MPs have launched a new inquiry into the UK fashion industry's devastating environmental impact.
In a bid to boost sustainability, the House of Commons' Environmental Audit Committee will investigate the carbon, resource use and water footprint of clothing throughout its lifecycle. The committee will also examine how clothes can be recycled in the near future.
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The initiative comes amid growing concerns that 'fast fashion' is fuelling a serious repurchasing habit, as consumers strive to buy into the latest trends.
According to a recent report by the British Fashion Council, the UK fashion industry contributed £28.1 billion to national GDP this year in comparison to £21 billion back in 2009.
And the booming industry poses serious issues for the environment, as the raw materials used to manufacture clothes require the extraction of fossil fuels.
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Carbon dioxide emission is another threat, as a 2017 report compiled by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation indicates that if the global fashion industry continues its wealthy climb then it could use more than a quarter of the globe's annual carbon budget by 2050.
One particular aim of the inquiry is to encourage recycling and the concept of a "circular economy" whereby garments, shoes and accessorises can be made with a lifespan that benefits the environment.
The move comes amid reports that over 300,000 tonnes of fashion waste is sent to landfill every year with one truckload of fashion waste deposited per second.
Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Mary Creagh, said: "Fashion shouldn’t cost the earth but the way we design, make and discard clothes has a huge environmental impact."
She continued, "Producing clothes requires climate-changing emissions. Every time we put on a wash, thousands of plastic fibres wash down the drain into the oceans. We don’t know where or how to recycle end-of-life clothing. Our inquiry will look at how the fashion industry can remodel itself to be both thriving and sustainable."
In recent months, top fashion labels have pledged to make their businesses more sustainable. Back in January, 64 fashion labels - including the likes of Zara and ASOS - signed a promise to go green by 2020.
Meanwhile Stella McCartney has long been a pioneer for change, as the luxury label prides itself in sourcing sustainable materials and stands by the need for a "circular economy".
More information on the inquiry can be found over on the House of Commons' website.
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/fashion-news/a21920392/mps-government-inquiry-uk-fashion-industry-environmental-impact/
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