Draining the remaining carbon budget
The fashion industry is responsible for about 6% of global emissions (How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything, 2020) and ‘is on track to consume 26% of the world’s carbon budget by 2050.’ (ThredUp)
The most recent IPCC report made it very clear how carefully we must spend this over the next 8 years; if we fail to reduce our emissions ‘we will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.’
According to a report by McKinsey, all participants in fashion’s value chain – ‘from farms and factories to brands and retailers to policy makers, investors, and consumers’ – have a role to play in its decarbonisation. Brands and policymakers should work together with those on the ground to define a 1.5℃-aligned path to sustainability; one that works for everyone. After all, we cannot achieve climate justice without social justice.
Interestingly, materials like hemp, organic cotton, organic linen and bamboo – known as vegan fabrics – are typically considered more ‘sustainable’ because they are natural. And in one sense, they’re better because they don’t shed harmful microfibers (see ‘Disregarding nature’). But when Mike Berners-Lee crunched the carbon numbers, he found that whilst synthetic fibres are more carbon intensive at production phase, their lightweight, quick-drying, ever-lasting (if made well) quality makes them more carbon efficient per item.
In the case of cotton jeans vs synthetic trousers, the former can be up to 7 times more carbon expensive from cradle to grave. Fast fashion – even when made from ‘good’ materials, is bad.
Disregarding nature
Lastly, there’s the damage our clothes are doing to nature.
Microfibers from synthetic fabrics are released into our waterways – and, from there, into our rivers, lakes and oceans – every time they go in the wash. They are then consumed by fish and other wildlife. (The Guardian)
If you don’t like the sound of that, your instincts are on point. Microfibers hold the potential to poison even larger animals through bioaccumulation. This is horrible in and of itself, but gets even scarier when you think of how far up the food chain it could travel…
What can I do to reduce the impact of my clothes?
Carbon expert Mike Berners-Lee suggests that you:
- Buy stuff that’s easy to wash and dry
- Buy stuff that’s built to last. Repair it when it breaks and use it until it falls apart (or pass it on)
- Buy second-hand
- Donate, recycle, or upcycle clothing over putting it in the bin
Ayesha Barenblat, founder and CEO of Remake – ‘A community of fashion lovers, women rights advocates, and environmentalists on a mission to change the industry’s harmful practices on people and our planet.’ – suggests that you:
- Sign the #PayUp Petition
- Share the petition and news from Remake on social media
- Host a documentary screening to spread awareness of the issues around fast fashion
- Donate to the Garment Workers Relief fund.
- Volunteer your time to organisations that are fighting to clean up the fashion industry, e.g. Remake or the Clean Clothes Campaign.
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