{"id":5406,"date":"2020-10-01T00:05:57","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T23:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/?p=5406"},"modified":"2020-09-29T14:03:40","modified_gmt":"2020-09-29T13:03:40","slug":"why-does-sustainable-fashion-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/2020\/10\/01\/why-does-sustainable-fashion-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Why does sustainable fashion matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Photo<\/p>\n

Member of our Planet Sub Group Karen Whitworth has been investigating sustainable fashion – the future of fashion and its environmental impacts. She writes…I am currently undertaking a Future Learn<\/a> online course entitled “Fashion\u2019s Future and the SDGs” (United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals) as I am interested to build on my knowledge of the environmental impacts of the various processes involved in clothing production and what the fashion industry is doing to reduce, or eradicate them.<\/p>\n

A short assignment was part of my recent learning and I thought other Soroptimists may be interested in what I have found.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How sustainable are our fashion choices?<\/h2>\n

Our task was to use an item of clothing from our existing wardrobe to answer some key questions about its production and ultimate disposal. Here is my response about the blue jumper I was wearing at the time which was purchased from Marks and Spencer many years ago!<\/p>\n

Where did it come from?<\/h5>\n

\"Sweater<\/a>The label shows it was made in China and is 100% acrylic.<\/p>\n

What are the processes used in its manufacture and what is their environmental impact?<\/h5>\n

Well…China is the largest producer of acrylics (30% of the world\u2019s use) and it has a petroleum base. It is created in a water based solution with powerful chemical solvents used. Interestingly, colours can be made in the process which eliminates the need for dyes and the harm to the environment from leaching into the rivers and the additional use of water in its production is negated which is obviously positive.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately the production processes are highly volatile so there is a risk of explosion and the toxic substances, if not handled carefully can also enter the local ecosystem. The gases produced in this process are so harmful that legislation requires them to be properly filtered in a closed environment.<\/p>\n

So through this production process valuable resources are being used and potentially abused through water and air in the locality of its production.<\/p>\n

What is the company doing to reduce the impact on the environment and those employed?<\/h5>\n

Marks and Spencer<\/a> has signed up to all 10 multi stakeholder initiatives relating to sustainability. For my garment 5 of these initiatives apply as follows:<\/p>\n