Did you know that clothing accounts for about 10% of annual carbon emissions?
As Coronavirus plunges the fashion industry into crisis, many of us may not be aware of the full extent of the clothing sector’s environmental impacts.
For example:
- The dyeing and treatment of textiles causes 20% of industrial water pollution globally.
- Up to 20 – 35% of ocean microplastics are from synthetic clothing; and washing clothes releases half a million tonnes of plastic microfibres into the ocean every year, equivalent to more than 50 billion plastic bottles.
- It takes 2,700 litres of water to make one cotton shirt – enough water for one person to drink for 2 ½ years.
- Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned. Discarded clothing made of non-biodegradable fabrics can sit in landfills for up to 200 years.
Could now be the time for a pause and ‘re-set’?
From charity shops and renting clothes, to swishing, repair and upcyling, new trends are emerging as older – and sometimes forgotten – attitudes to clothing enjoy a renaissance. But will these changes be enough?
There have been calls for more radical changes to the industry, including wholesale system change in line with the principles of a circular economy.
To explore these questions further, join us on Wednesday 17 June 2020, 7.30-9pm, for a webinar on Sustainable Fashion with Kim Polgreen. Kim is Director at Leadership in Global Change and works as Sustainability Educator, supporting teenagers to become engaged with sustainability solutions through their study and career choices. Kim will be joined by Stephen Cawley, former Head of Sustainability at John Lewis, who will talk about some of the sustainability initiatives introduced at John Lewis.
The event is open to all. Please register through Eventbrite. Further details and joining instructions (through Zoom) will be emailed to participants nearer the time.
