London Fashion Week commences, highlighting the industry's overlooked environmental impact. A recent study reveals that fashion shows, business travel, and collection transportation contribute significantly to carbon emissions.
The study by Carbon Trust & ORDRE unveils shocking findings: 11,000 retail buyers and 5,000 designers produced a staggering 241,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, surpassing Saint Kitts and Nevis' 2017 greenhouse gas emissions and capable of powering Times Square for 58 years.
New York's fashion week ranks highest with 60,000 tonnes of emissions, followed by Paris with 45,000 tonnes and London with 28,000 tonnes. Buyers average 12.1 tonnes, while designers' employees average 7.6 tonnes of carbon footprint.
This report intensifies global pressure for sustainable fashion practices. Recommendations include economy class travel, combining trips, prioritizing trains over flights, and consolidating seasons and collections.
The research encompasses fashion weeks in Amsterdam, Tokyo, Barcelona, and other cities, emphasizing the urgent need for industry-wide changes.
