UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion addresses damage of ‘fast fashion’

UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion addresses damage of ‘fast fashion’

The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion was launched at the UN Environment Assembly to tackle the environmental and social issues caused by the fashion industry. The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions, more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. It is also the second biggest consumer of water and produces around 20% of the world’s wastewater. The average consumer buys 60% more clothing than 15 years ago and keeps each item for only half as long. The Alliance aims to make fashion sustainable, identify gaps and solutions in current actions, and present findings to governments to trigger policy changes.

The impact of fashion on the environment

The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions, more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. It pumps water to irrigate crops like cotton, uses oil-based pesticides, machinery for harvesting, and emissions from transport. The industry is responsible for 24% of insecticides and 11% of pesticides. The average consumer buys 60% more clothing than 15 years ago and keeps each item for only half as long. The industry is the second biggest consumer of water and generates around 20% of the world’s wastewater, releasing half a million tons of synthetic microfibers into the ocean annually.

The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion

The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion aims to make the fashion industry sustainable, identify gaps and solutions in current actions, and present findings to governments to trigger policy changes. The Alliance creates a common platform and dialogue for UN agencies that are working to make fashion sustainable. The Food and Agricultural Organization promotes Blue Fashion, which uses sustainable marine materials and protects arable land. The International Trade Centre has set up the Ethical Fashion Initiative to spotlight artisans from the developing world. UN Environment is pushing governments to foster sustainable manufacturing practices.

Social impacts of sustainable fashion

Greening the value-chain creates new jobs and opportunities for rural workers, especially smallholder farmers or those working in forestry. The industry accounts for a staggering 8-10% of global carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion aims to use fashion as a form of activism and empowerment to bring real creativity and passion into the industry.

The launch event

The launch event of the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion hosted a series of pop-up fashion installations with guest appearances from UN Goodwill Ambassadors, such as Indonesian-Australian conservationist and media personality Nadya Hutagalung and Chinese popstar Karry Wang. It is hosting a series of ‘instastories’ from 10-20 key players in sustainability, each explaining their vision for the future of environmentally-friendly fashion. Interactive presentations are being given by clothing experts wearing the best sustainable designs and materials.

Conclusion

The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion is an essential initiative to halt the environmentally and socially destructive practices of fashion. The Alliance is improving collaboration among UN agencies by analyzing their efforts in making fashion sustainable and presenting these findings to governments to trigger policy. The Alliance also creates a common platform and dialogue for UN agencies that are working to make fashion sustainable. Sustainable fashion can create new jobs and opportunities for rural workers and have positive social impacts, as well as reducing the industry’s carbon emissions and impact on the environment.