(Sustainabilityenviroment.com) – Last Tuesday was published the report produced by The Business of Fashion, which takes stock of the sustainability of the fashion industry. According to the report, the sector needs to adapt to climate needs and in particular to commit itself to the implementation of the Paris Agreements and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Some realities are already improving their credentials, but more efforts are needed.
The Business of Fashion
The Business of Fashion Sustainability Index is on its second report. In writing, the information made public by the big brands about their environmental objectives and strategies was taken. As well as the way in which respect for workers’ rights is ensured.
In its first edition, the report analyzed 15 major brands, already doubled for this edition. The results showed a deep gap between the publicly announced commitments and the strategies actually implemented.
There are three categories of brands considered: luxury, sportswear and fashion street, and evaluates the progress of companies in the field of sustainability and in particular for the achievement of the 2030 goals. The analysis moves from 200 different points of impact of the fashion industry divided into six categories: emissions, water and chemicals, waste, materials and workers’ rights.
Objective of the document, to verify the engagements for the sustainability of the great fashion houses. Given the growing pressure on these issues from consumers, especially the younger ones.
The report warns brands: by continuing at this rate, companies risk losing cultural relevance and destroying their heritage.
The data that emerged are not encouraging: eight years after reaching the benchmark commitments, the sustainability performance of 5 out of 6 fashion houses has worsened: if last year we could record a progress of the brands analyzed, Having increased the cohort of evaluators this year significantly lowers the average.
Something is moving, but it is still little
The area on which companies have collected the most points is the reduction of emissions, but they have obtained very low scores with regard to the reduction of waste.
The brands that last year had recorded positive performance in the index to 15 confirm their role as leaders, but still too slowly. The original brands, in fact, increase the average score from 31 to 36 in a year. Most of the fashion companies added this year, however, need to make much greater efforts for sustainability, standing at an average score of just 20 points.
In general, there is no linear path: progress, although it exists, is slow and uneven.
The average of the scores recorded is 28 out of 100. The first classified by commitment is PUMA, which however counts just 49 points out of 100 total. It follows Kering, who last year was in first place. From third place onwards we find Levi Strauss, H&M Group and Burberry, the only new entry to reach the top 10 with 41 points.
Taillight URBN, Skechers, Fila Holdings, Anta and HLA Group – all brands that have achieved less than 10 points because they have made few or no public commitments.