Fashion brands in the UK are making progress in reducing environmental impact but face challenges due to rising production.
- WRAP’s Textiles 2030 scheme shows an 8% decrease in carbon emissions and a 9% decrease in water usage per tonne.
- These gains are overshadowed by a 10% increase in production, leading to minimal change in overall carbon and water footprints.
- Population growth contributes to overproduction, highlighting the need for sustainable production practices.
- WRAP emphasises the need for fundamental industry changes to meet 2030 sustainability goals.
The WRAP’s annual report reveals that fashion brands and retailers have managed notable reductions in their per-tonne carbon emissions and water usage, at 8% and 9% respectively. This progress is attributed to initiatives involving less impactful fibres, circular business models, and an increased rate of textile collections. However, the positive environmental gains are significantly undermined by a 10% rise in production levels.
Emphasising the consequences of increased production, WRAP reports only a 0.2% reduction in the signatories’ total carbon footprint and a 1.2% increase in their water footprint. The organisation points to population growth, recorded at 2.2%, as a partial cause of this surge in production. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, WRAP calls for the fashion industry to confront these unsustainable production rates.
Catherine David, WRAP’s director of behaviour change and business programmes, stresses that while there have been improvements, the pace of change remains insufficient. She states, “If we are to get back on track to hit the 2030 targets, it’s time now to move beyond low-hanging fruit and delve into fundamental transformations.” The industry’s focus, according to WRAP, should be on reducing both overproduction and consumption.
Opportunities for advancing sustainability include promoting preloved clothing resale, takeback schemes, and introducing rental and repair services. WRAP’s Textiles Market Situation Report 2024 notes a 9.7% growth in revenue from peer-to-peer resale platforms, with an estimated £30 billion worth of unused clothing in UK wardrobes. Re-commerce is expected to see a 500% increase over the next five years.
To facilitate these changes, WRAP has developed a Circular Design Toolkit for Fashion and Textiles in collaboration with Textiles 2030 signatories, providing a structured framework for design teams. Moreover, WRAP is working with the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour on a benchmark project for product durability, aiming to establish guidelines that incorporate both physical and emotional durability, set to conclude in 2025.
The fashion industry’s environmental efforts are at a crossroads, with substantial progress being overshadowed by the challenge of rising production levels.
