The Fashion Industry and Its Impact on the Environment and Society | Sense & Sustainability Editor’s Note: This post is part of the on-going collaboration between S&S and GreenBuzz to promote increased dialogue between sustainability practitioners, academic experts, and the general public. GreenBuzz chapters in different cities coordinate on-the-ground events for a word-of-mouth driven community of professionals engaged in sustainability, bringing sustainability leaders together to connect with each other and to discuss specific sustainability topics. S&S will publish excerpts, summaries, and discussions generated by these events in order to facilitate on-going debate and make the information presented at these events available to a world-wide audience. When we think of climate change, certain sectors, such as agriculture and transportation, are most commonly considered key in addressing climate change posed challenges. Behind fashion shows and catwalks, what we wear everyday has become a popular topic of discussion. It seems fair to say that we are wearing Earth down.
Five Trends Influencing the Future of Our Cities When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency removed its climate change hub from public view earlier this year, 17 cities had a response: Each posted the information on city government sites. The move was symbolic of a quiet revolution: Environmental, social, and economic change is increasingly centered at the city level. Innovation in cities was on display at a recent Greenbuild, an event devoted to green building and sustainable development that draws a diverse roster of attendees, from architects and engineers to school and hospital administrators. Some solutions were novel: A unit in the Boston mayor’s office called New Urban Mechanics that specializes in using low-cost hacks and technology to improve urban living highlighted city hall’s Stairs of Fabulousness. Building for People “It’s design on a pedestrian scale, with narrower streets, and pushing buildings closer to the street and to each other,” says Angus. Inclusivity and innovation define renewal efforts. Health and Wellness
Report shows a third of consumers prefer sustainable brands Unilever study reveals a third of consumers are now buying from brands based on their social and environmental impactAn estimated €966 billion opportunity exists for brands that make their sustainability credentials clear The study asked 20,000 adults from five countries how their sustainability concerns impact their choices in-store and at home. Crucially, it then mapped their claims against real purchase decisions, giving a more accurate picture than ever of what people are actually buying – and why. As well as confirming the public’s high expectations of brands when it comes to having a positive social and environmental impact, the study’s findings uncover an unprecedented opportunity for companies that get it right. More than one in five (21%) of the people surveyed said they would actively choose brands if they made their sustainability credentials clearer on their packaging and in their marketing. Ends 1 Brand Purpose: Fad or Future?
How Fast Fashion Is Devastating the Environment and Taking Lives in India – YB COMMUNITY Newsweek‘s latest cover story focuses on how the fast fashion industry isdestroying the local environment in India. Many people, including John Oliver, have come out against the effects fast fashion is having on the globe and its workforce, however India was supposed to be different, according to Newsweek. Fast fashion brands like Uniqlo, Zara, Wal-Mart, H&M, and the Gap flocked to the Indian city Tirupur after consumers pressured them to create more humane work environments than the ones that made headlines in places like Bangladesh and Cambodia. The U.S. government even donated $25 million to the local government to help jumpstart the clothing industry there and the value of the goods India has donated since them has skyrocketed from $571 million to $1.25 billion. However, the plan has backfired because consumers still demand the low prices they have become accustomed to. One such horror story involves two factory inspectors who took $3000 in exchange for approving a factory.
Global risks in the face of social, environmental and technological change Global risks related to key social, environmental and technological trends are creating an interconnected web that continues to sow considerable uncertainty for humanity going forward. Migration, climate change and weapons of mass destruction are expected to leave the riskiest mark on governments and businesses globally. The world faces considerable uncertainties in the face of rapidly developing technologies, increasing income inequality, social polarisation and environmental degradation. In a new report from the World Economic Forum, in strategic partnership with Marsh & McLennan Companies and the Zurich Insurance Group, the current largest scale risks facing the world are explored. The respondents note some shift in their perceived risk likelihood going into 2017. The likelihood of interstate conflicts has decreased slightly, falling from fourth spot to ninth. When considering the interconnected map of risks, the research notes three key trends underlying the dominant global risks.
Fashion’s Interest in Alternative Fabrics Keeps Growing Rivals, which are using similar technology but different production methods, have not produced marketable products yet either. The Japanese company Spiber has an agreement with the North Face, the American activewear company (in 2016, they developed a Moon Parka prototype). And AMSilk, a German company, has partnered with Adidas on products that they will not identify but say are expected to go on sale next year. Adidas, however, s producing sneakers made with plastics recovered from beaches and oceanfront communities, part of a product line developed through its partnership with the activist anti-plastic group Parley for the Oceans. Recycled fruit waste is another promising substance for the creation of alternative fabrics. And mycelium, the rootlike fiber of mushrooms, is being processed as a leather substitute by MycoWorks, a San Francisco start-up.
The Environmental Crisis in Your Closet Approach the massive Orathupalayam Dam by road, and it quickly becomes clear that something has gone terribly wrong. Within 2 miles of the dam, the lush rice paddies, coconut palms and banana trees that have characterized this part of southern India suddenly give way to a parched, bright red landscape, dotted only with scrub forest. The Noyyal River, which used to be clean and clear, now runs foamy and green, polluted with the toxic runoff of the titanic textile industry 20 miles to the west, in Tirupur. At first glance, Tirupur, aka "Knit City," appears to be an exemplar of how globalization can improve the developing world. American taxpayers have played a key role in turning Tirupur into a manufacturing powerhouse. The USAID project, which piped in clean water from a stretch of the Noyyal in a nearby farming region, helped the local industry boom. In early April 2013, I met the leader of the Orathupalayam Farmers Association, Chelliappan Udayakumar, near the Orathupalayam Dam. P.N.
7 key trends all sustainability execs should watch It is 2018, and it arguably never has been a more difficult, unpredictable, yet exciting time to run an international business. No doubt overcoming the Great Depression ahead of the outbreak of World War II in the 1930s was more than a little trying, of course. But fast forward 80 to 90 years and the global economy is an ever more complex and fast-evolving place, exposed to a widening variety of risks and shocks — a fact only underlined by last week's stock market volatility. Today, data is the world's most valuable commodity, oil companies are investing in renewables, vacuum cleaner companies are building electric cars and car manufacturers are leasing out bicycles. Silicon Valley tech firms — aside from having their reach extended into myriad industries — are even accused of undermining, or at least influencing, democratic elections. So what are these main emerging trends? 1. 2. "There are signs of a shift in the whole food system starting to emerge," stated Goodman. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Environmental Impacts of the Fashion Industry — SustainYourStyle The apparel industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions. The global fashion industry is generating a lot of greenhouse gases due to the energy used during its production, manufacturing, and transportation of the millions garments purchased each year. Synthetic fibers (polyester, acrylic, nylon, etc.), used in the majority of our clothes, are made from fossil fuel, making production much more energy-intensive than with natural fibers. Most of our clothes are produced in China, Bangladesh, or India, countries essentially powered by coal.
Dressing to Kill the Planet, the Impact of Fashion on Man & Environment Reuse. Reduce. Recycle. That is the mantra of environmentalists. This should also be our collective mantra as humans. From the fig leaves and animal hides used as clothing for the early man, the linen of ancient Egypt, the silks developed in the Chinese dynasty and finally to the denims, polyester and a whole lot of other fabrics, man has always been a fashionable creature. Although “fashionable” here is a broad term, all these lead to one of the three major demands by man; clothing. When we think of the impacts human activities have on the environment, our mind directly zeroes to the agricultural sector, industrial and then the manufacturing sector. We do not always think of the shoes on our feet and the shirt on our backs. The fashion business involves complex processes such as raw material production, textile manufacture, clothing construction, shipping, retail and finally disposal. Synthetic fabrics, while not as water intensive, often have issues leading to pollution. By Victor Anunobi
Ecological And Social Trends Affecting Business In 2018 | Vistage In this final post in our four-part series, we highlight ecological and social trends affecting business in 2018 and beyond. Social trends affecting business Recent sexual misconduct allegations will lead to needed reforms in the workplace. In 2018, companies will take a more aggressive stance towards workplace harassment. Misconduct claims only amplify a more transformative issue. Movement towards urban centers is magnifying a massive housing and job imbalance. American workers are finally seeing modest increases in wages. Underemployment spurs the “gig economy.” Employers are utilizing new payroll technologies. Health care will radically change in the years ahead. Employers are becoming more proactive in managing their employees’ health and wellness. Migration from Central America to the U.S. is under scrutiny. Immersive technologies are changing the way we live. Ecommerce is expected to grow 20% in 2018. Speed and accessibility drive social media. Personalized food is trending.
Green Generation: Millennials Say Sustainability Is a Shopping Priority Despite the fact that Millennials are coming of age in one of the most difficult economic climates in the past 100 years, a recent Nielsen global online study found that they continue to be most willing to pay extra for sustainable offerings—almost three-out-of-four respondents in the latest findings, up from approximately half in 2014. The rise in the percentage of respondents aged 15 - 20, also known as Generation Z, who are willing to pay more for products and services that come from companies who are committed to positive social and environmental impact was also strong—up from 55% in 2014 to 72% in 2015. “Brands that establish a reputation for environmental stewardship among today’s youngest consumers have an opportunity to not only grow market share but build loyalty among the power-spending Millennials of tomorrow, too,” says Grace Farraj, SVP, Public Development & Sustainability, Nielsen. Other findings from the report include: About the Nielsen Global Survey
‘Dirty Fashion’ report reveals pollution in big brands’ supply chains 20 June 2017 © Changing Markets How H&M, Zara and Marks & Spencer are buying viscose from highly polluting factories in Asia. By Natasha Hurley. Some of the world’s biggest fashion brands are using a fibre whose production can be highly dangerous and polluting, new research shows. Dirty Fashion a report published last week by the Changing Markets Foundation reveals that fashion brands including H&M, Zara and Marks & Spencer, are buying viscose from highly polluting factories in Asia to use in their clothes. It is generally made from wood pulp and other plant-based cellulose. Advert The investigation by Changing Markets uncovered evidence that factories are doing just that: dumping untreated wastewater in local lakes and waterways, which is having a devastating impact on local communities. The Changing Markets investigation in China focused on factories in the eastern provinces of Hebei, Jianxi and Shandong. The children of Kallu Singh. Natasha Hurley is campaign manager at Changing Markets.
Environmental Trends for 2018 - What's coming up? We reached out to our followers on social media as well as our ECO Research Community to learn about their predictions for environmental trends in 2018. Before we talk about the new year, let’s take a quick look at 2017. Energy storage technologies 2017 In September, the World Economic Forum published an article that suggests the future is battery-powered. China, Britain, France, India and Norway announced plans to move away from diesel cars and start focusing on producing electric vehicles. These batteries are used in medical devices, cell phones, computers, drones as well as hybrid and electric cars. Another issue to address is how ‘green’ electric cars really are. This topic will continue to bring more discussion and analysis in 2018 as there’s need for new technologies and sustainability. Greatest environmental challenge 2018 Our community mentions climate change is one of the most challenging issues to face. The first letter was issued in 1992. A policy of investing in conservation.