The pace of sustainability progress in the fashion industry has slowed by a third in the past year and is not moving fast enough to counterbalance the harmful impact of the fashion industry’s rapid growth. So says Pulse of the Fashion Industry, an annual assessment of the fashion industry’s environmental and social performance.

Though the fashion industry has made some progress toward better social and environmental performance over the past year, the rate has been slower than in previous years. The improvement was due mainly to rapid progress among brands that are in the early stages of their sustainability journey and have put in place foundational measures in strategy, governance and target setting. Meanwhile, progress has slowed among larger companies that must figure out how to scale disruptive business models and harness innovative technologies. Sustainability is still far from being a key consideration in purchasing decisions. Therefore it is up to fashion leaders to drive large-scale impact and influence consumer perceptions.

By 2030, the global apparel and footwear industry will have grown by 81 per cent, exerting an unprecedented strain on planetary resources. If the industry remains on its current trajectory, the harmful consequences of increased production will become even more challenging to overcome.