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Marco Valverde is the leader of national practice clothing at Moss Adams. All opinions are the author's own.
Sustainability has become a significant focus in the clothing industry due to the growing consumer consciousness and the demand for environmentally friendly products. After a Report of the United Nations Environmental ProgramThe fashion industry is responsible for “2% to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions” and estimated to increase to almost 2.7 billion tons a year by 2030.
The value of the sustainability efforts is often considerable and can help brands to promote the continued growth, to develop trust and brand loyalty to consumers, to gain and maintain top talents and to increase the value for shareholders and employees.
Since sustainability continues to increase in the entire industry, you should take some important trends into account.
Transparency and traceability
From environmental influences to working conditions, fashion consumers are now more conscious and concerned about how their clothes are made. In order to clear up concerns, brands are increasingly occupying transparent practices that enable consumers to pursue the journey of their clothes.
An example of this is how brands moved for the introduction of technologies such as blockchain to ensure transparency by documenting every step, from the procurement of raw materials to production and distribution.
Marco Valverde is the leader of national practice clothing at Moss Adams.
Permission granted by Moss Adams
Another way, as brands show transparency and traceability, lies in their brands of social responsibility. This includes the guarantee of fair work practices, safe working conditions and ethical procurement of materials. Brands even occupy certification standards, such as fair Trade and global organic textile standard (GOTS) as well as the implementation of supply chain tests to check the compliance with your brand responsibilities.
By implementing these transparent practices, not only the trust of the consumer is built up, but brands are also held accountable for their demands in relation to sustainability and ethical practices.
Sustainable materials
Progresses in materials science have enabled the development of environmentally friendly alternatives such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, tencel and hemp. This has made it possible for the brands to shift sustainable material and to leave traditional substances behind that are resource -intensive and dirty.
Brands have also tried to improve energy efficiency and reduce water consumption during material manufacturing processes. Technologies such as water -saving coloring techniques, introduction of renewable energies and efficiency improvements in production systems are increasingly being implemented.
By moving towards environmentally friendly materials and sustainable practices within the production, brands reduce their CO2 footprint and water consumption in connection with clothing production, which accumulates positively to the environmental supply. This shift has also made it possible to move from the traditional linear model of the “take-make desible” and instead to adopt circular economic principles that design products for durability, recyclability and reuse. Brands include initiatives such as clothing collection programs, textile recycling and resale platforms to expand the product life cycles and reduce waste.
Ethical work practices
The fashion industry pays particular attention to the ethical effects of clothing production, including fair wages, safe working conditions and employee rights. Certifications such as Fair Trade and The Social Accountability International SA8000 Standard are becoming increasingly important because they enable an independent review of the commitment of a brand for ethical standards. Improving work practices not only improves the reputation of a brand, but also has a positive effect on the life of clothing workers worldwide.
These trends indicate a paradigm shift. Consumers request this change by demanding transparency, sustainable materials and ethical practices and asking brands to innovate and adapt business models accordingly. While these trends are developing, they will probably redesign the entire fashion industry into a more sustainable and ethical future.