INTHEBLACK February 2025 - Magazine - Page 25
If left unchecked, the fashion
sector will contribute more
than a quarter of the world’s
carbon emissions by 2050.
Initiatives like the Seamless
clothing scheme are
promoting alternative
approaches to a reliance
on fast fashion.
Recent studies suggest
that integrating sustainable
practices enhances
profitability.
Fast fashion’s
footprint
As consumer demand for sustainability grows, the fashion industry
is under pressure to measure its environmental impact and provide
increased transparency regarding labour and workplace practices
in supply chains. How are brands tackling the challenge of
integrating environment, social and governance (ESG) initiatives
while maintaining profitability?
Words Megan Breen
It may be intrinsically connected
to style and innovation, but the fashion
industry has a decidedly unfashionable
environmental and social footprint.
Every garment carries the weight of its
production, and the consequences extend
far beyond the latest trends.
Currently responsible for up to 10 per cent
of global greenhouse gas emissions, the fashion
sector is on a path to contribute 26 per cent
of the world’s carbon emissions by 2050
according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s
A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion’s
future report. The industry also ranks among
the top three water consumers, alongside
technology and agriculture.
However, it’s not just carbon and water
that is a problem — about 500,000 tonnes
of microfibre from clothing ends up in the
ocean each year, equating to three million
barrels of oil in pollution.
Another challenge is bridging the gap
between sustainability and profitability.
However, recent studies suggest that
integrating sustainable practices can enhance
profitability in the long run. For instance,
brands that prioritise sustainability often
see an increase in customer loyalty, as more
consumers are inclined to support companies
that align with their values.
“People have been outraged for decades
now and we are at a point where the
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