the world fashion giants They vowed to reduce their carbon footprint but that goal remains unattainable in timefast Fashion’ is all the rage – theme in Highlight of the UN Climate Summit.
with chance To strut their climate commitments at COP27 talks, discussing clothing brands and manufacturers global Warming – but some acknowledged that their pledge to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero By mid-century maybe stretch.
“Have we arrived? Of course not. Are we on a path? I would say…maybe,” Stefan Seidl, senior head of Sustainability at Boma, A . said panel at COP27 in Egyptian seaside sanctuary of Sharm El-Shaikh.
Greenpeace and other groups urged the sector to – already under fire for Often exploitative work practices – to slow down down or end the wasteful trend of Low-cost mass-produced clothing that is fast thrown far.
Fast fashion, graphics, uses up Huge amounts of Water, produces dangerous chemicals and clogs up garbage dumps in poor countries with Textile waste, while also Generation of greenhouse gases in Production, transportation and disposal.
It was the fashion sector responsible for 4% of global emissions in 2018 – about as much as Britain, France and Germany combined – according to consultancy McKinsey.
About 30 companies – from retail giants H&M Zara owner of Inditex to sports apparel Competitors Adidas and Nike signed up charter for the fashion industry for Climate Action at COP24 in Poland in 2018.
At a time when they pledged to cut emissions by 30% by 2030 and it will be net-zero emitters by mid-century.
a year before they set The new more Ambition goal of reduce their carbon dioxide emissions half at the end of Contract, with more More than 100 companies have signed the pledge now.
But achieving the goal is key challenge for industry with The long and complex supply chains that stretch across the globe, industry insiders admit.
‘Hard and costly”
Industry figures at COP27 hardly indicated “fast fashion” business modelWhich critics Say it is in the heart of The problemconcentration instead on thoughts about use of Renewable energy in Factories and organization.
But greening the entire supply chain and introducing climate-friendly standards among suppliers of raw materials Factories are a huge task.
Leyla Ertur, head of Sustainability at H&M, the Swedish company said more from 800 suppliers.
Even Marie Claire Defoe, head of sustainability at Kering Group, which owns luxury brands Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, said: ushas not been big It is enough to change all supply chains. This is the reason for cooperation key. “
Ali Nuwayra, an Egyptian maker, said another COP27 panel Certification bodies do not even exist in The region.
“When we make, we need To get all the right certifications and carbon footprints and all that, and for a small Brand is coming out From Egypt this is very difficult and also costly, Noera said.
“we also industry for other brands, in He said, “Europe and other places. We are pressured to get certificates and also Togo down with Our prices, so they can continue to make the profits they make.”
‘Boom – Leap of Faith’
Nicholas Maze, head of environmental sustainability in online Zalando, the retailer, there has been a change in culture in developed countries with Banks offer low interest rates to companies that commit To the net-zero targeting.
“If you make this transformation, you may be finished up They pay nothing because the loans are very low and the costs are basically free.”
But suppliers face big clothes tailoring costs in Factories require more of energy used by retail stores .in the end of supply chain.
“we needon a much larger scale, more Renewable energy is more than what brands do . Catherine Chiu, Vice President, said of Corporate Quality and Sustainability at Crystal International Group in Hong Kong.
“Even if we install Solar Panels in All of Our 20 factories, it will account for only 17% of Energy consumption of The group said.
Dalman Lee, Vice President for Sustainability at TAL Apparel, another clothing manufacturer in Hong Kong, said it is decarbonizing its operations for a decade.
But with Subsidiaries in countries Including Vietnam and Ethiopia complicated To navigate the different regulations, Lee said.
Aiming to become net-zero business “Jump of “Commitment of faith,” he told me. You are commit for something you don’t do know how to achieve.”
