Planet
Planet
Clothing is an essential part of human life, especially with the development and process of the times and the gradual pursuit of more fashionable, good-looking styles, but with this comes a large amount of output that produces impacts and hazards on the ecosystem and human beings themselves. 171million tons of CO2 were emitted by the fashion industry in 2015(Pulse of Fashion), which is more than the combined energy consumption of the two types of heavy industries, aviation and shipping(UN), and it’s even growing. In the ”use phase” of a garment’s total life cycle, repeated care and maintenance using energy, water and chemical detergents have an even greater impact(Gwilt, 2020). This is why this week’s focus on the pillar ”Planet”.
Circular Economy
The Circular Economy(CE) is distinct from the traditional linear economy, which follows a ‘capture-make-discard’ model, where resources are extracted, products are made, they are used and then discarded as waste, whereas CE adheres to the principles of designing out waste and pollution; keeping products and materials in use; and regenerating natural systems(Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M, 2017). There is no doubt that CE has ignited the fashion industry as a whole and has been widely adopted as a driver of sustainability. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation describes CE as a system that builds long-term resilience, creates business and economic opportunities, and provides environmental and social benefits(Gwilt, 2020).
The Bruntland Report had clearly stated that ”Sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”(WCED, 1987 in Ravage et al, 2015). In the fashion industry, in order to take into account the life cycle of the product, from design and production to use and final disposal, runs the production, consumption and disposal of clothing and accessories in a way that minimizes the negative impact on the environment and society.
SDG is highly relevant to the fashion industry because it addresses the unsustainable consumption and production patterns that are prevalent in the sector. Fast particular, has contributed to excessive resource consumption, pollution, and a throwaway culture. Sustainability in fashion includes ethical manufacturing practices. This encompasses fair wages, safe working conditions, and responsible sourcing of materials. Ethical production aims to improve the well-being of works and reduce the exploitation often associated with the fashion industry.
Reference
Brundtland, G.H. (1987). Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. Available at: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/5987our-common-future.pdf.
Gwilt, A. (2020). Rethinking Fashion Design. In A Practical Guide to Sustainable Fashion. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781350067059.ch-001
Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M. (2017). Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/531435a