In today’s world, we find ourselves grappling with the dire consequences of a climate crisis that has swiftly shifted from a future threat to an unsettling present reality. As temperatures soar to unprecedented heights and calamitous flash floods become distressingly common, the effects of climate change are no longer distant concerns. They are happening right now, with rising sea levels and the loss of precious biodiversity serving as stark reminders.
Within this ever-worsening global scenario, the fashion industry emerges as a significant contributor to our environmental predicament. At every stage of the fashion supply chain, this industry extracts natural resources, exploits habitats, emits toxic substances, pollutes water sources, and recklessly disposes of waste. The result is a devastating impact on our planet.
Fashion Revolution, a global movement for change, is calling upon a diverse array of stakeholders, from brands and policymakers to educators, designers, and citizens, to unite in a collective effort against the fashion industry’s destructive practices. Although the climate crisis can feel overwhelming and disheartening, it is now more crucial than ever to forge a sense of community and take action together. While individual efforts may not solve the crisis in isolation, they do possess the power to make a meaningful difference as part of a global movement.
But how exactly does the fashion industry impact the climate? According to Fashion on Climate, this industry contributes a staggering 2.1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, equivalent to 4% of global emissions. To put this in perspective, this figure rivals the combined annual emissions of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. And this data dates back to 2018; with the industry’s ongoing growth, it is predicted that emissions could reach 2.7 billion tonnes annually by 2030.
This massive carbon footprint extends throughout the fashion supply chain and product life cycle, with 70% of emissions stemming from upstream activities such as raw material production and processing. Unfortunately, many major brands still neglect basic environmental diligence at their supplier sites. Crucially, processes like dyeing and finishing, yarn preparation, and fiber production remain among the most carbon-intensive phases, yet they often evade the scrutiny of fashion brands who primarily account for emissions from their own operations, like transport and retail.
The fashion industry’s environmental impact encompasses more than just carbon emissions; it also involves issues related to water, chemicals, deforestation, textile waste, microplastics, and more. Despite claims of sustainability, the 2021 Fashion Transparency Index revealed a significant lack of transparency across key environmental indicators among the world’s largest brands and retailers. Without data measurement and disclosure, it becomes challenging to hold these entities accountable to their climate targets.
For a meaningful shift to occur, the fashion industry must embrace transparency and environmental due diligence as standard practice. Legislation mandating transparency is urgently needed on an international scale, compelling brands to act responsibly throughout their supply chain to preserve and restore the environment.
The climate crisis and social justice are interconnected, as climate change’s socioeconomic repercussions continue to impact people worldwide. It is crucial to address human rights and the rights of nature in tandem, which entails a radical transformation of the fashion industry’s narrative of overproduction, overconsumption, and a business model built on exploitation and waste.
The time is now for climate action. We cannot keep depleting finite resources, polluting our planet, and failing to meet climate targets while burdening other nations with our waste. Nor can we allow large corporations to profit while supply chain workers struggle for dignity. As fashion enthusiasts, consumers, and global citizens, we must come together to slow down the fashion system and prioritize genuine sustainability for generations to come.
