Colin Browne

Opinion | On climate change, stitch in time from clothing industry would save nine

With emissions from the textile and apparel industry set to surge, brands and suppliers must speed up efforts to decarbonise

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Workers sew at a garment company in Zunhua, Hebei province, on January 3. Photo: Xinhua

Colin Browne

Published: 5:45pm, 14 Oct 2024Updated: 12:20pm, 15 Oct 2024

As policymakers and businesses around the world prepare for Cop29, the major United Nations climate conference in November, the whole consumer goods industry must rise to the climate challenge. With new data showing a stark concentration of textile and apparel industry emissions in nine countries – including China, the world’s largest exporter of clothing – we must direct action to where it matters most.

Leaders across the global value chain for apparel, footwear, textiles and other associated sectors must step up to help keep our planet habitable. Let’s face it. No company can thrive unless the people and places around them are thriving. The intertwined relationship between business, society and the environment is clear, and it’s an even clearer call to action.

In my early career, I saw the first-hand effects of my sourcing decisions at various companies from VF Corporation to Reebok and Li & Fung. It inspired me to change course and get behind the impact work.

Our industry isn’t yet going far enough, fast enough. As outlined by Apparel Impact Institute, the industry’s emissions are on track to surge 40 per cent by 2030, exceeding 1.2 metric gigatons.

We need a rapid response. Current fragmented efforts and outdated practices aren’t working; the industry needs a unified approach. We have set a 45 per cent, industry-wide emissions reduction target, in line with the Paris Agreement, and around 60 per cent of our members have committed or are in the process of committing to science-based targets.

That’s good – but not enough. We have to get the consumer goods industry’s carbon emissions not only falling, but plummeting rapidly downwards with the speed that we, our planet and future generations need. And this can only be done through focused, strategic action, not just “doing more” as individual brands, manufacturers and suppliers. With the clock ticking, it’s vital to concentrate on doing more together, where it matters most.