Fashion is an important part of our lifestyles: we use it to express who we are, for work, sport and leisure. The fashion industry is an important economic sector, providing hundreds of thousands of jobs in highly globalised value chains.
Fashion is also one of the most linear, fossil-based sectors, producing large negative environmental and social impacts. Almost two thirds of all textiles are based on fossil plastics, recycling is almost inexistent and most of our clothes end up in a landfill after very few uses. If we continue like this, and with global demand for fashion soaring, the fashion industry will be responsible for 25% of all carbon emissions and 20 million tons of microplastics ending up in the oceans.
The good news is that forest resources can help! A new generation of cellulose-based textiles can replace fossil counterparts. As a bio-based product they reduce carbon emissions, can be more easily recycled, and are totally biodegradable, avoiding the emission of micro-plastics. This includes sustainable produced viscose, and an emerging new generation of cellulose textiles. What’s more, as demand for printing paper plummets in a digital world, the cellulose used for textiles may not increase the demand on wood.
The European Man-Made Fibers Association explains what we need to reach a full circular economy in fibres and textiles
Lenzing improved chemical process and closed cycles to guarantee the sustainable production of cellulose-based fibres and created a large portfolio of bio-textiles.
Transforming wood into bio-based textile fibres has the potential to make the fashion industry more sustainable
Learn how Changing Markets Foundation is working with fashion leaders to guarantee sustainable and responsible cellulose-based textiles!
For fashion to thrive in the future, we must design a circular economy for clothes. The fashion industry should design products to be: used more; made to be made again; made from safe and recycled or renewable inputs.
UPM and Dongsung Chemical announce a development partnership that will accelerate the introduction of renewable, sustainable forest-sourced materials into the