Sustainability in the Fashion Industry Needs to be Tackled from the Bottom Up

By Alexis Normand, co-founder and CEO of Greenly, the carbon accounting platform

In a drive to decrease waste by encouraging recycling or reuse through the circular economy, EU governments recently agreed to ban the destruction of unsold textiles and clothing. According to Reuters: ‘Textile consumption in Europe has the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change after food, housing and mobility. About 5.8 million tonnes of textiles are discarded every year in the EU, approximately 11kg (24 pounds) per person, much of it put into landfill or incinerated.’

However, this move from the EU may not be the silver bullet for carbon emissions reduction that countries are hoping for.

The fashion industry’s environmental impact is not just about waste, but also about energy use and carbon emissions during production. Even with no clothing waste, if the production process remains energy-intensive and carbon-emitting, the issue is not solved. Therefore, a sustainability drive in the fashion and textile industries needs to be tackled from the bottom up.

High-emitting production process

A study from Wrap shows that each ton of clothing in the UK generates approximately 26.2 tCO2e (tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). When this carbon footprint is broken down further, it becomes clear that both clothing processing and fibre production contribute significantly to total carbon emissions. Greenly’s own research has found that processing accounts for approximately 35% of the total carbon footprint, whilst fibre production contributes about 42%.

Another part of the industry’s sustainability issue is down to cotton being the most consumed textile fibre in the world (in high demand for its quality and absorbency), and also the most polluting crop on the planet.

What this tells us is that there’s an urgent need for sustainable production methods in the fashion and textile industries, as enforcing the recycling and better processing of clothing and textile waste is not enough and may also inadvertently incentivise overproduction. 

Enforcing energy-efficient, sustainable manufacturing practices

Investing in energy-efficient manufacturing methods and using renewable energy sources can significantly reduce the carbon emissions associated with textile and clothing production. In addition, chemical-free manufacturing methods can help to reduce the pollution caused by farming cotton.

However, asking all of this to be done voluntarily will not get to the desired outcome quickly enough. Regulation – plus collaboration between governments and fashion businesses – is essential to driving positive change.

A drive to the circular economy

Fast fashion  – and the overconsumption of clothes – is largely to blame for the way that clothing production has embraced polluting practices. The lifecycle of an item of clothing can be very short, with brands updating their collections with increasing regularity to capitalise on trends and demands for new styles. Therefore, in addition to sustainable manufacturing methods, there also needs to be a determined focus on reducing the need for new clothing production by encouraging a shift in consumption patterns and reducing the demand for new clothing production. 

Embracing concepts such as circular fashion, where garments are designed to be recycled and passed on, can contribute to a more sustainable and resource-efficient industry. The circular economy can also help cut down the fashion and textile industries’ carbon footprint through its potential to reduce the global transportation of goods.

Collaboration between governments, businesses and consumers is critical to driving long-lasting changes

Challenges that the fashion and textile industries are facing must be approached with careful consideration to avoid unintended consequences that could hinder progress. Regulatory measures should be comprehensive, addressing both production and consumption aspects, whilst consumer awareness and education must be invested in to drive much-needed and sustainable behavioural change.

The environmental impact of the fashion and textile industries is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. By adopting sustainable practices, the industry can help to contribute towards the global drive to net zero.

About Alexis Normand:

Alexis Normand is the CEO and co-founder of Greenly, a carbon accounting platform dedicated to helping businesses understand and reduce their carbon footprint. With expertise in climate change and sustainable practices, Alexis is committed to driving positive change in industries with significant environmental impact.