The fashion industry’s presence at the COP28 conference in Dubai has been getting progressively strongly. However, its transition to renewables has been slow and scattershot, says HakanKaraosman, Assistant Professor, Cardiff University.
The tools and technology promoted by most fashion giants cannot bring any change if the industry does not focus on the real problem: production volumes, adds Karaosman, who also chairs the Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion.
Just before the close of COP28, negotiators from 196 countries struck an unprecedented deal to phase out fossil fuels.
Environmental advocacy group, Stand.earth, together with Oxfam Bangladesh, launched a call to the 100 UN Fashion Charter for Climate Action signatories, which include names such as Adidas, H&M Group, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and The North Face owner VF Corp. These brands committed to phase out fossil fuels in their supply chains by 2050.
Currently, only the Kering group, among the luxury brands, has declared its commitment to use 100 percent renewable energy in the supply chain by 2030.On the other hand, LVMH announced the redoubling of its biodiversity and climate initiatives. The brand signed an agreement with the Foundation For Amazon Sustainability to combat deforestation and improve the environmental footprint of its stores in partnership with real estate developers in the United Arab Emirates and Miami.
