new consultation established to define holistic and concrete goals for a net positive industry

SHARM EL SHEIKH, November 8, 2022 – Today at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) announced that they have partnered to launch the Fashion Industry Goals Consultation, seeking public input on cohesive and measurable fashion industry impact goals.

The fashion industry goals consultation will aim to identify and converge existing industry-aligned goals, in line with the five priorities of the Fashion CEO Agenda: safe and respectful work environments, better pay systems, resource management, smart material choices and circular systems. In addition, the Consultation will seek to formulate new targets where they are not currently covered, such as criteria for purchasing practices and circular design, to set a path towards a net positive fashion industry (1).

The new Consultation will be a multi-stakeholder project led by GFA, a non-profit organization that fosters industry collaboration on sustainability in fashion to accelerate impact, and UNEP, which will draw on the expertise of the most of the United Nations around the world. the process. Together, GFA and UNEP are inviting stakeholders and partners from across the global value chain, including brands, retailers, NGOs, manufacturers, data providers, innovators, intergovernmental organisations, policy makers and more, to share their insights on the performance indicators and milestones that the industry should strive to meet and, most importantly, assess what tools and support these actors need to take action.

The fashion and textile industry is responsible for some 300 million jobs around the world, which support vital livelihoods, but also create significant social and occupational risks for workers. Meanwhile, if the fashion industry continues on its current trajectory, it will miss the decarbonization targets required to meet the UNFCCC’s 1.5 degree pathway by 50% (2). The fashion value chain also has a significant impact on ecosystems through land use, resource use, and pollution. Progress requires a holistic path to respect planetary sustainability, provide decent work, and protect the human rights of these millions of people and their communities.

UNEP’s forthcoming report, Sustainability and Circularity in the Textile Value Chain: A Global Roadmap and the recent Global Fashion Agenda GFA Monitor report set out the priorities and actions that all key stakeholders can take towards transformation. However, this transformation will require stakeholders working together towards common goals that will reduce the impact of fashion and create positive social and environmental contributions.

“We know that tackling the complex matrix of environmental and social issues that are prevalent in the fashion industry can seem insurmountable, especially when acting in isolation, which is why we at Global Fashion Agenda recognize the unparalleled value of collaboration. We are delighted to work with UNEP and capture the broader industry direction for goals that will accelerate the advancement of the fashion industry, united in their pursuit of a net positive industry,” said Federica Marchionni, CEO of Global Fashion Diary.

Through consultation, the organizations intend to provide clarity and drive accountability by concluding a consistent, measurable, monitored and comprehensive set of targets, so that the industry can understand the current state of progress, areas What to focus on to accelerate impact and the timeframe for doing so.

“Addressing climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss requires a collaborative and holistic approach. Together with partners within the United Nations and beyond, UNEP works to ensure a just and effective transition to circularity involving all stakeholders. UNEP welcomes this unique opportunity with GFA to consult with the textile sector, including on circularity, chemicals in products, gender, worker protection and business models to ensure all voices are heard and inform the ambitions,” said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of Economics. and Industry Division.

The consultation will consist of an online survey for feedback on the goals that will be available in several languages ​​and regional workshops organized by UNEP in Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Asia, Asia Pacific and Africa.

NOTES TO EDITORS

(1) A net positive industry is one that gives back more to the natural world, to people, to societies and to the economy than it takes out. The targets to be defined by the consultation will not be directly responsible for a net positive industry, but will help define the path towards it by fostering ambitious sustainability strategies that reduce harm, but also deliver positive results for the environment and societies.

(2) Global Fashion Agenda, McKinsey & Company. (2020) Fashion in the Climate.

Learn more about the Consultation and how to participate. Feedback is welcome from now until February 2023, after which feedback analysis will be shared and aligned goals will be revealed in the GFA Fashion CEO Agenda 2023 publication at the World Fashion Summit. : Copenhagen edition in June 2023. An assessment of the industry’s progress towards these targets will be reported in future editions of The GFA Monitor from 2023.

About the Global Fashion Agenda
Global Fashion Agenda is a non-profit organization that encourages industry collaboration on sustainability in fashion to accelerate impact. With a vision of a net positive fashion industry, he drives action by mobilizing, inspiring, influencing and educating all stakeholders.

About the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
UNEP is the world’s leading voice on the environment. It provides leadership and fosters partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. Since its creation in 1972, UNEP has employed various cross-sectoral sub-programmes, specifically its work within textiles takes shape through the provision of strategic leadership and fostering collaboration across the sector to accelerate a just transition towards a chain of sustainable and circular textile value, while supporting the sound management of chemicals.

The UNEP report, Sustainability and circularity in the textile value chain: Global inventory, identified environmental and socio-economic hotspots, and mapped initiatives working to address them. Your next roadmap report defines a common transformation agenda for all value chain actors. UNEP’s textile work is based on multi-stakeholder consultation and collaboration in all regions for a holistic and inclusive approach. This includes participation in the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, an initiative of United Nations agencies and partner organizations designed to contribute holistically to the Sustainable Development Goals through coordinated action in the clothing sector. Fashion.

For more information, contact:

Keisha Rukikaire, Head of News and Media, United Nations Environment Program

Source: news.google.com