The impact of fashion on the environment industry, sometimes called the “dirty secret,” has been scrutinized more closely, leading to an absence of knowledge. The various methods of quantifying and assessing the fashion industry’s environmental impact can lead to consumers needing to be made aware of the ecological consequences of their fashion choices.
Northumbria University is spearheading a large-scale effort to tackle this issue. With funding of over 2 million dollars from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and Innovate UK, the initiative aims to create a cooperative collaboration between manufacturers, academia, and prominent fashion brands and customers. The aim is to comprehensively analyze the techniques used to evaluate and assess the impact on the environment of the whole fashion and textiles industry.
Dr. Alana James of Northumbria University leads the project. This project aligns with Britain’s Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) goal of transforming clothing and other textiles in a circular industry. Collaboration networks will be crucial in identifying the most new issues in research and knowledge-sharing cases.
Dr. James, whose research focuses on sustainable changes within the fashion industry and is joined by specialists from Northumbria, King’s College London, and Loughborough University, encompassing pollution, design, forensic science, and data analytics. Principal stakeholders, such as fashion companies such as Barbour, Montane, ASOS, eco-friendly clothing companies, campaign groups, and government bodies, will work together in the coming couple of years to better understand the environmental impact of fashion-related products.
The fashion brands Barbour, Montane, and ASOS, amongst other stakeholders
Dr. James underscores the need for a more thorough method beyond carbon footprint assessments and calls for a more comprehensive analysis of variables like microfiber loss and its consequences on the environment’s health.
The group aims to create more transparency, allowing consumers to make better-informed and sustainable fashion choices. The fashion and textile industries are significantly contributing to our UK economic system (21 billion dollars) and the worldwide ecological problem (8 percent of emissions from greenhouse gases and 20 percent in waste). This initiative has the potential to trigger transformational changes.
Named IMPACT+ Environmental Index Measures Promoting Assessment and Circular Transparency in Fashion. The project is among three that will receive funding from the circular clothing and textiles program, which signals a decade’s commitment to a sustainable change in the fashion industry. The partnership will end in the pursuit of zero-net-zero goals before 2050.
The multifaceted team at Northumbria University, including forensic scientists’ expertise in soil ecologies, sustainable fashion, and air quality management, is a testament to the university’s commitment to interdisciplinarity to tackle global challenges.
As the project progresses, it has the potential to change how industry leaders think about their strategy for sustainability and ensure a lasting influence on the industry’s future.