The definition of sustainable fashion is incredibly broad, and it does not only concern the choice of materials used during the production processes, but also the conscious use of resources and social and economic aspects. But how can fashion become eco-sustainable?
That of “sustainable fashion” is a concept whose definition encompasses numerous areas and aspects. It is not “just” about producing clothes using cruelty-free and low-polluting fabrics. The discussion is much broader, and involves social and economic factors, which together with environmental ones contribute to making the fashion sector less polluting, rightly considered one of the most harmful to our planet.
With the term “sustainable fashion”, in English sustainable fashionrefers to a change of direction in the way clothes are produced. The change starts from the choice of raw materialswhich should come from sustainable and certified sources, and ends with the methods of disposal of the products, which should have an increasingly smaller impact on the environment.
But why is it important for fashion to become sustainable? Let’s take a journey to discover sustainable fashion, and see what the definition of sustainable fashion is and in which and how many ways brands can embrace sustainability as a raison d’être.
How much does the fashion world pollute?
It is often said that fashion could act as a “canary in the mine”, and that is, it could tell us in advance whether something is actually changing in society. If this is true, it is clear that the environmental sustainability It’s a mission that interests many consumers. And that’s already great news!
Adopting sustainable behaviors in a polluting sector such as fashion represents an effective strategy for reduce pollution levels globally. But by the way, do you actually know how much the clothing industry pollutes?
According to theUnited Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashionto date fashion has proven to be “unsustainable” for many reasons.
- The sector makes enormous use of waterenergy and precious and far from unlimited resources.
- Often, fashion brands create clothes using polluting and non-biodegradable fabrics (mostly plastic)
- The fashion industry often resorts to harmful chemicals and dangerous for both the environment and human health
- Fashion pollution also involves the transportation of materials and products, with the resulting emission of polluting gases.
- The clothing sector also involves a huge waste production which, let us remember, are often not recyclable.
Fashion between fast fashion and consumerism
But one of the biggest causes of pollution related to the fashion sector is to be found in consumerismin the frenetic “need” to buy ever new clothes, often fueling the well-known problem of “fast fashion”, which consists in the production of several collections every year, with low quality garments which we could compare to the disposable objects that accumulate in landfills and in the environment.
Today, the clothing industry is responsible for approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and consumes more than 200 trillion liters of water each year. Additionally, the clothes we buy often release microplastics into the seas and oceans, further contributing to the damage of these precious ecosystems.
Given the profound impact of the fashion sector on the environment, the UN Agenda 2030 aims to create fertile ground for fashion to become truly sustainable, through targeted and coordinated actions for all countries.
What is sustainable fashion, definition and characteristics
But all things considered, what can fashion do to become more sustainable? As we were saying, in reality Using a 100% cotton fabric is not enough to solve the problem.
We need broader actions, ranging from the choice of materials to the use of resources, but we also need to focus on a fashion that is fair from a social and economic point of view, which gives workers the opportunity to enjoy decent living conditionswhose work is remunerated correctly and adequately.
All this, always taking into account the needs of our Planet, using renewables throughout the production process, and creating garments that do not have an impact on the environment even when they are disposed of.
When is a brand defined as sustainable?
So, what are the characteristics of a sustainable product? Some examples of sustainable fashion could be the following:
- Production of goods ensuring the safeguarding ecosystemsof flora and fauna
- Use of renewable and biodegradable materials
- Conscious management of water and energy resources
- Reduction of CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions in all stages of production and transport
- Efficient waste management and disposal
- Sustainable fashion brands should not engage in greenwashing, an unfair practice that could distance consumers from the common goal of making the world cleaner and more livable for all.
- Protection of human rights: ensuring adequate pay and well-being for workers in all countries
- Promotion of the Slow Fashionwith a consequent reduction in the phenomenon of Fast Fashion, a trend that has serious repercussions both on an environmental and economic/social level
- Use of Eco-friendly materialssuch as new generation sustainable fabrics
- Recycle, reuse and repair: we must promote a reuse strategy of clothing and fabrics, rather than fueling the harmful “disposable” trend.
An essential goal of sustainable fashion, however, is to stimulate a more eco-conscious behavior in consumers, promoting the purchase of products only if actually necessary, and offering clothing that can last over time, made with ecological and resistant materials, of excellent quality, for a fashion that is ethical and friendly to the environment.
Sources
Source: www.greenstyle.it
