Climate & Environment

How does climate change affect the garment and textiles industry?

The garment and textiles sector is not only vulnerable to the effects of climate change, but it is also a key contributor to the problem. What initiatives, projects and publications are shining a light on the Climate & Environmental challenge in the sector? What solutions already exist in the industry and what more needs to be done?

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What do Climate & Environment have to do with the garment, textile and footwear industry?

The garment, textile and footwear industry has a significant impact on the Climate & Environment, as it requires large amounts of resources such as water, energy, raw materials, and contributes to waste generation and air and water pollution along the different value chain processes.

For instance, textile and garment production consumes substantial amounts of water: Dyeing and finishing processes produce wastewater that often contains harmful chemicals and heavy metals. Often, untreated wastewater is discharged directly into water bodies, making the textile industry a major contributor to water pollution. Further, the industry requires significant amounts of energy (mostly fossil fuel based), emitting greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

To address these environmental and climate challenges, the Asian textile and garment industry is increasingly adopting sustainable practices and technologies such as the use of organic and recycled raw materials renewable energy sources, carbon-neutral and zero-discharge production practices, and the adoption of environmental management systems that reduce and monitor the environmental impact during the production. One topic of rising attention is the generation of post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste which oftentimes end up in landfill or incineration instead of recycling to achieve circular supply chain.

Overall, the environment is a crucial consideration for the Asian textiles and garment industry and reducing the industry's impact on the environment is essential for a more sustainable and resilient future.

What initiatives, projects and publications are shining a light on the Climate & Environmental challenge in the sector?

Numerous initiatives, projects, and publications are raising awareness of the Climate & Environmental issues in the garment and textiles industry. Here are a few examples:

Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC): The SAC is a global alliance of apparel, footwear, and textile companies, NGOs, and other stakeholders committed to sustainability. The SAC has developed the Higg FEM Index, a standardized tool that measures the environmental impact of apparel and footwear products throughout their lifecycle, from design to end-of-life. The Higg FEM Index allows companies to identify areas where they can improve their environmental sustainability performance.
The Fashion Pact: The Fashion Pact is a global coalition of fashion companies committed to environmental sustainability, signed by more than 60 leading fashion companies that have committed to reducing the industry's environmental impact and promoting sustainability. The pact was launched in August 2019, in conjunction with the G7 Summit, and is focused on three key areas: climate, biodiversity and oceans. Signatories have committed to strong goals in the fields of carbon neutrality, sustainable materials, and circular fashion practices.
Better Cotton Initiative (BCI): The BCI is a global not-for-profit organization that promotes sustainable cotton production practices. The BCI provides training and support to cotton farmers and promotes more sustainable and environmentally-friendly cotton production practices.
ZDHC Roadmap to Zero: The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Roadmap to Zero is a global initiative that aims to eliminate hazardous chemicals from the textile, leather, and footwear industry. The roadmap provides a framework and tools to help companies reduce their use of hazardous chemicals.
Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is a non-profit organization that works to drive sustainability in the fashion industry through advocacy, collaboration, and public-private partnerships. Together with UN Environment Programme (UNEP), GFA launched the Fashion Industry Target Consultation at COP27 in 2022. It is a multi-stakeholder consultation to identify and converge existing industry aligned ambitions, according to the five priorities of the Fashion CEO Agenda: Respectful & Secure Work Environments, Better Wage Systems, Resource Stewardship, Smart Material Choices and Circular Systems.

What measures does the Asian textile and garment industry take to reduce its impact on the environment?

Here are few measures which the Asian textile and garment industry is taking to reduce its impact on environment:

Environmental Management System (EMS):

Environmental Policy and Planning: Many companies have developed an environmental policy that outlines the organisations commitment to environmental stewardship. The policy sets the foundation for planning environmental objectives and targets. Environmental management system enables companies to monitor resource usage, identify areas for improvement and implement measures to optimize efficiency and reduce waste.
Adoption of sustainable and resource-efficient manufacturing practices: Adopting sustainable and resource-efficient manufacturing practices to minimize water and energy consumption like lean production, eco-design, sustainable management practices and closed-loop targets can help reduce the environmental impact of the textile and garment industry.

Water and wastewater:

Water-efficient technologies: Implementing water-saving and water-efficient technologies like low-water dyeing, air dyeing, and ozone washing can help reduce water consumption.
Water pollution prevention: The industry can implement pollution prevention measures like reducing the use of toxic chemicals, implementing wastewater treatment and water recycling systems, and adopting sustainable water management practices to minimize water pollution.
Water stewardship: The industry can implement water stewardship practices to manage water resources responsibly, reduce water usage, and minimize environmental impact.

Energy and greenhouse gas emissions:

Renewable energy: The use of renewable energy sources like off and on-site solar, wind, and hydropower can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy-efficient practices and technologies: Implementing energy-efficient measures and technologies like efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems, good housekeeping, smart building management systems as well as green building practices can help reduce energy consumption and save carbon emissions.
Energy management systems: Implementing energy management systems can help track energy consumption, identify areas for improvement, and optimize energy use in the textile and garment industry.
Carbon offsetting: Carbon offsetting involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions in one area to offset emissions produced in another. The textile and garment industry can explore carbon offsetting as a way to reduce its carbon footprint.
Sustainable sourcing of raw materials: Companies are increasingly opting for sustainable and eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, natural or recycled fibers. This shift aims to reduce the dependence on non-renewable resources and minimize the climate impact of raw material sourcing.

Chemicals:

Chemical footprint reduction: The textile and garment industry can explore chemical footprint reduction measures like reducing chemical usage, implementing closed-loop production systems, and adopting sustainable production practices to minimize its environmental impact.
Use of eco-friendly chemicals: The textile and garment industry uses a significant amount of chemicals, including dyes, finishes, and coatings. Using eco-friendly chemicals can help reduce the environmental impact of textile and garment production.
Chemical management: Proper chemical management practices like reducing chemical usage, implementing safety measures, and adopting sustainable production practices can help minimize the environmental impact of the textile and garment industry.
Chemical safety and compliance: The textile and garment industry must comply with safety and environmental regulations. Ensuring compliance and promoting chemical safety can help minimize the environmental impact of textile and garment production.

Waste:

Hazardous waste management: The industry generates hazardous waste like chemical waste, wastewater, and contaminated materials. Implementing hazardous waste management practices can help minimize the environmental impact of textile and garment production.
Circular Economy Principles: Embracing the principles of a circular economy, the industry is focusing on reducing waste generation and promotion recycling and upcycling initiatives. The use of proper recycling facilities is established to collect and process post-industrial and post-consumer waste into new materials and products.
Circular Design: Designing products for durability and higher recyclability contribute to minimizing the industry's waste.
Lean manufacturing: Adopting lean production principles and implementing efficient techniques can help minimize the waste in the production by optimizing the process, reducing excess inventory and implementing quality control measures.

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Learnings and Tools

The garment and textiles sector is not only vulnerable to the effects of Climate Change, but it is also a key contributor to the problem. What learnings and tools are shining a light on the Climate and Environmental challenge in the sector? What solutions already exist in the industry and what more needs to be done?

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Asia Garment Hub | December 11, 2023