A new United Nations initiative that aims to make forests more fashionable has proposed that textile production should be shifted from fossil fuel-based synthetic fibers to renewable, biodegradable textiles, made from wood.

The fashion industry is responsible for producing 20 per cent of global waste water and 10 per cent of the global carbon emissions – more than the emissions of all international flights and maritime shipping combined. In addition, the textiles industry has recently been identified as a major polluter, with estimates of around half a million tonnes of plastic microfibers ending up in the world’s oceans as polyester, nylon or acrylics are washed each year.

Although the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an ambitious blueprint for governments, everyone must make a conscious choice to change habits and plan for the future. Moreover, forests can create productive ecosystems, to support local and rural communities. to the UNDP envoy forest.