TWO WEEKS TO TAKE OIL OUT OF OUR CLOTHES
Right now, polluters from across the world are meeting in Baku for COP29, we have two weeks to convince them to end fast fashion, end oil in clothes and take action to save the climate.
The world's biggest climate conference has begun and the future of the world is at stake, now that 1.5 degrees of warming has been reached with catastrophic climate impacts everywhere we look: record-smashing heatwaves, severe droughts, floods, and irreversible biodiversity loss. Meanwhile, the fashion industry remains one of the top polluting industries globally, and its environmental impacts are well known but they continue to dodge blame. Since the signing of the UN’s Fashion Charter in 2018, by over 100 companies, action has been insufficient and progress far too slow.
Every COP since COP25 had a side event on fashion, in which leading industry representatives have participated to discuss the progress made on the implementation of the Fashion Charter. After six years, nothing has changed and the emissions of the fashion industry remain incredibly high. Next to that, we have seen the rise of ultra-fast fast fashion. The industry is not moving fast enough towards neutrality, so have to keep urging to take action.
Sadly, we cannot just individually modify our consumption habits. To save our planet, things must change at a systemic level. Actual change does not come with groundbreaking statements, nice documents, and Charters to be discussed about once a year. Actual change comes through ambitious action. Corporations need to act, and they need to act now! They need to be held accountable, stop their unbearable greenwashing, and stick to what they actually promise. Otherwise, it’s just a whole big dress-up!
You can help us to force the fashion industry to do better, by signing our petition here.
To achieve the goal of a completely sustainable fashion industry they have to not only transition to renewable energy, they have to reduce their energy needs. They have to produce fewer clothes and produce at a higher quality so that the clothes can be worn for many years. They have to pay their workers a fair wage and ensure good working conditions. They have to stop using harmful materials for the environment.
Our demands for policy-makers:
We demand to reinforce the UN Fashion Charter for Climate Action by setting legally binding targets for emissions reduction, with required transparency and third-party monitoring to ensure real progress and compliance.
We demand that the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles goes beyond its current framework and ensures immediate, enforceable action by fashion companies to meet ambitious sustainability targets, through mandatory binding targets for waste reduction and circularity, and phasing out fossil-fuel-based materials by 2030.
The EU to swiftly implement the new Green claims directive to regulate greenwashing and unfair commercial practices within the fashion industry.
Our demands for the fashion industry:
Stick to the damn UN Fashion Charter for Climate Action you signed!
Stop wasting time we don't have: implement your ambitious commitments!
Stay transparent: report on your progress and disclose your emissions, sourcing, labour conditions, and waste practices with independent audits
Cut fossil fuels out of production and products by committing to replacing fossil-fuel-derived fibres like polyester and nylon with sustainable alternatives and transitioning production to renewable energy
Stop overproduction and prioritise quality by cutting production volumes by at least 40% by 2030, with a shift toward high-quality, long-lasting clothing. Implement quality control standards that make garments durable, repairable, and recyclable.
Take full responsibility for the life cycle of each product by providing repair services, buy-back programs, and recycling options.