Over the past 150 years, we have been burning considerable amounts of fossil fuels such as oil and gas, releasing greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases when released into the atmosphere act as a blanket, trapping heat from the sun and warming the earth. This process is known as the greenhouse effect.
The climate has now warmed to around 1°C above pre-industrial levels when we first started burning fossil fuels. If we are to prevent the worst effects of climate change, temperature rises need to be kept below a 2°C increase from the pre-industrial era, with an ambition to keep it below 1.5°C (as detailed in both The Paris Agreement and the SDGs). However, some assessments suggest that we are currently on course for devastating temperature rises of up to as much as 3-5°C by the end of the century
The fashion industry’s climate impact
From raw material to disposal, the entire life cycle of our clothing produces climate impacts. It has been estimated that the fashion industry emits around 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2e a year , which equates to approximately 2-3% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. If the fashion industry doesn’t change the way it currently operates, the industry’s CO2e emissions could increase by 60% by 2030. To achieve the SDGs, including keeping below the 2°C global temperature target, the fashion industry needs to take an active role in reducing its energy emissions. It has been estimated that an 80% industry-wide emissions cut by 2050 is needed to align the fashion industry’s emissions to the 2°C warming scenario. There is a lot of work to be done to achieve this, by all of us - citizens, businesses and governments alike.
How can the fashion industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Fashion companies can reduce the industry’s emissions dramatically by switching to renewable energy and improving energy efficiency across the entire supply chain, especially the areas with the highest impact: raw materials and fibre production (15% of carbon emissions), yarn preparation (28% of carbon emissions), and dyeing and finishing (36% of carbon emissions). The places where dyeing and finishing processes typically take place - mainly in developing countries - rely heavily on coal and gas, both fossil fuels, to generate electricity and heat. Conventional dyeing processes require a considerable amount of fossil fuels to heat large quantities of water. That’s why research and new technologies focused on low-water dyeing processes are needed in order to reduce GHG emissions in the fashion supply chain. The logic is that the less water used then the less energy needed to heat it.
A polyester shirt, made from fossil fuels, can have more than double the carbon footprint of a cotton shirt (5.5 kg CO2e vs. 2.1 kg CO2e). However, synthetic fibres like polyester typically have less impact on water and land than cotton. Synthetic fibres made from recycled materials, often crushed plastic bottles and disused fishing nets, tend to have lower emissions than using new, virgin fossil fuels. Look for clothes with recycled polyester, which can reduce the emissions of a polyester garment by around 50%.
What does deforestation have to do with fashion?
Plants and trees are important carbon sinks, capturing CO2, and also absorbing CO2 and storing carbon. So, by removing trees and destroying habitats, we are also removing one of our key weapons that could help us slow the rate of climate breakdown. Deforestation and removal of forest and natural grasslands for rubber and bamboo plantations, wood pulp for viscose fibre, cutting down trees to make room for more farms for leather or wool production are all common examples of how raw materials used in fashion contribute to climate change.
How we care for clothes at home is crucial
While washing and caring for a garment has less of an impact than the production phase [10], how you care for your garments can make an important and positive impact. For example, citizens in the UK have been reducing washing temperatures, tumble drying and ironing less frequently since 2012 and this has reduced the carbon footprint of clothing by 3% . By taking care of your garments, you can make them last longer and ultimately, if the number of times a garment is worn were doubled on average, then you will be helping to reduce the climate impacts of your clothes.
https://quantis-intl.com/report/measuring-fashion-report/ fashion and its environmental impact
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