Planet
How we define the subject of the planet within the fashion industry is constantly changing as we become increasingly aware of the devastating impact that fashion is having on the environment. There are many current projects and ideas being brought into the fashion industry in an attempt to help create a more sustainable buisness model, featuring clothes that can be repaired and reused as much as possible.
The circular economy is an alternative to a traditional linear economy (make, use, dispose) in which resources are kept in use or as long as possible. It aims to create a more sustainable business model, recycling exisiting materials and using less resources. It contrasts to the linear system which is the standard ‘take-make-waste’ model that is seen around the global while consumers are buying clothes and cooperations are creating them.
Sustainability in fashion is something that should shape how we chose and consume our clothes, it should be the backbone of the fashion industry. Sustainability within the fashion industry looks towards businesses taking a more slow fashion approach- for example, this consists of a more practical design process, increasing the rewearabilty and strength of the product, less environmentally harmful materials. The introduction of better working practices and training will lead to a better quality of clothing material, better treatment of the workers and local ecosystems therefore a more sustainable business model. A UN report found that 500 billion dollars of value lost every year due to clothes underutilisation and lack of recycling- all which can be fixed by using a more sustainable approach to the industry.
Textiles garments piled up on a landfill site in Ethiopia
Examples of this within the fashion industry, include the designer Patrick McDowell, winner of the Stella Mcartney Today for Tomorrow sustainabilty award, who follows a business system where all garments are made to order, rather than ordering a wide range of stock and having leftover garments that are then sent to landfill. This business model is profitable and preferable to the business as usually all the garments sent to landfill create a loss business due to their manufacturing costs which when wasted before sold, do not lead to a profit or recooperation of those buisness costs.
One SDG from The United Nation’s sustainability goals that majorly impacts the fashion industry is Goal 12 which aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production pattern. According to Sustainable force research, the entire fashion supply chain is estimated to contribute 8 to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and fashion is the second most water-intensive industry on earth, consuming roughly 79 billion cubic metres of water per year. Sustainability and consumption within the fashion industry requires brands to create more durable pieces that will last and offer their own company reformation services, encouring the return of customers. In reflection, for this goal to be achieved within the fashion industry big changes are required to be undertaken by the entire industry, focusing on the circular economy system. Consumers must also be more aware of their buying habits and be conscious of chosing to reuse, repair and recycle before purchasing more garments.
References
https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12