Both companies and consumers have to move towards sustainable fashion in order to maintain the ecological balance
When eyeing your favourite pair of jeans or dress, you seldom think about the tons of water that were used to produce those clothes, or the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) used in their dyes, or the small hands of the children who might have produced them in a factory in a third-world country.
Revenue in the fashion industry worldwide has amounted to US$581,308 million so far in 2020, with the industry as a whole valued at more than $2.5 trillion. The global apparel market is projected to grow from US$1.3 trillion in 2015 to about $1.5 trillion in 2020. The fashion industry employs over 300 million people along its value chain across the globe.
In order to understand sustainable fashion, it is important to understand the ecological and social footprint of each piece of clothing you wear every day.
According to the United Nations, 10,000 litres of water is required to produce a single pair of jeans. According to the World Wildlife Fund, it takes 2,700 litres of water to produce the cotton needed to make a single t-shirt—that’s enough water for one person to drink for 900 days.
The fashion industry produces 20% of global wastewater and 10% of global carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Cotton farming is responsible for 24% of insecticide use and 11% of pesticide use despite using only 3% of the world’s arable land. Moreover, McKinsey estimates that to produce 1 kg of fabric, typically 23 kgs of greenhouse gases are generated, while washing and drying 1 kg of clothing over its entire life cycle, using typical methods, creates 11 kgs of greenhouse gasses.
Besides, every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or incinerated, while washing clothes releases 500,000 tonnes of microfibers into the ocean every year. It is estimated that more than half of fast fashion produced is disposed of in under a year.
What is fast fashion, and why is it so bad?
Fast fashion refers to pieces of clothing that are adapted imitations of high-end haute couture designs, making them affordable for the mass market. The rise in fast fashion has largely contributed to clothes being treated as almost disposable, leading to the increase in textile consumption.
According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), between 1996 and 2012, the amount of clothes bought per person in the EU increased by 40%, but relative to average EU consumer consumption, the price of clothing fell by 36% in the same period.
The price fall can be traced in other markets across the globe as well, which contributed to the rise of fast fashion. For example, in the U.S. a pair of Levi’s 501 jeans cost $50 in 1998, and $46 in 2008, while a Lacoste Polo shirt which was sold for $95 in 1998 was priced at $75 in 2008.
Moreover, fast fashion has increased consumer demand for new styles, prompting fast fashion companies to constantly churn out new designs. For example, Zara offers 24 new clothing collections each year and H&M offers 12 to 16 and refreshes them weekly. This means that the wasteful practices described above are amplified to an extreme degree as fast fashion brands strive to put out new collections.
There is now cutthroat competition between garment and textile companies to find the cheapest sources of labor, in order to offer the cheapest clothes and maximize profit. This mentality has led to degradation in the quality of products and the and social and working conditions of laborers.
“If a piece of clothing costs you $19.99, that means the person who made it was paid 19 cents,” Dana Thomas, a veteran journalist and author of Fashionopolis: The Prices of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes, told Vox.
While the population continues to grow every year, we are inching closer to the limits of natural resources, with demand constantly increasing. The dictionary definition of sustainability refers to avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.
Therefore, sustainable fashion refers to fashion products that have high quality, an ethical social footprint where workers are paid decent wages, pollution-free and chemical-free production processes, the use of recycled materials, and biodegradable or sustainable packaging.
The case of Hong Kong
According to Tmall Trend Centre, Alibaba’s fashion-trend forecasting arm, sustainability or impact will be a key decisive factor for Chinese consumers in 2020.
Echoing the same thought is a survey conducted in June and July of 2018 by KPMG entitled ‘Sustainable Fashion: A survey on global perspectives,’ which found that after Shanghai, Hong Kong respondents are the biggest backers of sustainable fashion. 71% of those surveyed said that they consider themselves either very supportive or quite supportive of sustainable fashion, although only 43% see their society as supportive of sustainable fashion.
Moreover, nearly half of those aged 18-24 years said they are very supportive of sustainable fashion, indicating that the concept is highly popular with the younger generation. The survey further indicates that for respondents in Hong Kong, the use of resource-saving technology in production and biodegradable materials for both products and packaging, are key elements of sustainable fashion.
However, according to the Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong, the metropolitan produces 340 tons of textile waste every day. The waste is dumped in the city’s overflowing landfills. Besides, the survey indicates that although respondents expressed concern for the environment, most of them are unwilling to pay a premium for sustainable fashion, which is also a major barrier, hindering companies from becoming more sustainable.
According to the survey report, 67% of respondents in Hong Kong would prefer sustainable fashion if the price was similar to normal fashion, while 22% of the respondents would prefer it if it was cheaper than normal fashion. A mere 8% were willing to pay a premium for sustainable fashion.
Data from a report by ecological certification company Oeko-Tex illustrated that while 69% of Millennials say they look into claims of sustainability and eco-friendliness when researching clothing purchases, only 37% actually bought clothes from brands with that focus.
Another important fact that has been brought to the light by most of the studies is that consumers find it difficult to purchase sustainable fashion items as they are relatively unaware of their options. There are different ways in which companies and consumers can help reduce and control the impact of fashion production on the environment, and become more sustainable.
Clothing is increasingly being underutilized—in China, clothing utilization has decreased by 70% over the last 15 years, according to ‘A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion’s future,’ a report released by Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The report claims that globally, customers miss out on $460 billion of value each year by discarding clothes that they could continue to wear, and some garments are estimated to be discarded after just seven to ten wears.
Changing consumption patterns towards sustainable behaviours and attitudes requires a shift in how we think about and value garments. The idea is to buy higher quality and durable products and to use them for longer.
Fashion as a service:
The rise in sharing economy has provided opportunity for clothes rental and leasing startups in Asia. Although clothes rentals and leases were exclusively limited to wedding garments and occasional party clothes, startups are embracing this new business model in an effort to reduce textile waste.
Other businesses operate clothes subscription services like YCloset in China, where consumers pay a monthly fee to rent unlimited garments and accessories, enabling them to change their wardrobe frequently without buying new products.
Singapore-based Covetella, Style Lease, Yeechoo (which operates in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen), Wardrobista, and Pret-a-dress all offer designer dresses on rent. This helps consumers reduce their ecological footprint by allowing them to rent dresses that they do not wish to wear twice, while ensuring longer utilization of the clothes.
Shift to renewable sources of energy:
According to a 2018 study by Quantis, the major climate impact of the fashion production process is driven by coal and natural gas, used to provide heat and electricity, especially in Asia. Therefore, by exploring and turning towards renewable sources of energy, the emissions from the fashion industry can be brought down significantly.
The scenario analysis showed that an 80% overall greenhouse gas emission reduction in the apparel industry alone may be achieved by shifting to 60% renewable energy and setting a 60% energy efficiency target by 2030.
Innovation and digitalization in fashion:
On the supply side, digitalization can lead to increase in production efficiency by reducing raw materials and waste. New technologies can also improve energy efficiency to further reduce emissions in key life cycle stages like Dyeing and Finishing and Yarn Preparation.
Companies should also know the sources of their raw materials, and the specific factories for each batch of production. This can help with organic certification and eliminate subcontracting. Emerging tracking technologies such as DNA tracking and blockchain can help.
In Hong Kong, for example, a pilot project was launched in 2019 by WWF-Hong Kong and HSBC in collaboration with Chicks, a local heritage sustainable fashion brand with a legacy stretching back to the 1950s. The project also involved Chicks’ suppliers, including international fiber producer Lenzing AG, and blockchain provider TextileGenesis.
With textiles produced by Lenzing being issued together with ‘fibrecoins’ on the TextileGenesis platform which were then passed on along the supply chain, the project was designed to enhance supply chain transparency and traceability in the fashion industry, through blockchain technology.
Another example is Google Cloud’s pilot in collaboration with Stella McCartney, announced at the 2019 Copenhagen Fashion Summit, to use Google Cloud technology to provide a more comprehensive view of the raw materials used in clothing manufacturers’ supply chains.
Improved collection for re-use, repair, recycling and up-cycling:
Sustainable fashion brands like Filippa K are taking steps by selling their used clothes in their regular shops to make buying second-hand clothes easier. Others are offering long-term warranties that include offering free repair or replacement of a product, offering repair or instructions for repair, or offering upcycling or instructions for upcycling. The ‘Pulse Of The Fashion Industry’ report suggests setting up public collection points in areas with currently limited garment collection opportunities.
Technology offers the easiest way to overcome barriers to large-scale recycling. Smart garments would allow sorting machines to detect fiber types and determine the practicality of and next steps for further processing. The industry has to advance to new process technologies that will make it possible to chemically recycle every possible fiber combination at scale and to mechanically recycle with no significant loss in fiber quality.
Conversely, companies are also looking into new fibres that are completely biodegradable and can be sourced sustainably. For example, Chicks sources TENCEL Modal from Lenzing, which is completely biodegradable, has low environmental impact, causes low pollution, offers supply chain transparency through digital tracing solutions, and is certified by OEKO-Tex.
The term ‘circular fashion,’ first used independently in 2014 by H&M and Anna Brismar, the owner of consultancy firm Green Strategy, was inspired by the idea of ‘circular economy’ put forth by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
‘Circular fashion’ is defined by Brismar, as clothes, shoes or accessories that are designed, sourced, produced and provided with the intention to be used and circulate responsibly and effectively in society for as long as possible in their most valuable form, and hereafter return safely to the biosphere when no longer of human use,” the report said.
In order to keep clothes usable for long periods, products should be designed to have multiple life cycles, with recyclable materials that are tailored to the intended use, timeless styles and design suitable for disassembly.
Circular material flow alone, however, is not enough to ensure the apparel sector greatly reduces its carbon front by 2030, as such solutions do not alter the impacts of key production stages, such as dyeing and finishing. Quantis’ study indicates that fiber recapture and reuse alone would achieve only a 10% sector-wide emissions reduction within the broader apparel value chain, though it is a good starting point.
Increasing consumer awareness and engagement:
Through campaigns or providing information on sustainability in stores or through tags on clothes, it may be possible to educate consumers to buy only what they need and to choose more sustainable options.
30% of Pulse Survey respondents identified sustainability as “a social responsibility that fashion brands should fulfil,” while 31% tagged it as “an immense business/value creation opportunity for fashion companies.”
By creating content and conversations about sustainable fashion, brands and companies can position themselves to their advantage, while generating more interest for the topic, and help reduce the ecological and social footprint of the fashion industry.
Header Image by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels
"Wakati unaangalia jeans au mavazi yako unayopenda, mara chache unafikiria juu ya tani za maji zilizotumiwa kutengeneza nguo hizo, au VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) zinazotumiwa katika rangi zao, au mikono midogo ya watoto ambao wanaweza kuwa wamezitengeneza katika kiwanda katika nchi ya ulimwengu wa tatu. """ Mapato ya sekta ya mitindo duniani kote yamekuwa dola milioni 581,308 hadi sasa mwaka 2020, na sekta hiyo kwa ujumla inathaminiwa zaidi ya dola bilioni 2.5. Soko la nguo duniani linatarajiwa kukua kutoka dola za Marekani bilioni 1.3 mwaka 2015 hadi dola za Marekani bilioni 1.5 mwaka 2020. Sekta ya mitindo inaajiri zaidi ya watu milioni 300 katika safu yake ya thamani duniani kote. Ili kuelewa mtindo endelevu, ni muhimu kuelewa alama ya ikolojia na kijamii ya kila kipande cha nguo unachovaa kila siku. Kulingana na Umoja wa Mataifa, lita 10,000 za maji zinahitajika kutengeneza suruali moja ya suruali. Kwa mujibu wa Shirika la Wanyama wa Asili Duniani (WFW), inahitaji lita 2,700 za maji kutengeneza pamba inayohitajika kutengeneza T-shirt moja, maji ambayo mtu mmoja anaweza kunywa kwa siku 900. "Kulingana na ""Program ya Mazingira ya Umoja wa Mataifa"" (UNEP), sekta ya mitindo inazalisha asilimia 20 ya maji machafu ya dunia na asilimia 10 ya uzalishaji wa kaboni duniani - zaidi ya ndege zote za kimataifa na usafirishaji wa baharini." Kwa mfano, kilimo cha pamba kinahusika katika matumizi ya asilimia 24 ya dawa za kuua wadudu na asilimia 11 ya dawa za kuua wadudu, licha ya kwamba kilimo hicho kinatumia asilimia 3 tu ya ardhi inayoweza kulimwa duniani. McKinsey inakadiria kwamba kutengeneza kilo moja ya kitambaa kwa kawaida hutokeza gesi za chafu 23kgs, wakati kuosha na kukausha kilo moja ya nguo katika mzunguko wake wote wa maisha, kwa kutumia mbinu za kawaida, hutokeza gesi za chafu 11kgs. Kwa kila sekunde, kiasi cha nguo zinazotumiwa kutupa taka huanguka au kuharibiwa, na kuosha nguo hutokeza tani 500,000 za nyuzi ndogo za nyuzi katika bahari kila mwaka. Inakadiriwa kwamba zaidi ya nusu ya mavazi ya haraka yanayotengenezwa hutupwa kwa muda usiozidi mwaka mmoja. Mfumo wa mitindo ya haraka ni nini, na kwa nini ni mbaya sana? Fashion ya haraka ni bidhaa za nguo ambazo ni imitations ya high-end haute couture miundo, na kufanya yao nafuu kwa ajili ya soko la wingi. Kuongezeka kwa mtindo wa haraka kumesababisha nguo kutendewa kama karibu kutumiwa mara moja, na kusababisha ongezeko la matumizi ya nguo. Kulingana na Shirika la Mazingira la Ulaya (EEA), kati ya 1996 na 2012, kiasi cha nguo zinazonunuliwa kwa mtu mmoja katika EU kiliongezeka kwa 40%, lakini ikilinganishwa na matumizi ya wastani wa watumiaji wa EU, bei ya nguo ilipungua kwa 36% katika kipindi hicho. Kupungua kwa bei kunaweza kufuatiliwa katika masoko mengine kote ulimwenguni pia, ambayo ilichangia kuongezeka kwa mitindo ya haraka. Kwa mfano, Levi's 501 jeans iligharimu dola 50 mwaka 1998 na dola 46 mwaka 2008, wakati shati la Lacoste Polo ambalo liliuzwa kwa dola 95 mwaka 1998 liligharimu dola 75 mwaka 2008. Kwa kuongezea, mitindo ya haraka imeongeza mahitaji ya watumiaji ya mitindo mipya, ikifanya makampuni ya mitindo ya haraka yaendelee kutengeneza mitindo mipya. Kwa mfano, Zara hutoa makusanyo 24 mapya ya nguo kila mwaka na H&M hutoa 12 hadi 16 na huyafanya upya kila wiki. Hii inamaanisha kwamba mazoea ya kupoteza yaliyoelezwa hapo juu yanazidi kuongezeka kwa kiwango kikubwa kadiri bidhaa za mitindo ya haraka zinavyojitahidi kutoa makusanyo mapya. Sasa kuna ushindani mkali kati ya makampuni ya nguo na nguo kutafuta vyanzo vya kazi vya bei nafuu, ili kutoa nguo za bei nafuu na kuongeza faida. Akili hii imesababisha uharibifu wa ubora wa bidhaa na hali ya kijamii na ya kazi ya wafanyakazi. "Ikiwa kipande cha nguo kinagharimu $ 19.99 - hiyo inamaanisha mtu aliyeifanya alipata senti 19 - Dana Thomas, mwandishi wa zamani wa habari na mwandishi wa Fashionopolis: Bei ya Mtindo wa Haraka na Baadaye ya Mavazi, aliiambia Vox.""" Ingawa idadi ya watu inaendelea kuongezeka kila mwaka, tunakaribia mipaka ya rasilimali za asili, na mahitaji yanaongezeka daima. Ufafanuzi wa kamusi ya uendelevu unarejelea kuepuka kupungua kwa rasilimali za asili ili kudumisha usawa wa ikolojia. Kwa hivyo, mtindo endelevu unahusu bidhaa za mtindo ambazo zina ubora wa juu, alama ya kijamii ya maadili ambapo wafanyakazi hulipwa mshahara mzuri, michakato ya uzalishaji isiyo na uchafuzi na isiyo na kemikali, matumizi ya vifaa vilivyotengenezwa upya, na vifurushi vinavyoweza kuharibika. Kulingana na Tmall Trend Center, Alibaba's Fashion Trends Forecasting Arm, endelevu au athari itakuwa sababu muhimu ya kuamua kwa watumiaji wa China mnamo 2020. "Kipimo cha KPMG kilichofanywa mnamo Juni na Julai 2018 kilichoitwa ""Mfumo wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji.""" "Wanafunzi 71% walijitambua kuwa wanaunga mkono sana au kabisa mtindo endelevu, ingawa 43% tu wanaona jamii yao kama ""msaada wa mtindo endelevu.""" Zaidi ya hayo, karibu nusu ya wale wenye umri wa miaka 18-24 walisema wanaunga mkono sana mtindo endelevu, ikionyesha kuwa dhana hiyo ni maarufu sana na kizazi cha vijana. Utafiti huo pia unaonyesha kuwa kwa waliohojiwa huko Hong Kong, matumizi ya teknolojia ya kuokoa rasilimali katika uzalishaji na vifaa vya biodegradable kwa bidhaa na ufungaji, ni mambo muhimu ya mtindo endelevu. Kulingana na Idara ya Ulinzi wa Mazingira ya Hong Kong, mji huo hutokeza tani 340 za taka za nguo kila siku. Taka hizo hutupwa katika mabwawa ya taka ya jiji yaliyojaa. Kwa kuongezea, utafiti unaonyesha kwamba ingawa waliojibu walionyesha wasiwasi juu ya mazingira, wengi wao hawataki kulipa malipo kwa mtindo endelevu, ambayo pia ni kizuizi kikubwa, kuzuia kampuni kuwa endelevu zaidi. Kulingana na ripoti ya utafiti, 67% ya waliohojiwa huko Hong Kong wangependa mtindo endelevu ikiwa bei ni sawa na mtindo wa kawaida, wakati 22% ya waliohojiwa wangependa ikiwa ni ya bei rahisi kuliko mtindo wa kawaida. Ni asilimia 8 tu ya watu walio tayari kulipa zaidi kwa ajili ya mitindo endelevu. Takwimu kutoka kwa ripoti ya kampuni ya vyeti vya ikolojia ya Oeko-Tex ilionyesha kuwa wakati 69% ya Milenia wanasema wanaangalia madai ya uendelevu na uungwana wa mazingira wakati wa kutafiti ununuzi wa nguo, ni 37% tu walionunua nguo kutoka kwa chapa zilizo na lengo hilo. Ukweli mwingine muhimu ambao umefunuliwa na masomo mengi ni kwamba watumiaji wanapata ugumu wa kununua bidhaa za mtindo endelevu kwa sababu hawajui chaguzi zao. Kuna njia tofauti ambazo kampuni na watumiaji wanaweza kusaidia kupunguza na kudhibiti athari za uzalishaji wa mitindo kwenye mazingira, na kuwa na uendelevu zaidi. "Kwa mfano, ""Utekelezaji wa nguo umepungua kwa asilimia 70 katika miaka 15 iliyopita,"" kulingana na ripoti ya Ellen MacArthur Foundation, ""Uchumi mpya wa nguo: Kubadilisha mtindo wa siku zijazo.""" Kwa mujibu wa ripoti hiyo, kila mwaka, watumiaji wanapoteza dola bilioni 460 kwa kutupa nguo ambazo wangeweza kuendelea kuvaa, na inakadiriwa kwamba baadhi ya nguo hizo hutupwa baada ya kuvaa mara saba hadi kumi tu. Kubadilisha mifumo ya matumizi kuelekea tabia endelevu na mitazamo inahitaji mabadiliko katika jinsi tunavyofikiria na thamani ya nguo. Wazo ni kununua bidhaa zenye ubora wa juu na zenye kudumu na kuzitumia kwa muda mrefu zaidi. Mfumo wa huduma ya nguo, kama vile uchumi wa kushiriki, umetoa fursa kwa kampuni za kukodisha na kukodisha nguo huko Asia. Ingawa kukodisha nguo na kukodisha kulikuwa na mipaka tu kwa nguo za harusi na nguo za sherehe za mara kwa mara, waanzilishi wanakumbatia mtindo huu mpya wa biashara katika juhudi za kupunguza taka ya nguo. Kampuni nyingine za nguo zinaendesha huduma za usajili kama vile YCloset nchini China, ambapo watumiaji hulipa ada ya kila mwezi kukodisha nguo na vifaa bila kikomo, na kuwawezesha kubadilisha mavazi yao mara kwa mara bila kununua bidhaa mpya. Kampuni za Covetella, Style Lease, Yichou, Wardrobe, na Pret-A-Dress zinafanya kazi katika maeneo ya Hong Kong na Shanghai. Hii husaidia watumiaji kupunguza alama yao ya ikolojia kwa kuruhusu kukodisha mavazi ambayo hawataki kuvaa mara mbili, wakati kuhakikisha matumizi ya muda mrefu ya nguo. Kulingana na utafiti wa Quantis, athari kubwa ya hali ya hewa ya mchakato wa uzalishaji wa mitindo ni kuendeshwa na makaa ya mawe na gesi ya asili, inayotumiwa kutoa joto na umeme, haswa katika Asia. Kwa hiyo, kwa kuchunguza na kugeukia vyanzo vya nishati mbadala, uzalishaji kutoka sekta ya mitindo inaweza kupunguzwa kwa kiasi kikubwa. Uchambuzi wa hali hiyo ulionyesha kuwa kupunguza jumla ya uzalishaji wa gesi ya chafu kwa 80% katika tasnia ya nguo pekee inaweza kupatikana kwa kuhamia kwa nishati mbadala 60% na kuweka lengo la ufanisi wa nishati 60% ifikapo 2030. Ubunifu na digitalization katika mtindo: Kwa upande wa usambazaji, digitalization inaweza kusababisha ongezeko la ufanisi wa uzalishaji kwa kupunguza malighafi na taka. Teknolojia mpya pia inaweza kuboresha ufanisi wa nishati ili kupunguza zaidi uzalishaji katika hatua muhimu za mzunguko wa maisha kama vile Rangi na kumaliza na Maandalizi ya Yarn. Kampuni pia zinapaswa kujua vyanzo vya malighafi zao, na viwanda maalum kwa kila kundi la uzalishaji. Hii inaweza kusaidia na vyeti vya kikaboni na kuondoa mkataba wa nje. Teknolojia mpya za kufuatilia, kama vile ufuatiliaji wa DNA na blockchain, zinaweza kusaidia. Katika Hong Kong, kwa mfano, mradi wa majaribio ulizinduliwa mnamo 2019 na WWF-Hong Kong na HSBC kwa kushirikiana na Chicks, alama ya mtindo endelevu ya urithi wa ndani na urithi unaorudi nyuma hadi miaka ya 1950. Mradi huo pia ulihusisha wauzaji wa Chicks, pamoja na mtayarishaji wa nyuzi wa kimataifa Lenzing AG, na mtoa huduma wa blockchain TextileGenesis. "Kupitia utengenezaji wa nguo zinazozalishwa na Lenzing, zilizotolewa pamoja na ""fibrecoins"" kwenye jukwaa la TextileGenesis, ambazo zilipitishwa kwenye mlolongo wa usambazaji, mradi huo ulibuniwa ili kuongeza uwazi wa mlolongo wa usambazaji na ufuatiliaji katika tasnia ya mitindo kupitia teknolojia ya blockchain." Mfano mwingine ni majaribio ya Google Cloud kwa kushirikiana na Stella McCartney, ilitangazwa katika Mkutano wa Mtindo wa Copenhagen 2019, kutumia teknolojia ya Google Cloud kutoa mtazamo kamili zaidi wa malighafi zinazotumiwa katika minyororo ya usambazaji wa wazalishaji wa nguo. Mfumo wa kuhifadhi, kuhifadhi, kuhifadhi, kuhifadhi na kuhifadhi bidhaa za zamani za Filippa K. ni moja ya njia za kuhifadhi bidhaa za zamani za zamani za zamani. Wengine hutoa dhamana ya muda mrefu ambayo inajumuisha kutoa ukarabati wa bure au kubadilisha bidhaa, kutoa ukarabati au maagizo ya ukarabati, au kutoa upcycling au maagizo ya upcycling. Ripoti ya "Pulse Of The Fashion Industry" inapendekeza kuanzisha vituo vya kukusanya umma katika maeneo ambayo kwa sasa fursa za kukusanya nguo ni ndogo. Teknolojia hutoa njia rahisi zaidi ya kushinda vizuizi vya kuchakata kwa kiwango kikubwa. Vifaa vya akili vitaruhusu mashine za kuchagua kugundua aina za nyuzi na kuamua ufanisi na hatua zifuatazo za usindikaji zaidi. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, teknolojia mpya za mchakato zinapaswa kufanya iwezekane kuchakata kemikali kila mchanganyiko wa nyuzi zinazowezekana kwa kiwango na kuchakata mitambo bila kupoteza ubora wa nyuzi. """ Kwa upande mwingine, makampuni pia ni kuangalia katika nyuzi mpya ambayo ni biodegradable kabisa na inaweza kupatikana kwa njia endelevu. Chickens inapatikana katika Lenzing, ambayo ni biodegradable kabisa, ina athari ya chini ya mazingira, husababisha uchafuzi wa chini, inatoa uwazi wa mlolongo wa usambazaji kupitia ufumbuzi wa kufuatilia dijiti, na ni kuthibitishwa na OEKO-TEX. "Ufunuo wa ""mfumo wa mzunguko"" ulianzishwa na H&M na Anna Brissom, mmiliki wa kampuni ya ushauri ya ""Green Strategy"" mnamo 2014 na kuanzishwa na Ellen MacArthur Foundation." "Brismar inaweka ""mfumo wa mzunguko"" kama nguo, viatu au vifaa ambavyo vimetengenezwa, vimetengenezwa, vimetengenezwa na kutolewa kwa nia ya kutumiwa na kuzunguka kwa uwajibikaji na ufanisi katika jamii kwa muda mrefu iwezekanavyo katika fomu yao yenye thamani zaidi, na baadaye kurudi salama kwenye mazingira wakati haitumiki tena na wanadamu." Ili kuweka nguo kutumika kwa muda mrefu, bidhaa zinapaswa kubuniwa kuwa na mzunguko wa maisha mbalimbali, na vifaa vya kuchakata vinavyofaa kwa matumizi yaliyokusudiwa, mitindo ya wakati na muundo unaofaa kwa disassembly. Hata hivyo, mtiririko wa vifaa vya mviringo peke yake haitoshi kuhakikisha sekta ya nguo hupunguza sana carbon front yake ifikapo 2030, kwani suluhisho kama hizo hazibadili athari za hatua muhimu za uzalishaji, kama vile rangi na kumaliza. Utafiti wa Quantis unaonyesha kwamba kuunganisha tena nyuzi na kuzitumia tena peke yake ingeweza kufikia kupunguza uzalishaji wa sekta nzima kwa 10% tu ndani ya mlolongo mkubwa wa thamani ya nguo, ingawa ni hatua nzuri ya kuanza. Kuongeza ufahamu wa watumiaji na ushiriki: Kupitia kampeni au kutoa habari juu ya uendelevu katika maduka au kupitia vitambulisho kwenye nguo, inaweza kuwa na uwezekano wa kuwaelimisha watumiaji kununua tu kile wanachohitaji na kuchagua chaguzi zaidi za uendelevu. "Wanafunzi wa Pulse Survey walielezea uendelevu kama ""wajibikaji wa kijamii ambao chapa za mitindo zinapaswa kutimiza"" na ""na fursa kubwa ya biashara ya kuunda thamani kwa kampuni za mitindo"" na ""kwa kuunda yaliyomo na mazungumzo juu ya mtindo endelevu, chapa na kampuni zinaweza kujiweka kwa faida yao, wakati wa kuunda maslahi zaidi kwa mada hiyo na kusaidia kupunguza alama ya ikolojia na kijamii ya tasnia ya mitindo.""" Picha ya kichwa na Daria Shevtsova kutoka Pexels