With all eyes on climate talks in Dubai, the world of fashion is working out how it can fulfill an ambitious pledge to slash the emissions it makes clothing the world with speed and style.
And the outlook isn’t rosy.
Big brands have promised big cuts to their carbon footprint — but it is manufacturing that causes most of the environmental damage and somebody has to foot the bill for the radical change.
“The scale of the decarbonization challenge completely dwarfs the funds available,” said Vidhura Ralapanawe, executive vice president at fashion company Epic Group.
Hong Kong-based manufacturer Epic — which makes clothes in Bangladesh, Jordan and Ethiopia — has been at the forefront of global efforts to clean up the environmental footprint of the $2 trillion fashion industry.
“We are working with local and global organizations to move the whole industry forward, while trying to bring together brands, retailers, manufacturers, mills, and service providers.”
The key to progress, he said, is a positive partnership between brands and manufacturers.
“Given the investment and risks…
Read the full article here