Environmental responsibility in the clothing industry PDF

.II. DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY APPLIED TO CLOTHING INDUSTRY The Life Cycle Analysis : a 4 steps assessment process Carrying out an LCA requires an inventory of all the resources consumed and all the effects on the environment at each stage of the product's life cycle. This is a co...

.II. DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY APPLIED TO CLOTHING INDUSTRY The Life Cycle Analysis : a 4 steps assessment process Carrying out an LCA requires an inventory of all the resources consumed and all the effects on the environment at each stage of the product's life cycle. This is a complex and time-consuming analysis, for which companies generally call in specialist agencies that use the LCA methodology certified by the ISO 14040 standard. Bénédicte Trivière - 2023/24 1.II. DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY APPLIED TO CLOTHING INDUSTRY Example given during session Bénédicte Trivière - 2023/24 2.II. DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY APPLIED TO CLOTHING INDUSTRY International non-binding framework The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) was set up in 1972 during the Stockholm conference on the Environment. Since then this program has supported governments in their environmental policies and regularly warns about climate change. However, this program is not mandatory for nations The 17 Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations were adopted In 2015 by the 193 member states. They are to be achieved by 2030, but are not mandatory for nations. These 17 SDG are organised around 5 topics (the 5 « P ») ▪ Planet: to protect the planet from degradation ▪ People: to end poverty and hunger ▪ Prosperity: to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives ▪ Peace: to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies ▪ Partnership: to mobilize the means required to implement this Agenda Bénédicte Trivière - 2023/24 3.II. DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY APPLIED TO CLOTHING INDUSTRY International regulatory framework Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) signed by 184 countries in 1973 regulates the international trade of endangered wild animal and plant species. 40900 wild species including 16% animals and 84% plants are listed and classified in 3 categories (called Appendix) according to the level of risk of extinction due to their trade : ▪ Appendix I : 3% of species including 15% animals and 85% plants : Endangered species → trade prohibited ▪ Appendix II : 96% of species including 65% animals and 35% plants : Species not immediately endangered but could become so → trade restricted → Quota set by the country of origin + export licence following the product from its country of origin until the end customer ▪ Appendix III : 1% of species including 95% animals and 5% plants : Species not immediately endangered but for which a particular country of origin requires trade restriction → Same rules as Appendix II (quota + export licence) Bénédicte Trivière - 2023/24 4.II. DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY APPLIED TO CLOTHING INDUSTRY European regulatory framework Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Autorisation of Chemicals) controls the entry into the EU of harmful substances. To comply with REACH regulation a product sold in the EU market must not contain any of these harmfull substances listed by REACH or must contain only the maximum percentage authorised by REACH. As a result, a clothing brand selling in the European Union must systematically request a REACH compliance certificate from the suppliers of each component of its product (fabrics, buttons, zips, etc.). Bénédicte Trivière - 2024/2025 5.II. DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY APPLIED TO CLOTHING INDUSTRY European regulatory framework In 2022, the European Union launched its European Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles , setting targets to be reached by 2030. This strategy has led to the entry into force of a large number of regulations, directives and assessment tools that provide an increasingly strict framework for the textile industry , with the aim of reducing the sector's impact on the environment. Main directives currently being implemented are : The CSRD requires largest companies to report The ESPR prohibits the destruction of unsold each year on their sustainability practices textiles and soon will requires a Digital Product and performance through the ESG reporting Passport (DPP) : that will give customers all (Environmental, Social and corporate relevant information on the environmental impact of Governance data) the product The CSDD makes largest companies The PEF regulation will requires companies to responsible for the respect of the use the same harmonized LCA method environment and human rights throughout certified by European authorities their supply chain, from raw materials to product distribution Bénédicte Trivière - 2024/2025 6