Fashion brands are making strides in sustainability, but challenges remain.
- Signatories of WRAP’s Textiles 2030 scheme reduced carbon emissions by 8%.
- Water usage per tonne dropped by 9% among leading fashion brands.
- Despite improvements, increased production led to minimal overall carbon and water footprint changes.
- The industry is urged to address overproduction and shift towards circular business models.
Fashion brands involved in the WRAP Textiles 2030 initiative have achieved notable reductions in carbon emissions and water use, with an 8% decrease in carbon emissions and a 9% reduction in water use per tonne. These achievements are largely credited to the adoption of less impactful fibers, innovative circular business models, collaborations, and a significant rise in textile collections.
However, the positive environmental effects have been largely neutralized by a 10% surge in production, resulting in only a marginal 0.2% reduction in the overall carbon footprint and a 1.2% increase in the water footprint of participating brands. This rising production is partially attributed to a 2.2% population growth, emphasizing the ongoing challenge of managing unsustainable production levels.
Catherine David, WRAP’s director of behavior change and business programs, highlighted the urgency for the fashion industry to accelerate its pace and scale of change, moving beyond easy fixes and embracing fundamental shifts. David stresses the necessity for the sector to address overproduction and excessive consumption while exploring opportunities for impact reduction.
To support this transition, WRAP promotes the development of preloved clothing resale, takeback schemes, rental models, and repair services. The expansion of peer-to-peer resale platforms, which experienced a 9.7% revenue growth, and the expectation of re-commerce growing by 500% over five years, illustrate significant opportunities for sustainable growth.
Moreover, WRAP’s collaboration with the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC) on creating industry-first benchmarks for product durability aims to guide the industry towards more sustainable practices. The ongoing project addresses both physical and emotional durability, with results anticipated by 2025.
Balancing production with sustainability is crucial to achieving significant environmental progress in fashion.
