruthers, 2019). Such active actions on the production stage belong to one of the Sustainable Development Goals – Climate Action. It is true to say that customers cannot directly contribute to production. However, customers can contribute to it through another SDG – Responsible Consumption and Production.
Figure 3. Examples of sustainable fashion.
Responsible Consumption and Production
Responsible Consumption and Production is the 12th goal of SDG. So as stated earlier, it is easier for a customer to contribute to this particular STG. One step is the measured purchase of new items of clothing. Studies say that people do not wear at least 50% of their own clothes (Marjorie van Elven, 2018). This reckless consumption contributes to higher production volumes and world pollution. Another step is deliberate washing. Plastic particles washed from our synthetic clothes are polluting the ocean (Katie Okamoto, 2021). Overall, by reducing the volume of clothes we buy and the number of clothes we wash by wearing more carefully, everyone can contribute to Responsible Consumption and Production. By contributing to such a vital SDG, we can maintain the environmental pillar of sustainability.
Figure 4. Visualisation of the ocean pollution caused by washing clothes
References
Alves, A. (2021). Sustainable Fashion – A Comprehensive Guide + 10 New Designers (2021). [online] the vou. Available at: https://thevou.com/fashion/sustainable-fashion/.
Carruthers, D. (2015). Material Guide: How Sustainable Is ECONYL? [online] Good On You. Available at: https://goodonyou.eco/material-guide-econyl/.
Chinasamy, J. (2019). London Fashion Week: Fast facts about fast fashion. [online] Unearthed. Available at: https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2019/09/12/fast-facts-about-fast-fashion/.
Davis, N. (2020). Fast fashion speeding toward environmental disaster, report warns. The Guardian. [online] 7 Apr. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/apr/07/fast-fashion-speeding-toward-environmental-disaster-report-warns.
Islington Together. Circular economy | Together Greener. [online] Available at: https://togethergreener.islington.gov.uk/organisations/business-operations/circular-economy [Accessed 10 Oct. 2022].
Ljubljana, S. For World Oceans Day, People Want Washing Machines to Stop Polluting the Oceans. [online] Available at: https://www.newswire.com/news/for-world-oceans-day-people-want-washing-machines-to-stop-polluting-21404210 [Accessed 10 Oct. 2022].
Marjorie van Elven (2018). People do not wear at least 50 percent of their wardrobes, says study. [online] Fashionunited.uk. Available at: https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/people-do-not-wear-at-least-50-percent-of-their-wardrobes-according-to-study/2018081638356.
Okamoto, K. (2021). Your Laundry Sheds Harmful Microfibers. Here’s What You Can Do About It. [online] Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/reduce-laundry-microfiber-pollution/.
Youmatter. (2019). Only 9% of the world is circular. How has the linear economy been destroying the Earth? [online] Available at: https://youmatter.world/en/is-circular-economy-the-key-to-fight-climate-change-a-circle-economy-report/.