More than ever, the climate crisis is at the heart of discussion, bringing together every turf, and now, politics and fashion are united. Indeed, major fashion industries have put together the ‘Industry Sustainability Pact’ which they will present at this weekend’s G7 summit to help protect the environment.
It’s the result of months of discussion to find a common ground within the industry about sustainable fashion. It began in April with pressure from French President Macron, who asked Gucci’s owners Kering to create a collation among fast fashion’s industry chiefs.
As a result, 32 companies representing 30 percent of the industry have signed on to the commitment to sustainability including Adidas, Burberry, Hermes, LVMH, Nike, and of course Kering.
For reminders, G7 is a global representation made up of the leading advanced economies. Its annual summit takes place in France, at Biarritz this weekend.
The aim of the fashion houses and the G7 leaders meeting, is to sign a pact called the ‘Industry Sustainability Pact’ to help reduce the carbon footprint of fast fashion, but also to find solutions to protect biodiversity and the oceans. The pact also aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Politicians would like more cooperation among fashion brands to accelerate sustainability, not only in stores, but with the factories they share all around the world. Indeed, nowadays the textile sector represents 6 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and 10-20 percent of pesticide usage, and they are also responsible for a fifth of industrial water pollution.
This urgent move by the fashion leaders has come about as a result of heavy backlash against the fashion industry from millenials and Gen Z consumers, who have been going for more sustainable clothes, and turning to the second-hand clothing market, which is now expected to overtake fast fashion in the next few years.
The pact also follows protests from Extinction Rebellion who have been calling for a boycott of London Fashion Week, due to the massive waste it causes.
The fashion industry is about to change notably, with H&M already aiming to have 100% recycled or sustainably sourced materials by 2030, and maybe this G7 summit deal could improve the ethical-mind of the industry as a whole. As a Kering spokesperson said, ‟G7 is a starting point”.
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