Though the fashion industry is better known for its creativity, innovation, and trendsetting, it packs a major punch in terms of climate impact, water use, and pollution. Reasons that multiply this sector’s climate impacts are globalization (which moved manufacturing to countries without strong environmental controls), population growth, rapid increase in GDP (and hence purchasing power) around the world, and, most notably, fast fashion trends (that increased the amount of clothing people buy per capita).

The fashion industry is estimated to contribute eight per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The biggest hot spot of concern in the global fashion industry is fabric dyeing and finishing, weighing in at 36 per cent of the sector’s total carbon footprint. There is a need to significantly reduce climate, water, and chemical use in this phase of apparel manufacturing.

Companies focusing their supply chain efforts on cut-and-sew garment factories. This is the final step in manufacturing where companies find it easiest to start but it is not where it is most important to work, as far as environmental impact is concerned. There is a need for companies to focus their efforts where the impact is greatest rather than waste time in areas of marginal impact.