ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

FASHION: WEAR OR FEAR?

SUBMITTED TO:
PROF. R. GOPICHANDRAN

SUBMITTED BY:
SPRIHA SINGH
22PGDM00B042
 ABSTRACT

The fashion business was responsible for 210 crore metric tonnes of GHG emissions in 2018,
according to the McKinsey Fashion on Climate research, even though it doesn't have the
same notoriety as, say, the oil industry.
The annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the fashion sector are comparable to the
combined emissions of the economies of France, Germany, and the UK. The garment
business contributes 2-4 percent more to annual man-made CO2 emissions than international
aviation. We must stand up and accept responsibility as nearly all nations agreed to limit
climate change as part of the historic Paris Agreement in 2015, with the goal of preventing
global temperatures from increasing over no more than two degrees Celsius.
It will need extensive adjustments in human behaviour to achieve net zero GHG emissions,
which in the context of fashion means altering both the production and use of clothing. In
2014, the manufacture of polyester accounted for almost 40% of all emissions produced by
the fashion industry.
According to estimates, the manufacturing of textiles is responsible for about 38 percent of
all yearly greenhouse gas emissions (4, with synthetic materials making up 62 percent of all
fabric production, primarily polyester).
Considering agriculture, cotton’s carbon footprint is lower than that of polyester, but
fertilisers use releases N2O, a greenhouse gas with 300 times more warming power than
CO2.
In this assignment I have tried to cover aspects of three leading brands in fashion and their
take on sustainability. The figure here shows the market share of fashion industry.
 KEYWORDS

• Sustainability

• Fashion

• Renewables

• Net zero

• Textile

• Carbon footprint

RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The fashion sector, which accounts for 2% of global GDP and 3 trillion dollars in annual
economic output, is one of the most important manufacturing sectors. In addition, the fashion
industry needs to pay attention to social and environmental issues and develop stylish items
that support sustainable consumption and production. Creating resilient infrastructure through
innovation will enable sustainable consumption and production. By combining digital
technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain,
augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality, a robust infrastructure with innovation may be
achieved (VR). This study investigated the various studies that applied these technologies to
the apparel industry for smart clothing (health), supply chains, circular economies, and
dresses.
Fashion is known for setting trends, and right now sustainability is fashion industry's most
crucial trend. And unlike some dubious fashion choices, this is a trend that all shoppers can
support. Even Nordstrom, as far as we know, is now selling second hand apparel. People are
beginning to realise that the preferences of consumers have changed, and they now favour
more environmentally friendly items.
Customers' desire to have a green scene on the environment is growing. According to
research, 88% of customers want brands to support their efforts to live more sustainably.
However, the fashion industry is well known for its environmentally harmful wasteful
practises. 10% of global carbon emissions are produced by the fashion industry, which is
greater than international travel and maritime shipping put together. 20% of all water
pollution in the world is caused by the fashion industry. By 2050, the fashion industry will be
responsible for 26% of the global carbon footprint, if current trends continue. It will be
obvious that action must be taken to address the issue and transform the sector.
Things which we can consider to achieve Net zero target, are:

• Substantial investments to enable scalable solutions that can aid in tracking and
lowering GHG emissions across the board.
• Industry collaboration to comprehend the opportunities and challenges of the entire
ecosystem.
• Methods for measuring, identifying, and mitigating social and environmental effects
along value chains through transparency and traceability.
• International guidelines to properly convey the environmental impact of products
while reducing fragmentation consequences.
• Policy efforts to ensure ethical business practices in global value chains, such as by
factoring in the costs or negative externalities to society and the environment, and to
create a level playing field for businesses in the sector.
• Aligned goals among all parties involved to prevent the exploitation of laborer’s, land
use, or natural resources.

LEVI’S

A pair of Levi’s has a significant environmental impact across its lifecycle, including the use
of nearly 4,000 litres of water, two-thirds of which is used in growing cotton. It requires an
additional 42 litres of water to achieve that “worn-in” look of a good pair of light-washed
jeans. There are also the pesticides; toxic chemicals for bleaching, deconstructed look and the
dyeing.
What is it doing for the sustainability of the environment?
As part of a call-to-action campaign in advance of the UN Climate Action Summit on
September 23, Levi's is one of twenty-eight firms with a combined market value of $1.3
trillion that are stepping up to set a new level of climate ambition. "The firms have committed
themselves to more ambitious climate targets associated with limiting global temperature rise
to 1.5°C, over pre-industrial levels and reaching net-zero emissions by no later than 2050,"
the UN claims.
To help achieve these targets there are already some strategies in place, says Michael Kobori,
vice president of sustainability at Levi’s. Levi’s uses cotton from The Better Cotton Initiative,
the international sustainability program that trains over 2 million cotton farmers, in 21
countries, on how to use less water and chemicals, improve their yields, and increase their
profits. In 2018, 68% of cotton used at Levi’s came from the Better Cotton Initiative. By
2020, the company aims to use 100% BCI cotton. The company launched its Water<Less
Projects in 2011, saving water and last week announced a new strategy to further improve its
water saving techniques. Its vision is to use only as much water as replenishes naturally,
wherever the company operates. “Given the water context in many countries, we have to act
quickly and wisely,” says Kobori.
In 2018, 68% of cotton used at Levi’s came from the Better Cotton Initiative. By 2020, the
company aims to use 100% BCI cotton.

• In 2018, 67% of all Levi’s products used the water<less Projects.

• 2/3rd of all Levi’s product is made in factories with the Worker Well-being program.
• By 2020, Levi’s aims to release zero discharge of hazardous chemicals.
• By 2025, Levi’s aims to have reduced carbon emissions in the supply chain by 40%, and in
all owned and operated facilities, by 90%.

H&M

Business as usual is not an option, and the speed we had in the past cannot be the pace in the
years to come, according to the science. Bold goals are crucial given that we have the chance
to re-examine our sector and the system that supports it as a whole. But we need to
concentrate more on doing and advancement. Beyond net zero, we want to become climate
positive by 2040. Additionally, they have agreed to reduce our absolute emissions by 56% by
2030, using 2019 as the base year. That is also a lot loftier a target than net zero.
What is it doing for the sustainability of the environment?

They recently established a Green Investment team, whose primary responsibility is to reduce
emissions in the most affordable manner, and Energy Efficiency teams, which will aid
suppliers in making the switch to renewable energy.

Additionally, at the beginning of this year, they released a sustainability-linked bond that is
conditional on the company achieving a number of set sustainability goals, including
increasing the proportion of recycled materials used to 30%, cutting emissions from the
Group's own operations by 20%, and reducing absolute scope 3 emissions from fabric
production, garment manufacturing, raw materials, and upstream transport by 10% by 2025.

They make investments in cutting-edge technologies for recycling clothing from one item to
another as well as new business models that ensure fashion never goes to waste. They are
testing out new ways to utilise recycled materials and have made a number of investments in
the recycling of post-consumer fabric because they see significant advancements in textile
recycling technologies. We actually see this as one of the future options as they are currently
expanding and developing these investments. It will mark a significant turning point for the
whole fashion industry.

Internal carbon pricing, which they just implemented, will assist quantify costs for the
emissions from the many decisions made by the group, such as when designing, producing,
and selling a product. By directly connecting emissions to a price on carbon, product
developers at H&M Group can make more informed decisions.

Visualizing the effects of materials, production, and mode of transportation is the goal. They
can opt to start with those three since they account for roughly 70% of their overall
emissions. It is designed to assist our purchasing organisation as they make a long-term
transition. The tool is first and foremost intended to increase internal awareness, enhance
measurability, and alter behaviour over time; it is not a quick fix. Another significant step
towards becoming circular and climate positive is their most recent packaging effort. For
online orders, we can deliver the products to the clients without using single-use plastic that
isn't always recyclable by substituting more environmentally friendly paper.

Products can be compressed with little air, taking up less room during transport. And once
customers receive their product safely, they can easily recycle the packaging. Last year they
reduced the packaging by 14% including 24% less plastic packaging.

INDITEX

Inditex set out with the goal of producing clothing for people that was both stylish
and functional, as well as affordable. The urgency of many of the social, economic,
and environmental issues we all face has increased.

Climate change, human impact on the environment, and a dearth of natural

resources all have an impact on us. Inditex believes that fashion is a force for good
and should be affordable for everyone, so they are investing heavily in changing
our industry.

Inditex is an agent of progress. Over the past 20 years, we have also demonstrated
a consistent commitment to the environment and people, beginning with the
company's adoption of the UN Global Compact in 2001.

Working with influential partners from around the world, including significant
environmental and social sector, and eminent scientists, we are taking further steps
to fundamentally alter the fashion world once more and transform the industry's
future.

Inditex’s main goal:

• 2022: 100% of our electricity from renewables

• 2023: 100% free of single use plastics for all our customers
• 2023: 100% more sustainable cotton (organic, BC, and/or recycled cotton)
• 2023: 100% sustainable man-made cellulosic fibres from more sustainable
sources
 • 2025: 100% more sustainable linen and recycled polyester
• 2040: Inditex reaches Net Zero Emissions

Inditex is steadfastly committed to reducing carbon emissions throughout its supply chain and
in all other areas of its company in order to achieve Net Zero in 2040.

Additionally, they are working to reduce water use throughout the supply chain by 25% by
2025 in order to benefit local ecosystems, particularly adjacent communities and habitats for
freshwater and marine life. They have a specific programme that assists wet processing
facilities minimise and optimise their water use and to receive the highest rating in the audits
in order to accomplish this and other related efforts.

Additionally, they are advancing the industry's Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals
promise to limit and get rid of particular chemicals used in product manufacturing.

CONCLUSION

The fashion sector, which accounts for 2% of global GDP and 3 trillion dollars in annual
economic output, is one of the most important manufacturing sectors. The design, production,
and sale of clothing and apparel are all significantly influenced by the fashion business. The
industry also includes a variety of subsectors, such as the production of raw materials, the
creation of designer clothing and other items, commercialization, and marketing
communication. The fashion sector, however, creates 8–10% of the world's CO2
emissions uses 79 trillion litres of water annually, contributes to 35% of microplastic
pollution, and produces more than 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually according to
the United Nations.

However, the UN SDGs that are pertinent to the fashion business can be achieved by
integrating digitalized technology such as IoT, AI, blockchain, AR, and VR. This study
examined the development of digital technology in the fashion business with this as its
motivation. The investigation phase of the study concentrated on digitalizing technologies for
smart clothing in the fashion sector, trend forecasting, dress recommendations based on
environmental factors, health prediction, real-time supply chain, and fashion and shopping
experiences. This study presented the limitations of the exploration and made
recommendations, such as widespread adoption of blockchain in the fashion supply chain,
advancements in energy storage for smart clothing, integration of IoT, AI, and edge
computing, and a framework for future rescue operations based on smart clothing.
 REFERENCES

• https://www.inditex.com/itxcomweb/en/sustainability
• https://www.hindawi.com/journals/sp/2022/7523246/
• https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/hm-ceo-sustainable-fashion-accessible-to-
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• https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2020/02/24/11-fashion-companies-
leading-the-way-in-sustainability/?sh=ff72e446dba1
• https://twyg.co.za/what-is-levis-doing-about-its-social-and-environmental-
responsibilities/
• https://www.commonobjective.co/article/can-fashion-stop-climate-change
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