A recent report highlights the British fashion industry’s shortcomings in addressing the climate crisis.
- Only 3.4% of British Fashion Council members have set emissions reduction targets, far behind other industries.
- Fashion and textiles are major global polluters, contributing 12% of emissions.
- Leading figures urge the British Fashion Council to demand more climate action from its members.
- The report calls for a reduction in animal-derived materials to mitigate environmental impact.
The British fashion industry faces criticism over its inadequate response to the climate crisis, as highlighted in a report released by the Collective Fashion Justice (CFJ). According to the report, a mere 3.4% of the member brands of the British Fashion Council, the organiser of the London Fashion Week, have published targets to reduce emissions, a stark contrast to 44% of British companies in general that have structured plans to reduce their climate impact.
Emma Hakansson, founding director of CFJ, expressed her disappointment by stating “this finding is an embarrassment for an industry that considers itself one of the most creative and innovative in the world”. The lack of investment in climate action by the fashion industry, coupled with insufficient government policy, threatens to continue damaging the planet and endangering lives without the establishment of science-based targets to reduce emissions.
Globally, the fashion and textiles industry accounts for a significant 12% of emissions, producing 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases. The impact is equivalent to the combined economies of the UK, Germany, and France. Among British brands, only Burberry, Mulberry, Kyle Ho, Rixo, and Margaret Howell have committed to science-based emissions reduction targets.
The CFJ’s report further states that 38% of the industry’s emissions are related to raw material production, particularly from materials derived from ruminant animals, such as leather, wool, and cashmere, as well as fossil fuel-based materials like polyester, acrylic, and nylon. Emma Hakansson emphasised the urgency of reducing methane emissions by a third to prevent climate catastrophe and urged for an immediate shift away from animal-derived materials in fashion.
As one of the most significant events in the global fashion calendar approaches, the British Fashion Council is called upon to demand greater commitment from its members and provide substantial support for the establishment of meaningful climate strategies. The fashion industry must lead not just on the catwalk, but also in the crucial fight against climate change.
The British fashion industry must embrace immediate climate action to avert further environmental damage.
