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Can Fashion’s Brat Summer Past Spark a Very Demure, Very Mindful Future
Now that climate change threatens to upend the fashion industry, how can the industry handle the consequences of its direct contributions and climate-proof its future?
Most of us do not need any more convincing that fashion contributes to climate change. This week with Loop Swim’s #WisdomWednesday I want to highlight the other side of the coin - how climate change underpins a very challenging future for the industry itself.
Each year temperatures around the world continue to rise and the brutal summer of 2024 has been no exception. Devastating heat waves made it another hottest year on record and laid bare the dire economic repercussions for fashion supply hubs especially in South Asia. The heat leads to a reduction in worker productivity and forbodes a 22% drop in earnings and a million fewer jobs for countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Image: Dibakar Roy, Unsplash
The increasingly volatile weather disruptions like extreme flooding in these regions that account for 18% of global apparel exports is expected to cost them $65 billion by 2030 (Schroders and Cornell’s Global Labor Institute). They also portend massive interruptions to the global supply of natural fibers from cotton to cashmere and silk.
As (both luxury and fast) fashion brands run towards their business goals of producing more things faster than ever and padding their bottom line, above factors add an extra layer of complexity to the problem of meeting their ESG goals. Solutions such as switching to man-made cellulosic fibers like viscose ring hollow due to their over-reliance on forests. Canopy reports that nearly 200 million trees are felled each year (a number that is expected to double in the next 10 years) to produce cellulosic fibers like viscose and rayon – these are part of very same forests that form 30% of the solution to our climate worries. Additionally, this troubling statistic does not even consider ramifications of the extremely toxic and chemical-heavy processes involved in the production of these fibers.
Finally, all of this is without accounting for the fact that fashion’s supply chain is in direct competition with our food supply and how badly we need above resources to feed humans on the planet.
As such, once again the linear system of the industry fails. It demands more transparency and climate resilience built into our manufacturing cycles. It prerequisites a diversification of our supply chain and a closer examination and acceptance of true circularity with recycled alternatives as raw materials and regenerative agricultural practices.
A very serene, very mindful future for the fashion industry?
Image: Creative Commons
Here are a few strategies it can adopt to combat these effects and weather-proof its supply chain:
1. Sustainable Practices and Materials
Adopt Renewable Energy: Transitioning to renewable energy sources in manufacturing processes can reduce carbon footprints and make operations more resilient to energy supply disruptions.
Use Sustainable Materials: Incorporating recycled fibers and sustainable materials can lower environmental impact and reduce dependency on resource-intensive raw materials.
Diversify Supply Chains: By diversifying sourcing locations, brands can mitigate risks associated with localized climate events.
Invest in Infrastructure: Upgrading factory infrastructure to withstand extreme weather, such as raising foundations in flood-prone areas, can protect assets and ensure continuity.
3. Worker Protection and Adaptation
Enhance Worker Safety: Implementing cooling systems and providing protective gear can help workers cope with extreme temperatures.
Social Protection Programs: Expanding social protection for workers, including health and safety measures, can improve resilience against climate impacts.
4. Technological Innovations
Climate Forecasting Tools: Utilizing advanced climate forecasting tools can help predict and prepare for extreme weather events, allowing for better planning and risk management.
Efficient Inventory Management: Using advanced forecasting tools for inventory management can reduce overproduction and waste, aligning production cycles with actual demand.
5. Collaboration and Policy Engagement
Industry Collaboration: Joining initiatives like the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action can help brands align with global sustainability goals and share best practices.
Policy Advocacy: Engaging with policymakers to support regulations that promote sustainable practices and protect vulnerable workers can drive systemic change.
