Planet
The pillar planet has the aim of reinforcing sustainability within the fashion industry for the protection of the environment. Sustainable practices are vital to minimise the destructive impacts the industry imposes on the planet which include the emission of greenhouse gasses, water pollution and deforestation. Processes including reuse of products and recycling and crucial to deter the direction of the climate crisis, as the fashion sector are responsible for 8-10% of humanity carbon emissions and are a major contributor to world pollution and climate change. Textile production alone produces 1.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum when 85% of textiles are sent to landfills. Meaning in order to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint fashion would need to cut down greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.
The circular economy is an economic system which is based on the regeneration and reuse of materials and products and continuing the production for the industry through sustainable means. The system uses the “reduce, reuse, recycle” approach has the aim to completely eliminate waste, favouring activities that promote preservation of energy, labour and materials. Meaning to design for durability, reuse and recycling to keep the products created and the materials used to circulate in the economy. Which is the ideal solution for the impacts of the fashion industry as new trends, especially popular with younger generations, and the media help support this system as there is a rise in purchasing preloved items and is easy to do so through mobile apps such as Depop and Vinted, as maintaining circular practices has a great reliance on the way society chooses to perform as well as changes in regulation.
Pushing forward the importance of The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and stating that how the fashion industry currently operates is not sustainable and requires significant change. An SDG that resonates with the pillar-Planet is SDG13 Climate Action, as it “emphasises that deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are essential in all sectors” and exclaims that urgent, transformative action is crucial, showing the trend of the increasing global sea level in millimetres and that the $100-billion-a-year climate finance goal by developed countries has yet to be met. Which the goals’ purpose is for the increasing mitigation actions in infrastructure and transportation reaching a total of $83.3 billion but still shy of the target (according to a recent UNFCCC analysis). Therefore, the DDG13 prevails the fashion industry and aligns its objectives the the pillar planet to reinforce sustainability.
References:
MacArthur, E., 2017. Circular Economy. Dostupno na: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation,org/circular-economy/what-is-the-circulareconomy. 2017.
United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The Sustainable Development Goals: Report 2023. UN;2023
Pereira L, Carvalho R, Dias Á, Costa R, António N. How does sustainablity affect consumer choices in the fashion industry”?. Resources. 2021 Apr 19;10(4):38