Eight in 10 British citizens (81 per cent) would like the UK government to mandate labelling, showing whether there is plastic in clothing and accessories, according to an opinion poll by environmental organisation A Plastic Planet. It revealed 72 per cent of participants were unaware of the amount of plastic used to make clothing, while two-thirds were not aware of fashion’s impact on plastic pollution.
As clothes are washed, they shed plastic synthetic fibres which then enter the environment. More than one-third of all microplastics released into the ocean are estimated to derive from these synthetic fibres. According to global solutions organisation, 60 per cent of all material made into clothing is plastic.Eight in 10 UK citizens would like the government to mandate labelling, showing whether there is plastic in clothing and accessories, says a poll by A Plastic Planet. It revealed 72 per cent of participants were unaware of the amount of plastic used to make clothing, while two-thirds were not aware of fashion's impact on plastic pollution.#
The organisation’s Yonder poll covered 2,091 UK adults.
Coinciding with the poll, retail expert and broadcaster Mary Portas; author and professor of environmental medicine and public health Dr Shanna Swan; Fashion Revolution co-founder Orsola de Castro; and former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas have joined more than 40 parliamentarians, academics and campaigners in signing an open letter calling for a plastic labelling system.
With the majority of Britons unaware of fashion’s contribution to plastic pollution, the open letter urges the government to implement a labelling system similar to that being rolled out under EU legislation, which shows where hidden plastic is present in certain single-use items.
The group cautions that if the government is serious about combating the plastic crisis, it must tackle plastic pollution stemming from the fashion industry.
It also suggests labelling will make brands far more accountable for the plastic present in their clothing and accessories as consumers look for more environment-friendly products.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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