@ green | May-June . 2024

High time for the fashion circular economy to use the most robust and durable weave available

It is not just how ugly these piles have corrupted the dunes of this 1,600km stretch of the dry , hot desert in the north of Chile , reputed as an incredible place for stargazing , but also how unsustainable the clothing or fashion industry is , all because of fast fashion .

The fact that it can be seen from space shows how alarming it is . If we are not already there , we must address it before it escalates into oblivion .

It would be even more alarming to know that 92 million tonnes of waste are produced yearly due to fast fashion , so what exactly is fast fashion ?

It is a term to describe low-priced , stylish clothing that is translated from catwalks to speedy manufacturing and on to retail . It changes with the changing trends , and production often exceeds the pieces bought . By the end of the ‘ trend ’, which changes quite regularly , for example , ‘ the colour of Spring 2023 ’, despite the end-of-season sales , there are leftovers .

Although Chile imports vast amounts of clothing , it is reported that the piles that end up in the desert are not just a result of the country ’ s massive purchases . Still , the desert has become a dumping ground for manufacturers and retailers from all over the world .

In Malaysia , what happens to unsold clothes or even ‘ returned to seller ’ pieces ?

The multinational fashion companies follow their defined policies , but does the unsold stock get shipped to Chile or end up in landfills here ?

( Source : Circular Fashion Report , 2020 )

Not to point fingers in any direction , but with ESG becoming the beacon of most industries in conducting their business sustainably , it is high time for the fashion or textile industry to thread ESG into the textile supply chain , using the most robust and most durable weave available .

LIMIT USE OF VIRGIN RESOURCES

What would that encompass ?

Firstly , we must move from a linear takemake-waste economy to a circular one of Reduce-Reuse-Recycle .

How does ESG weave into what is depicted in the above chart ?

Environmentally , production should consider renewable and regenerative materials , which means limiting the use of virgin resources and reclaimed fibres or fibres derived from recycled plastic .

Non-toxic chemicals and renewable energy are incorporated to support lowenvironment-impact processes . It also means reducing scrap materials . Socially , it is about the workers , and textile or fashion companies must ensure fair and ethical treatment , abide by labour practices , and promote diversity and inclusion .

Engagements with surrounding communities are also essential to show community support , tying in with environmental consciousness as that would relate to the impact on the health and well-being of the communities .

SHARE BEST PRACTICES

It is about incorporating ESG policies and reporting and maintaining compliance with regulations . It also means governing continuous improvements for the company in terms of training , upskilling , incorporating technology to innovate , enhancing

Image 1 : ( Source : https :// www . space . com / mountain-discarded-clotheschile-satellite-photo )

BY NIK SUFINI

Nik Sufini is pursuing her Doctor of Business Administration ( DBA ) at UNITAR International University , and her area of research is textile circular economy . She is also a committee member of the Malaysian Association of Public Advocacy for Nature ( MAPAN ) which is a nongovernmental organisation that advocates ESG in business practices . partnerships , and collaboration to drive any collective change or to share best practices .

Technology can innovate the adoption of ESG , mainly because it is about data collection on processes and analysis of the collected data to determine the current state of things and to decide on the areas for improvement .

Innovation then comes into play to improve the processes and ensure adherence to sustainable practices , whether that involves investing in more technology intervention .

A textile company that puts ESG at the forefront of its business will incorporate technological innovations to address , for example , environmental concerns .

ESG is the sustainability north star for textile businesses and supports several SDG pillars , including SDG12 – Responsible consumption and production , SDG13 – Climate action , and SDG17 – Partnership for the goals .

Collaboration is almost always the glue in making things happen when it requires a few parties to work hand in hand .

As for the public , more vital awareness of the negative environmental impacts of throwing their unwanted clothes into landfills , coupled with strong policy guidelines to advocate responsible and sustainable disposable of their textile items , would encourage us to be more receptive and understanding of just what and how much harm one item of our clothing can inflict on the environment .

We need to look out for greenwashing , which is a definite no-no . This may happen in any industry , including textiles , and it is most likely about claiming to be environment-friendly when one is not .”

We need to look out for greenwashing , which is a definite no-no . This may happen in any industry , including textiles , and it is most likely about claiming to be environment-friendly when one is not .

One way to do this is to hire an influencer as the sustainability ambassador ( Manavis , 2023 ).

In this case , consumers can skew market demand towards products or brands that are genuinely sustainability-friendly , and the companies must know that the outcome of consumers finding out about their greenwashing is never good . – @ green