262
16.3 Impact Sustainability: Final Remarks
There are strong connections between research and innovation in the fashion industry and SDG 15 Life on Land and SDG 14 Life below Water. This review clearly
showed that major issues confronting the industry pertain to water consumption,
impact on ecosystem services, water pollution and the industries’ clear contribution
to global warming, deforestation and environmental degradation (UN 2019).
The production of raw materials, crop management and production of fibres
from petrochemicals feedstock drain natural resources in an unsustainable manner.
The fashion industry demands great amounts of water and energy whilst contaminating inland water sources and oceans. Moreover, clothing production increased by
“fast fashion” trends heightens soil degradation due to the use of chemically hazardous components. Therefore, the fashion industry needs to embrace solutions which
promote the achievement of the SDG 15 and SDG 14 and commit to various socially
responsible practices linked to production, gender, labour, poverty issues (UNECE
2019) as well as promoting the use of alternative materials such as blast fibres like
hemp, Lyocell fibres Tencel and Yulexis. Sustainable resource management techniques such as reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers are also essential for
biodiversity conservation and consequently soil improvement – thereby preventing
soil degradation.
Additionally, the use of technologies for animal and biodiversity protection
through the use of alternative animal-like materials such as Zoa
TM
(bioleather) is
necessary to achieve SDG target 15.6: “promoting fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate
access to such resources, as internationally agreed”. Likewise, the use of ecofriendly techniques such as finishing plasma, ultrasonic-assisted dyeing and supercritical carbon dioxide methods, whilst promoting effective fibre-to-fibre recycle
techniques, such as HKRITA’s technologies, can contribute to achieve SDG target
15.3, “restore degraded land and soil”. Promoting deployment of these technologies
and encouraging the sustainable use of natural resources – from design to consumption– the fashion industry could lessen the impact on the life of land and below
water, achieving overall sustainability.
References
Al-Sabagh AM, Yehia FZ, Eshaq G, Rabie AM, EIMetwally AE (2015) Greener routes for recycling of polyethylene. Egypt J Pet 25(1):53–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2015.03.00
Choudhury AKR (2017) Sustainable chemical technologies for textile production. In MS (ed)
Sustainable fibres and textiles, The Textile Institute Book Series, Pages 267-322
Black S (ed) (2012) The sustainable fashion handbook. London, pp:278–283. isbn: 978-0500290569
Boucher J, Friot D (2017) Primary microplastics in the oceans: a global evaluation of sources.
IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 43pp
C. Arana et al.
16.3 Impact Sustainability: Final Remarks
There are strong connections between research and innovation in the fashion industry and SDG 15 Life on Land and SDG 14 Life below Water. This review clearly
showed that major issues confronting the industry pertain to water consumption,
impact on ecosystem services, water pollution and the industries’ clear contribution
to global warming, deforestation and environmental degradation (UN 2019).
The production of raw materials, crop management and production of fibres
from petrochemicals feedstock drain natural resources in an unsustainable manner.
The fashion industry demands great amounts of water and energy whilst contaminating inland water sources and oceans. Moreover, clothing production increased by
“fast fashion” trends heightens soil degradation due to the use of chemically hazardous components. Therefore, the fashion industry needs to embrace solutions which
promote the achievement of the SDG 15 and SDG 14 and commit to various socially
responsible practices linked to production, gender, labour, poverty issues (UNECE
2019) as well as promoting the use of alternative materials such as blast fibres like
hemp, Lyocell fibres Tencel and Yulexis. Sustainable resource management techniques such as reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers are also essential for
biodiversity conservation and consequently soil improvement – thereby preventing
soil degradation.
Additionally, the use of technologies for animal and biodiversity protection
through the use of alternative animal-like materials such as Zoa
TM
(bioleather) is
necessary to achieve SDG target 15.6: “promoting fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate
access to such resources, as internationally agreed”. Likewise, the use of ecofriendly techniques such as finishing plasma, ultrasonic-assisted dyeing and supercritical carbon dioxide methods, whilst promoting effective fibre-to-fibre recycle
techniques, such as HKRITA’s technologies, can contribute to achieve SDG target
15.3, “restore degraded land and soil”. Promoting deployment of these technologies
and encouraging the sustainable use of natural resources – from design to consumption– the fashion industry could lessen the impact on the life of land and below
water, achieving overall sustainability.
References
Al-Sabagh AM, Yehia FZ, Eshaq G, Rabie AM, EIMetwally AE (2015) Greener routes for recycling of polyethylene. Egypt J Pet 25(1):53–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2015.03.00
Choudhury AKR (2017) Sustainable chemical technologies for textile production. In MS (ed)
Sustainable fibres and textiles, The Textile Institute Book Series, Pages 267-322
Black S (ed) (2012) The sustainable fashion handbook. London, pp:278–283. isbn: 978-0500290569
Boucher J, Friot D (2017) Primary microplastics in the oceans: a global evaluation of sources.
IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 43pp
C. Arana et al.