Sustainability in the industry is an urgent issue as fast fashion is causing more pollution and waste and an alarming 400 percent growth in the number of clothes purchased over the last two decades. This article explores the idea of sustainability and its three-fold criteria and provides practical steps to evaluate sustainability in the apparel industry.
The fashion industry, which includes apparel, is among the top pollutants in the world and is ranked as the second largest polluter worldwide. One of the primary reasons is that the supply chain of the fashion industry is more complicated and extensive than other industries. Another reason is the idea of fast fashion that is currently being implemented in the fashion industry in which consumers regularly purchase or change their clothes and related items. This results in more production and environmental pollution. The estimates suggest that over 80 billion new clothing items are bought every year in the world, and that’s an increase of 400 percent over the last 20 years. In the end, millions of tons of clothing end up in landfills across the globe.
Concept of Sustainability
The concept of sustainability mostly concentrates on addressing the current human needs without compromising the capacity of the next generation to meet their needs. That means that the present age has to use natural resources responsibly so that future generations are able to take advantage of these resources without a problem. The principle is based upon three parameters which are: equity, economics, and the environment. These are frequently referred to as the people, Profit, and Planet in the business world. This is referred to as the Triple Bottom Line (TBL)’.
The equity component focuses on equity for the social and ensures that all people have equal opportunities. It also puts a particular focus on the well-being and needs of the communities within which the business is located. This means fair treatment of people, resources, and the law.
Economic viability is based on the opportunities that it offers those who are involved. Businesses must aim to help their stakeholders over the long run. Furthermore, companies have the burden of ensuring the value of the products, services, and resources they use and use efficiently while minimizing the amount of waste. They must also make sure that all parties in business transactions gain equally, ensuring that transactions are fair for every business that participates in the supply chain for apparel regardless of size or wealth. This is possible by offering fair wages along with equal access to opportunities. Apart from generating profit, the majority of companies are interested in creating worth for the communities in the areas they operate as well as for larger economic systems.
The environmental aspect is focused on the effects of the business’s activities on the environment. It is a matter of the level of effort put into by the company to minimize its environmental impact, which includes the physical environment, conditions, and other factors that impact the well-being and health of future and present generations. Also, everyone is accountable to live and operate in a manner that is safe for the natural environment since it is the only resource that both current and future generations require to survive and be well.
Measuring Sustainability
Different measures are available in the industry of apparel to determine an organization’s sustainability levels.
Economic Measures
Table 1 provides measures you can use to assess how much economic value is derived from a company.