Planet Blog
The “planet” pillar is a fundamental aspect of sustainability dedicated to safeguarding and preserving our natural environment intricately connected with the concept of a circular economy. A circular economy is an economic model that focuses on minimizing waste through reusing, recycling, sharing, refurbishing and repairing existing materials and products (European Parliament, 2023). Unlike the traditional linear economy, which revolves around producing products at the lowest cost without any consideration of the negative externalities (European Investment Bank, 2023), a circular economy seeks to create a closed-loop system where products are produced, used and then reintegrated into the production cycle. This type of economic model requires a more sustainable practice in both consumption and production, where the waste after the consumption of the product could be reused in new production processes, extending the product life cycle and the product’s value.
In the context of the fashion industry, the economic model and sustainability encompasses a wide array of practices and initiatives aimed at reducing its environmental footprint. This can be extended from three perspectives (environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and cultural sustainability) including methods like using sustainable materials, adopting ethical labor practices, reducing water and energy consumption, and designing products with longevity in mind. Using Levi as an example, the renowned denim and apparel company has taken significant steps in recent years to adopt water-saving techniques in its production processes as part of its commitment to sustainability (Levi Strauss & Co., 2021). This initiative reflects the company’s recognition of the environmental impact of denim manufacturing, which historically and presently involves substantial water consumption and wastewater discharge. Therefore, sustainable fashion seeks to minimize the negative impacts of the industry on the planet while promoting ethical and responsible production.
Water consumption and wastewater discharge is one of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations that is constantly discussed in the fashion industry. However, another one of the SDGs that is closely interlinked with the fashion industry is Goal 13 – Climate Action. The fashion industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions and environmental degradation as it is responsible for 4% of the total world greenhouse gas emissions every year (Fashion Revolution, 2021). Two of the main contributing factors are its high carbon emissions in production and wasteful linear economy practices. The fashion industry’s carbon footprint is substantial due to energy-intensive processes, such as textile production and transportation. Adopting waterless dyeing techniques, energy-efficient technologies, and sustainable materials can help reduce emissions in these stages (Fashion Revolution, 2021). As for how wasteful linear economy practices can be, fast fashion’s overproduction and disposal contribute enormously to environmental degradation and carbon emissions (Fashion Revolution, 2021). Shifting towards circular fashion, promoting recycling, and reducing waste can mitigate these issues, aligning with Goal 13 – Climate Action and other sustainability goals. As a result, the fashion industry’s impact on climate change and the environment underscores the urgency of adopting sustainable practices and embracing circular fashion principles to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to global climate action efforts.
Circular economy: definition, importance and benefits: News: European Parliament (2023) Circular economy: definition, importance and benefits | News | European Parliament. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20151201STO05603/circular-economy-definition-importance-and-benefits (Accessed: 9 October 2023).
Karslake, K. (2015) The fourth pillar of sustainability: pleasure? Available at: https://sustainability.bam.co.uk/insights/2015-02-24-the-fourth-pillar-of-sustainability-pleasure (Accessed: 9 October 2023).
Knight, C. (2023) What is the linear economy?, European Investment Bank. European Investment Bank. Available at: https://www.eib.org/en/stories/linear-economy-recycling (Accessed: 9 October 2023).
Taking action on fashion and the climate crisis (2021) Taking action on fashion and the climate crisis : Fashion Revolution. Available at: https://www.fashionrevolution.org/climatecrisis/ (Accessed: 9 October 2023).
Staff, U. (2022) Our New Sustainability Report and Goals, Levi Strauss & Co. Available at: https://www.levistrauss.com/2022/09/28/our-new-sustainability-report-and-goals/ (Accessed: 9 October 2023).