According to a new article from Racked, no one really knows how bad fashion is for the environment.
While it has been widely reported that fashion is the second most polluting industry on earth, after fossil fuels, Racked discovered that the source for that “fact” was actually a retracted press release that was disavowed by the author.
According to the CEO of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Jason Kimbly, fashion’s ranking as number two could theoretically be true, but there is no comprehensive framework in place to quantify fashion’s emissions, forcing analysts to connect the dots between limited research.
Of course, that doesn’t mean fashion is good for the environment. But whether it’s as bad as people say – or worse – no one currently knows.
Regardless, experts agree that whatever its impact on the planet, the $620 billion fashion industry could be a trailblazer in “raising consciousness about climate change as well as leading investment in solutions that are now finally available.” Especially as the industry relies on / overlaps with so many others, including agriculture (cotton, flax, hemp), livestock (leather, fur, wool, cashmere), petroleum (polyester and other synthetics), forestry (rayon), mining (metal and stones), construction (retail stores), and manufacturing and shipping.
You can read more about it at Racked.
