Only a radical rethink of its economic model can curb the fashion industry’s sustainability problem, according to a new report commissioned by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) that says existing strategies to tackle fashion’s unsustainability like using more recycled materials in fast fashion or labelling schemes stop short of questioning the industry’s problematic dominant economic model.

The research comes amid building skepticism of economic strategies anchored in growing gross domestic product (GDP) at all costs, and as the European Commission prepares to step up efforts to regulate the textile sector through a new sustainability strategy.

The research, led by the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, makes the case for moving fashion beyond growth towards a system where human and ecological health come first, says a press release from EEB.

Using the concept of the ‘wellbeing economy’—an umbrella term to describe growth-alternative economic concepts—the research identified four guiding principles for building a post-growth direction for the fashion sector so that it works in the interest of the common good.

The first such direction is to establish limits to reduce how much is produced and consumed in line with planetary boundaries. The second is to promote fairness to ensure social justice globally. The third is to create healthy and just governance to make sure the transition is inclusive and participatory. And the fourth is to embrace new exchange systems where clothing and textiles are provided in ways that do not depend on overproduction and overconsumption

“We are all aware of the environmental impacts of the sector—carbon emissions, water pollution and the growing problem of textile and clothing waste—and we are also all too familiar with poor social sustainability standards across the supply chain. This is after years, decades in some cases, of trying to address these issues. We need to urgently look at the sector in a new way. We must change the focus away from growth, the cause of over-production and consumption, and onto well-being,” Research director at the Sydney institute Samantha Sharpe said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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