2019 was an unprecedented year for sustainability in the fashion sector.
Activism takes the stage
Greta Thunberg condemns the inaction of global leaders and Extinction Rebellion made climate change a household conversation. Activism took a leading role in progressing around sustainability with brands
2020: Can this ground swell of action continue and transform in to change
Learn more on CO:
Ambitious Commitments
A host of International commitments, agreements and pacts were major moments for fashion in 2019.
January
UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion is launched
July
Inditex announces it will transition to 100% sustainable fabrics before 2025
August
The US Business Roundtable makes moves to redefine the ‘purpose of a company’
The G7 Pact signed by 150 global brands
Challenge for 2020: CO recognises that although they serve to galvanise brands and raise the profile of sustainability, there is little in the way of specifics for how these agreements will be achieved.
Plastics continue to steal the spotlight
“65% of garments are made from synthetics - plastics - mainly in the form of polyester”
Carrying over from 2017’s Blue Planet 2, the focus on plastics has driven an intense focus on plastics in fashion - from single-use hangers and poly-bags through to the impacts of microfibres released into water ways. plastics remained firmly on the agenda in 2019
Challenges for 2020: Addressing a growing reliance on cheap plastic fabrics in the fuelling over production.
