The Fashion Pact is a global coalition of fashion and textile companies with a common commitment to environmental goals for the climate, biodiversity and the oceans: Halting global warming, restoring biodiversity and protecting the oceans.
The “Fashion Pact”- presented last year at the G7 summit in Biarritz and signed today by more than 67 companies from 14 countries, including currently six Spanish fashion companies (Inditex, Carrefour, Desigual, El Corte Inglés, Mango and Tendam)- published its first annual progress report on October 12th, 2020, which sets out seven strategic objectives to protect the climate, biodiversity and the oceans.
In the framework of climate protection, the principles of the UN Fashion Charter adopted in 2018 will be applied and the aim is to achieve a 25% supply of low-polluting materials by 2025, and to use 50% renewable energies by 2025 and 100% by 2030. They are also committed to achieving a zero carbon footprint by 2050.
In the area of biodiversity, signatories of “The Fashion Pact” have committed to protect key species and to restore vital natural ecosystems. An action plan was developed for the next two years, creating a partnership with global experts and institutions to ensure the fulfillment of two main objectives: the development of individual biodiversity plans by the end of 2020 and support for zero deforestation and sustainable forest management by 2025.
In relation to the protection of the oceans, the initiative has set as its main objective the elimination of “unnecessary” plastics used as packaging material, such as polyethylene bags, coat hangers, consumer packaging and shopping bags. The signatories have committed to work towards the elimination of consumer packaging by 2025 and of packaging for the B2B sector by 2030. Another goal is to ensure that at least half of all other plastic consumer packaging is 100% recycled by 2025 and for B2B packaging by 2030.
The Fashion Pact is not a legal document and is therefore not binding for the signatories. It is rather a common guideline with directrices for the sustainable development of the textile industry. However, it is a first step towards a more sustainable global production process, moving away from the current “low cost” and “fast fashion” model.
The signatories of the “Fashion Pact” are nowadays Adidas, Aigle, Aldo Group, Asics, Auchan Retail, Bally, Besson Chaussures, Bestseller, Bonaveri, Burberry, Calzedonia Group, Capri Holdings Limited, Carrefour, Celio, Chanel, Chloe, Damartex Group, DCM Jennyfer, Decathlon, Desigual, Diesel, El Corte Inglés, Eralda, Ermenegildo Zegna, Everybody&Everybody, Farfetch, Fashion3, Fung Group, Gant, Groupe Galeries Lafayette, Gap Inc., Geox, Groupe Beaumanoir, Eram, Group Idkids, Group Rossignol, H&M Group, Hermès, Herno, House of Baukjen, Inditex, Karl Lagerfeld, Kering, Kiabi, Lacoste, Mango, Matchesfashion.com, Moncler, Monoprix, Nike, Noabrands, Nordstrom, Paul&Joe, Prada S.P.A., Promod, Puma, PVH Corp., Ralph Lauren, Ruyi, Salvatore Ferragamo, Selfridges Group, Stella McCartney, Tapestry and Tendam.
It remains to be seen whether the fashion industry will actually implement the goals set out in the Fashion Pact for sustainability or whether they will just be good intentions with empty promises.
In Spain, the Preliminary Draft Law on Waste and Contaminated Soils was approved on June 2nd, 2020 within the framework of the legal protection of sustainability, and the aim of reducing the overall impact of the use of resources and improving their efficiency, as well as promoting the transition to a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models, products and materials in Spain.
The adoption of this law is highly desirable.
For more information: https://thefashionpact.org/?lang=en
