Steps towards a more sustainable fashion industry have been taken at COP27 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) currently taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt and in anticipation of COP 15 (United Nations Conference on Climate Change). Nations on Biodiversity) that will take place in Montreal on December 2. 7-19.
The first involves a new collaboration between the United Nations environmental agency and a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the fashion industry. In the second, arguably the world’s most famous zipper manufacturer, YKK, is even more transparent about its sustainability efforts.
At COP27 this week, the Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) announced a new partnership to launch the Fashion Industry Targets Consultation. It will be an online survey asking stakeholders and partners from across the global value chain to share their views on industry sustainability goals and how best to achieve them. The group of respondents will include brands, retailers, NGOs, manufacturers, data providers, innovators, intergovernmental groups, legislators and others.
The survey, which is now open and available until January 27, 2023, covers the five priorities of the Fashion CEO Agenda: safe and respectful work environments, better salary systems, resource management, smart material choices and systems circular. Participants also have the option to provide feedback at virtual regional workshops organized by UNEP and the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion in Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Asia, Asia Pacific and Africa.
Analysis of findings will be shared and aligned targets announced at GFA’s “Fashion CEO Agenda” 2023 release at Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen edition in June 2023. the industry towards the goals will be published in later editions of “The GFA Monitor”.
“We know that tackling the complex matrix of environmental and social issues prevalent in the fashion industry can seem insurmountable, especially when acting in isolation, which is why we at Global Fashion Agenda recognize the unparalleled value of collaboration. We are delighted to be working with UNEP and capturing the direction of the broader industry for goals that will accelerate the fashion industry forward, united in their purpose of a net positive industry,” said Federica Marchionni, Executive Director of Global Fashion Agenda. .
“Addressing climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss requires a collaborative and holistic approach. Together with partners within the United Nations and beyond, UNEP works to ensure a just and effective transition to circularity involving all stakeholders. UNEP welcomes this unique opportunity with GFA to consult with the textile sector, including on circularity, chemicals in products, gender, worker protection and business models to ensure all voices are understood. and inform ambitions,” said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, UNEP economics director. and industry division.
On the same day as the UNEP/GFA news, Japanese zipper and closure company YKK announced it has signed the UN Biodiversity COP 15 Business Declaration for Mandatory Assessment and Disclosure by 2030 as called by Business for Nature, a three-year international organization. coalition calling on corporations to take comprehensive action to recover from the destruction of nature and protect ecosystems.
The declaration, prepared ahead of COP 15 in Montreal next month, calls on heads of state to require all large companies and financial institutions to assess and disclose their impacts on and dependencies on nature by 2030.
The move adds to YKK’s existing sustainability initiatives, including its Group Environmental Commitment adopted in 1994, its Group Environmental Vision 2050 established in 2019, and “YKK Sustainable Vision 2050”, which was launched in October 2020 and made the YKK group environmental vision in concrete numerical figures. objectives
By signing the declaration, YKK now commits to “assess the impacts and dependencies on nature, disclose important information related to nature, prioritize the most critical issues and disclose the prevention and reduction of negative impacts, and transform strategies and business models to restore and rehabilitate nature. ”
In addition to these efforts, YKK is currently working to recreate the original landscape at its Kurobe Manufacturing Center by planting trees and creating waterside areas to realize the “factory in the forest” ideal envisioned by Tadao Yoshida, who founded YKK in Tokyo in 1934. .