ESG
The fashion industry is responsible for up to 10 % of global emissions , making it the second-biggest industrial polluter . Perhaps even more shockingly , though , is McKinsey ’ s 2020 report on the climate impact of fashion , which revealed that the trajectory of the industry as a whole had strayed up to 50 % away from the agreed 1.5-degree pathway .
While much of this pollution comes from emissions created as products are moved across the supply chain and wasted garments rot in landfills , the way clothes are manufactured plays a big part , too . For example , water used in dyeing processes is responsible for up to 20 % of clean water pollution , while denim retailer Levi Strauss projects that creating and wearing just one pair of 501 Levi ’ s uses 3,781 litres of water over the product ’ s lifetime .
In addition to the environmental impact , people who make clothes can suffer from the impact of hazardous chemicals and unsafe working environments , particularly in countries such as Bangladesh .
But , in recent years , consumers have shifted from wanting cheap items fast , to well-made clothing from a clean , ethical supply chain . Fashion houses and textile manufacturers have , surprisingly , listened .
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