A check-in on fashion’s sustainability promises
The end of the year is nearly upon us and with it, the start of 2026 – bringing the fashion industry one year closer to the deadline of its sustainability promises for 2030. With just over four years to go, it’s a good time to check in on what’s happened since the promises made at the Paris Agreement just over a decade ago, and the subsequent UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. Read on as we do just that.
The promises made
Through the Paris Agreement, the fashion industry collectively set a goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions from fiber and raw material production by 45% by 2030. Unfortunately, emissions from clothing production actually grew in 2023 – to 944 million metric tons. And is on track to exceed 1 billion metric tons by 2030.
The Paris Agreement also saw a promise by fashion stakeholders to phase out the use of thermal coal from manufacturing supply chains by 2030. This change requires an investment in electrification and renewable energy infrastructure; unfortunately, 86% of major fashion companies still do not have public, coal phase-out targets.
The reality of today
The biggest problem fashion brands are facing in achieving their climate goals? A lot of it comes down to money. Most brands want to do more, but are financially unable to. The unfortunate alternative is “quiet quitting” on their sustainability initiatives.
An action plan
Instead of talking about promises, the world needs action. Sustainability needs to go beyond promises made for the sake of marketing and into the implementation phase that’s necessary for real change. This implementation can’t just involve sustainability professionals – it needs to be a part of the overall business strategies. As one of the biggest challenges is financing these changes, financial decision makers must be a part of the conversation.
There’s another creature of the furrier variety who might also be beneficial to bring into the conversation – it is, of course, our AI fashion sourcing assistant, Frank the bear. Fran would really like to help fashion brands achieve their climate goals. Here are a few ways he can help:
- Frank can provide impact data to brands about the materials they’re considering for upcoming lines, offering context specificity and accessibility.
- Frank can offer insights into production systems, enabling brands to make their preferences based on facts and not guesses.
- Frank facilitates increased transparency in supplier energy data, so brands are informed about the production processes behind the materials they choose and can ensure these choices are aligned with the their goals.
All the information Frank offers is easily accessible to brands to quickly find what they need right where they need it. They’re also able to communicate with team members and suppliers should they have any additional questions or comments about a project or specific material, making Frank the ideal place to source materials.
Frank’s contribution won’t solve all of fashion’s issues in reaching their climate goals by 2030 – but he will help move the dial in the right direction. And with enough ticks, that dial will reach its mark in the next 4 years. Hope is not lost; the intentions are there. But without action, these are just empty promises. Let’s commit ourselves to making real change happen and bring in action and investment to back it. For the sake of our planet and its future. Frank’s got our back.
For a look at how Frank can help you source more sustainably, book a demo with us today: