Nov 20, 2024 (MarketLine via COMTEX) --
Industry leaders discuss how strategic partnerships, circular economy principles, and a deeper connection to nature are key to the fashion industryaEUR(TM)s sustainability transformation and tackling biodiversity loss.
When Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) lead for textiles Mark Sumner entered the fashion industry two decades ago the challenges were primarily related to factory conditions and cotton.
However, over the years he has seen the industry's relationship evolve not just within the supply chain but with environment and nature.
Sumner explains how the definition of "environment" has broadened and encompasses carbon emissions, water consumption, chemical pollution and waste.
He also highlights the fashion industry's major reliance on nature for raw materials: "Let's be clear, at least 50% of the fashion industry's materials, 50% of the stuff that we're wearing is directly from nature aEUR" cotton, wool, cashmere aEUR" all of it directly from agriculture. Then there are indirect connections with nature, such as the water usage required to process raw materials into fibres."
Humans are part of nature aEUR" so is human welfareThe ESG director of fashion brand Seasalt, Christian Jermyn, argues that humans often view themselves as separate from nature, but this mindset overlooks a fundamental truth: humans are an integral part of the natural ecosystem.
Tracing a garmentaEUR(TM)s journey back to its origins, Jermyn highlights the connection between healthy farms and healthy communities: "If you have a healthy farm, you have healthy farmers. If you have healthy farmers, you have healthy families, healthy communities and ultimately healthy societies."
This interconnectedness, Jermyn says, underscores that conversations about nature recovery must also consider the wellbeing of the people who sustain the supply chain.
Seasalt, which is a Cornwall-based retailer inspired by nature, has upheld these values since it started 20 years ago. Jermyn notes all of the company's milestones aEUR"which include achieving 100% organic cotton certification across all ranges, full commitment to Responsible Wool Standards (RWS), and tannery grading initiatives aEUR" are all aimed at giving back to nature while fostering sustainability and human welfare.
He reiterates: "Nature is imperative to everyone in this room to be successful in business." When businesses prioritise both environmental and human welfare, they contribute positively to the broader ecosystem they depend on.
Biodiversity and its link to the circular economy"Biodiversity is integral to the circular economy," says Ellen MacArthur Foundation project manager, Miranda Beckett. She explains that circular economy principles offer a solution framework to address major challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste and pollution.
Beckett highlights how the day-to-day implementation of circular economy principles directly supports the issue of biodiversity. The first principle aEUR" eliminating waste and pollution aEUR" targets threats to biodiversity by examining every stage of the supply chain from farming to design and production.
The second principle focuses on circulating products and materials. "This is all about leaving more room for biodiversity," Beckett explains. By scaling up efforts to reuse and recycle products, the demand for virgin materials and land use decreases, creating space for biodiversity to thrive. Preserved land, in turn, can be dedicated to wilderness and conservation efforts.
She outlines regenerating nature as the third and final principle which is often overlooked but plays a vital role in boosting biodiversity. Beckett emphasises how regenerative agricultural practices can positively impact ecosystems, aligning with circularity's overarching goals.
"Biodiversity is the basis of everything that we work on in the fashion industry," she asserts.
Sumner underscores the importance of connecting these principles to industry practices. He calls for a holistic approach that replicates natureaEUR(TM)s processes, ensuring that actions within the fashion sector are critically aligned to benefit both biodiversity and the economy.
Primark spearheading biodiversity initiativesPrimark's senior sustainability manager Phil Townsend reflects on the retaileraEUR(TM)s journey into biodiversity restoration over the past four years. He notes that when he first joined the fashion company it was beginning to strengthen its commitments to tackling biodiversity loss, albeit with a clear understanding that they still had much to figure out.
"We weren't quite sure what exactly we were going to do back then, or how we were going to do it," Townsend admits, "but we recognised it was critically important for us as a business to address biodiversity loss and commit to moving towards restoring nature."
The first step was finding the right partners, leading Primark to collaborate with UK environmental consulting firmABiodiversify.
Biodiversify conducted a business-wide risk assessment to identify the companyaEUR(TM)s biodiversity impacts. This helped Primark direct its attention to raw materials and in particular cotton.
Townsend also highlights the significance of Primark's decade-long project with Cotton Connect, which spans India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan and benefits over 300,000 farmers.
Additionally, Primark aligned its biodiversity commitments very closely with the adoption of regenerative farming practices within its cotton project: "We know there's likely to be a strong link between biodiversity and more regenerative agricultural systems," he says.
However, he also explains that the complexity and contextual nature of biodiversity requires a way to measure and monitor it effectively. This led to the development of a field survey methodology and the implementation of a long-term monitoring programme.
The programme aims to gather data about the state of nature in the regions where PrimarkaEUR(TM)s cotton projects operate. "The hope was to get interesting data from those surveys that will inform us on what the state of nature is in that region, and how to develop further some intervention strategies to support local species," Townsend says.
Right partnerships are key to achieving biodiversity goalsAchieving biodiversity goals demands partnerships that are credible and impactful. As Jermyn emphasises: "When youaEUR(TM)re looking for a partner, you find one that is as credible as possible. WeaEUR(TM)ve worked a lot with organisations like the Soil Association and Cornwall Wildlife Trust because we take pride in the credibility and impact of those collaborations."
This focus on credible collaboration ensures that efforts in sustainability are not only responsible but also far-reaching.
Jermyn believes sustainability boils down to making informed choices. He notes: "You can either make a responsible choice or an irresponsible one depending on the factors at play. When you make that choice, itaEUR(TM)s got to be as credible as possible."
By selecting partners with a proven commitment to environmental causes, companies can amplify their impact while building trust among stakeholders.
One standout example of this approach is the partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust, which enabled a seagrass restoration project. "We funded a role that kickstarted this project because it wouldnaEUR(TM)t have received traditional conservation funding otherwise," Jermyn shares.
This initiative not only aids nature restoration but also creates a ripple effect, inspiring employees, engaging customers, and strengthening ties to the local community. Additionally, seagrass plays a critical role in carbon capture, highlighting the interconnected benefits of biodiversity initiatives.
For Jermyn, these partnerships go beyond ticking boxes aEUR" they serve as a positive influence on nature and business alike: "ItaEUR(TM)s inspiring to see the restoration projects we support and the impact they have on our landscapes and seascapes. These early-stage efforts, like seagrass restoration, can grow into larger-scale solutions, including regenerative capture."
He concludes that by choosing the right partners, organisations can align their sustainability objectives with long-term environmental and societal gains.
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