Sustainable Fashion 101: What is Sustainable Fashion - The Path to Change
Author: Elena Xiong
“Fashion is one of the world’s most important industries, driving a significant part of the global economy.” Indeed, clothing is one of the necessities for people, and most people enjoy buying fashionable clothes. However, do you know what the fashion industry does to the environment and people every year?
The Earth Day Organization reveals that the fashion industry produces over 100 billion garments annually, with a shocking 87% ending up in landfills or incinerators, amounting to approximately 40 million tons. The consequences extend far beyond overflowing landfills, encompassing environmental degradation, labor exploitation, and a significant carbon footprint. It's time to dive into the data and understand why sustainable fashion practices are not just a choice but a necessity.
Environmental Problems of the Fast Fashion Industry
The fast fashion culture has led to a perilous situation for our planet. Only 1% of discarded clothing is recycled, and the average person today buys 60% more clothing items than they did 15 years ago, only to keep them for half as long. This rampant consumption contributes to the fashion industry's 4% share of global greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the combined emissions of Germany, France, and the U.K. Fashion production is predicted to projected 26% of all carbon emissions by 2050.
The environmental toll extends to water pollution, deforestation, and the extensive use of non-organic cotton, contributing to soil depletion and the endangerment of ecosystems. Shockingly, up to 40% of fashion's carbon emissions result from the production of synthetic fibers like polyester, which is set to grow by 47% in the next decade. Even washing synthetic clothing plays a role, accounting for 35% of all microplastics in the ocean, affecting both marine life and human health.
The human cost is equally alarming, with millions of workers enduring unfair wages, unsafe working conditions, and, in many cases, ‘modern slavery’. The fashion industry is the second-largest contributor to this, with child labor being tragically commonplace.
The Dark Side of Mass-Produced Fashion
Mass-produced fashion exacerbates these issues, with its reliance on cheap labor and the carbon footprint associated with transporting products worldwide. The textile industry's rising carbon footprint, estimated at 1.2 billion metric tons of CO2 in 2015, is further compounded by water pollution, particularly from textile dyeing and finishing. The water footprint of fashion, including the growth of crops like cotton, is a critical environmental concern.
As demand for fast fashion continues to grow, the industry's environmental impact becomes increasingly evident throughout the entire supply chain. Consumers are awakening to the grim reality, demanding ethical and sustainable alternatives, which leads to the development of sustainable fashion.
What is Sustainable Fashion?
Put simply, sustainable fashion is the type of fashion that is produced more “sustainably” compared to mass-produced fashion. To elaborate, it is the fashion that is ethically made and environmentally friendly. It aims to reduce waste, protect the environment, and advocate for human rights. There are five main practices to achieve the goals.
The Path to Change: 5 Main Practices of Sustainable Fashion
1. Circular Economy in Fashion
Designing for longevity is crucial. Shifting away from disposable fashion and embracing quality and craftsmanship, sustainable fashion aims to create clothes that stand the test of time. This practice emphasizes durability, repairability, and recyclability.
Focusing on sustainability in denim, a particularly problematic fashion item, involves brands like Levi Strauss & Co. and Mud Jeans offering take-back services, mending services, and possibilities for recycling. Mud Jeans is actively working toward a circular business model, emphasizing longevity and a seasonless approach to collections. Comparably, global production of denim jeans reaches 1.7 billion pairs annually for mass-market production, with an anticipated increase in the future.
2. Upcycling and Recycling
Recycling in fashion refers to recovering existing fabrics, materials, or fibers to create new products. As the manufacturing of materials typically constitutes the most environmentally harmful phase in the fashion supply chain, opting for recycled textiles instead of newly produced fibers conserves energy and water. In addition, it eliminates the need for an additional dyeing process—a major contributor to water pollution, often involving hazardous dyes. This practice not only minimizes waste but also promotes a more sustainable and circular fashion industry.
For example, Levi's "Authorized Vintage" collection, features repurposed, previously worn vintage items. It not only showcases mindful consumerism but also enhances the desirability of the vintage trend due to its iconic status. All materials are derived from the company's archival resources, and each redesign serves as an opportunity to revisit and celebrate our cherished history.
3. Sustainable Textile Materials
Choosing sustainable materials is fundamental. Organic cotton, bamboo, and recycled polyester are among the alternatives that reduce the environmental impact of fashion production. These materials prioritize ethical sourcing and production processes.
Organic cotton: Sustainable cotton, known as organic cotton, is cultivated without synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, or harmful chemicals. Following organic processing methods, using organic cotton can contribute to a reduction in landfill waste and minimize pollution.
Bamboo: Bamboo proves to be a readily sustainable resource due to its rapid growth as a grass, needing no fertilizer and naturally regenerating from its own roots, eliminating the necessity for replanting and high demands of substantial water, pesticides, and labor. Fabrics derived from bamboo represent an improvement over polyester and traditional cotton. As long as a brand maintains transparency about the sourcing of bamboo, it stands as a reliable choice for more sustainable garment options.
Recycled polyester: Utilizing discarded polyester fibers or plastic bottles for the production of recycled polyester garments reduces the demand for fossil fuels, the primary raw materials in the manufacturing of traditional polyester. Consequently, recycled polyester is generally considered a low-impact fabric, particularly when contrasted with conventional polyester.
4. Combine with advanced technology (ERP system)
To navigate the complexities of intricate designs, global supply chains, and ever-changing trends, fashion businesses are seamlessly integrating enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems into their operations. These advanced technologies include streamlined supply chain management, enhanced design and production collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and sustainability and ethical compliance. They are proving indispensable, offering precision, agility, and real-time decision-making capabilities in the highly competitive fashion landscape.
5. Workers are paid fair wages and work under safe and humane conditions
Paying fair wages is not only ethical but also has economic and social benefits. According to environmental scientist Roland Geyer, ensuring that garment workers receive living wages is crucial for achieving social and environmental sustainability in the fashion industry. A mere $100 weekly increase in wages for global garment workers could result in a significant reduction of 65.3 million metric tons of CO2 in the global economy, attributed to a reverse rebound effect.
Offering a living wage and ensuring humane working conditions yields advantages that extend beyond environmental and social considerations. Businesses stand to gain in three key ways:
Reducing Turnover and Boosting Motivation
Strengthening the Value Chain
Creating a Supportive and Stable Operating Environment
Conclusion
In conclusion, the fashion industry, while a significant global economic force, takes a heavy toll on the environment and human well-being. The fast fashion culture, marked by overconsumption and mass production, contributes to environmental degradation, labor exploitation, and a substantial carbon footprint. It is imperative to recognize the urgency for sustainable fashion practices, not just as a choice but as a necessity.
Sustainable fashion offers a path to positive change, emphasizing practices that prioritize longevity, circularity, and ethical sourcing and striving towards environmental responsibility and ethical production. Moreover, recognizing the critical role of fair wages and humane working conditions is paramount. Paying living wages not only ensures ethical practices but also holds economic and social benefits, contributing to a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry.
Sustainable fashion practices clearly offer a path toward a more responsible and ethical future. As we navigate the complex landscape of the fashion industry, the need for change is evident.
Resources
ApparelMagic. (2023, August 23). The 4 most common Sustainable Practices in fashion Manufacturing. ApparelMagic. https://apparelmagic.com/the-4-most-common-sustainable-practices-in-fashion-manufacturing/
EARTHDAY.ORG. (2023, October 31). Fashion for the Earth - EARTHDAY.ORG. Earth Day. https://www.earthday.org/campaign/sustainable-fashion/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw-pyqBhDmARIsAKd9XIMx97Qoe1XpDdKkRuESqlLBQSuvoaugomnHUbWJTl-xwvbkhiAJRjkaAi3mEALw_wcB
Hymann, Y. (2023, August 3). Material Guide: Is Bamboo Fabric a More Sustainable Option for Fashion? - Good On You. Good on You. https://goodonyou.eco/bamboo-fabric-sustainable/
Nguyen, Q. (2023, July 15). How sustainable are recycled polyester fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis | Impactful Ninja. Impactful Ninja. https://impactful.ninja/how-sustainable-are-recycled-polyester-fabrics/#:~:text=Recycled%20polyester%20fabrics%20are%20generally%20considered%20sustainable.,materials%20for%20most%20virgin%20polyester.
Recycling in fashion: Can it solve its environmental problems? | Sustainable Fashion Blog| Project CECE. (2023, June 7). https://www.projectcece.com/blog/586/recycling-in-fashion/
Team, P. (2022, March 21). What is Organic Cotton? Sustainable Cotton Fabric Guide. Parachute Blog. https://www.parachutehome.com/blog/what-is-organic-cotton-and-sustainable-cotton
