Planet Pillar
The fashion industry negatively impacts the planet in several ways as it is interconnected with multiple industries such as the oil industry, farming industry, chemical industry, etc. It is the second-most polluting industry in the world, not only does it have environmental impacts but also social and economic (Monday’s lecture, Oct 2, 2023). Issues the industry poses on the planet range from carbon emissions to garment workers’ poor working conditions. Fashion is a deep cultural expression, and it aims at our identity and how we connect with people, often suggesting a passing trend. It can also be defined as garments that are disposed of which are still functional and purposeful, simply for superficial reasons (Gardetti and Torres, 2017).
A global understanding of sustainability is the responsible use of natural resources for present needs without compromising the needs of future generations, which has been defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED, 1987) report, Our Future. Sustainability’s definition is ambiguous and is often confined to the idea that it solely targets the environment. In fashion, sustainability considers many factors; the rights of garments’ workers, the sourcing of materials (textiles and fabrics), the processes to achieve these materials, the durability and use/preservation of garments, etc. (Gardetti and Torres, 2017). In a business context, sustainability refers to companies making decisions that will have a long-term impact on the environment, society, and corporate governance (McKinsey p.129, 2023). Sustainability can be achieved by implementing a circular economy model. It operates alternatively to how the economy traditionally operates (fabrication, use, and dispose). The aim of this model is to extend the lifecycle of a product by repurposing, refurbishing, repairing, reusing, and recycling to create new materials and products (European Parliament, 2023).
One of the UN’s SGDs, Responsible Consumption and Production, specifically aims to reduce overconsumption and production of products that deplete natural resources and generate excessive carbon emissions. It urges businesses to reduce their ecological footprint by changing their methods of production and recycling and reducing waste in general (United Nations Development Programme, 2023). Patagonia is an example of a brand that reflects this goal in their sustainable initiatives. However, they don’t consider themselves to be sustainable (McKinsey p.79, 2023). They are aware that they are part of the problem, and they are attempting to alleviate the impact they have on numerous factors. They aim for responsibility at the source by seeking materials that have minimal negative socio-ecological impacts, even though they are less financially advantageous. For instance, when they began to use 100% cotton in 1996, they suffered a financial loss for two years because there wasn’t enough cotton to satisfy their needs (Shourkaei, Taylor and Dyck, 2023).
Reference List:
United Nations Development Programme (2023). Sustainable Development Goals | United Nations Development Programme. [online] UNDP. Available at: https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals/responsible-consumption-and-production.
Mojtaba Mohammadnejad Shourkaei, Taylor, K.M. and Dyck, B. (2023). Examining Sustainable Supply Chain Management via a Social‐symbolic Work lens: Lessons from Patagonia. Business Strategy and the Environment. [online] doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3552.
Miguel Ángel Gardetti and Ana Laura Torres (2017). Sustainability in Fashion and Textiles : values, design, Production and Consumption. [online] London ; New York: Routledge. Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=oqk0DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT7&dq=Sustainability+in+relation+to+fashion&ots=QHF7dkkJdG&sig=OS1u_OJK1nxDbnBlBsmxXjNzlUc#v=onepage&q=Sustainability%20in%20relation%20to%20fashion&f=false [Accessed 5 Oct. 2023].
European Parliament (2023). Circular economy: definition, Importance and Benefits | News | European Parliament. [online] www.europarl.europa.eu. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20151201STO05603/circular-economy-definition-importance-and-benefits.