The G7 summit which was held in Paris from August 24th on last Saturday to August 26th, Monday is one of the important agendas in discussing the world of sustainable fashion. G7 leaders are joined by more than 20 retailers and fashion brands, including Gucci, Kering , H&M, and Zara’s parent company Inditex, for a global pact that is combating the climate crisis and protecting biodiversity and oceans.
Increasingly high reactions from young people who worry that the fashion industry especially fast fashion, contributes more to climate change than the combined aviation and shipping industry. Without concrete action, the fashion industry can reach a quarter of the world’s carbon budget by 2050.
G7 Summit and Youth Generation who Cares for the Environment
There are more young people are switching from fast fashion to reuse sites and resale like Depop in the UK, Thredup and The RealReal in the US and YCloset in China. The used market is expected to follow fast fashion in the next few years and be 50% larger than that in 2028, according to a report by market analyst GlobalData for Thredup. This surge in environmental care has forced brand owners to accelerate sustainability plans to bring change not only in stores but with the factories and suppliers they share around the world.
Last month Inditex, the third largest clothing company in the world, announced that all of its collections would be made of 100% sustainable fabrics before 2025, this meant that the first international fast fashion store made such a commitment. They turned to renewable energy and promised not to send waste to the landfill by 2025.
G7 Summit and Scap Movement
The Scap (Sustainable clothing action plan) of which the nine signatories are major retailers including Primark, Next, Asos and M&S has committed to reduce water use, carbon footprint, and waste sent to landfills by 15% by 2020.
With the spotlight shining on the fashion industry, Primark, one of the flag who responsible for the type of fast disposable fashion that is so much criticized by environmental activists, is experimenting with the recycling bins of clothing in its new store in Birmingham. They have also promised to introduce a full scheme this year. Another step they take is to launch sustainable cotton jeans and environmentally friendly glitter.
H&M, a Swedish group that also owns the Cos, & Other Stories, Monki and Weekday brands, has a desire to have 100% recycled or sustainably sourced ingredients by 2030, up from 57% as it is now. It is also testing a free repair service. Marie-Claire Daveu, chief sustainability officer at Dry said that “Many companies have taken the initiative but if they do something on their own, the impact is smaller in the field than if they work together,”.
“More and more customers and clients, generation Z and millennials, expect brands to act. In addition, chief executives and designers and citizens of the world are very aware that they have an important role in one of the most important problems of this century.”
The British government has supported the extension of the Scap when it expires next year and the new agreement is expected to involve more retailers and to take steps towards developing an industrial system to recycle and reuse textiles and fibers. Most major retailers now agree they must adapt to survive. Thus hopefully the G7 Summit movement can have a positive impact for the planet.
