The Impact of Sustainable and Ethical Clothing
Longevity and responsibility are at the heart of sustainable and ethical clothing production. These practices aim to ensure a healthier planet and better lives for future generations by prioritising environmental and social responsibility.
Social Impact on Workers
The social impact of sustainable and ethical clothing brands is profound. When brands prioritise the use of safe materials and enforce stringent workplace conditions, workers benefit from improved operating environments and overall wellbeing.
This focus helps to expose and combat the horrific realities of slave labour, child labour and exploitative practises. By refusing to engage in unethical and often illegal operations, sustainable and ethical clothing brands reduce the demand for such exploitative practices with the view to making them “out of fashion”.
According to the Global Slavery Index, fashion is one of the industries most susceptible to modern slavery. Ethical brands are leading the charge in challenging this status quo by ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect for workers' rights. These efforts improve the lives of workers and set a standard for the industry to follow.
Environmental Impact on the Planet
The environmental footprint of garment production is staggering. Conventional fashion production depletes vital resources such as water and energy and contributes significantly to landfill waste. Current practices are unsustainable and threaten the planet's ecological balance.
Sustainable fashion brands implement practices that significantly reduce material and water wastage. By using non-hazardous materials, they help protect the environment and conserve precious resources. But there can be trade-offs to make. For instance, organic cotton is grown without synthetic chemicals and synthetic pesticides or genetically modified (GMO) seeds, while conventional cotton is grown with synthetic chemical inputs or genetically modified seeds, but both might use irrigated water.
A garment might be “made locally” but its material inputs have travelled widely to get into the hands of the local maker, adding to the carbon balance. Additionally, the use of recycled fibres reduces the need for virgin materials, thereby lessening the strain on the planet, but the economic and social impact on global supply chain workers from the usage of recycled materials must also be considered.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's report on the fashion industry highlights that transitioning to a circular economy model could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 44% by 2030. Sustainable fashion brands are at the forefront of this movement, emphasising recycling and reusing materials to create a more sustainable production cycle. But a truly sustainable, fair fashion industry must be inclusive of everyone from the cotton farmer to the delivery driver getting a sustainably packaged parcel to your door.
Impact on Consumers
Consumers are increasingly seeking out sustainable and ethical clothing brands. A Nielsen study found that 73% of global consumers would change their consumption habits to reduce their environmental impact. This growing awareness and demand for sustainable products are driving a shift in the fashion industry.
Traditional and fast fashion production processes strain the environment and pose health risks to consumers. The chemicals used in fast fashion can be extremely hazardous. For example, formaldehyde, often used in clothing production, is a known carcinogen. The skin, being the largest organ of the body and in direct contact with clothing, can absorb these toxic chemicals, posing health risks.
Sustainable fashion offers consumers a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative. By choosing clothes made from sustainable and ethical materials, consumers reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals. Additionally, sustainable fashion items are often of higher quality, offering better durability and value for money in the long run.
Conclusion
The impact of producing sustainable and ethical clothing extends far beyond the immediate benefits to the environment and workers. It represents a shift towards a more responsible and humane fashion industry. Consumers can play a crucial role in supporting this positive change by choosing sustainable fashion, ensuring a healthier planet and better lives for all involved in the fashion supply chain.
