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iSUSTAINABLE APPAREL INDUSTRY
The fashion industry is one of today's most unsustainable global businesses. However, new generations of responsible fashion designers and
consumers are implementing local solutions to global problems. Green design strategies are springing up in Europe, Latin America and the
United States. The greening of the apparel industry is a significant and evolving trend that is likely to affect every facet of this enormous
global industry. Under both internal and external pressure to reduce the environmental impact of growing, processing, treating and dyeing
fibers and to eliminate exploitation and inequities in labor practices, textile and apparel companies are eager to show consumers a new,
sustainable approach to fashion without sacrificing style or profit. Consumer awareness, grown through the organic foods movement and
other health and environmental concerns, is creating a heightened sensitivity to all dimensions of ethical production.
Companies face three forms of pressure from their consumers: shareholder expectations, customer loyalty and ethical pressure. There is
considerable evidence in the US that consumer interest in ethics is growing and so business interest in developing and managing Corporate
Social Responsibility is also growing. The major environmental issues associated with the sector are:
ENERGY USE: in laundry, production of primary materials especially man-made fibres and in yarn manufacturing of natural fibres.
USE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS: which may harm human health and the environment in particular in conventional cotton production.
RELEASE OF CHEMICALS IN WASTE WATER: especially in wet pre-treatment, dyeing, finishing and laundry
SOLID WASTE: arising from yarn manufacturing of natural fibres, making up and disposal of products at the end of their life.
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