Other than oil, fashion and textiles is the most polluting industry in the world. Each stage of making an item of clothing, pollutes the planet and uses its resources. Around 8,000 different chemicals are used to turn raw materials into clothes and wasted materials is often discarded in giant landfills. The fast paced and growing fashion industry is threatening the plane and action needs to be taken to make clothing more sustainable. If brands continue to pollute that planet at the current rate. The damage could be so affecting the future of the fashion industry would be uncertain.
Sustainable fashion is all about creating clothing, shoes and accessories in an environmentally friendly way. Brands are also not only trying to be sustainable environmentally, but also socially with workers factory usage.
In 2013, Primark commenced a ‘Sustainable Cotton Programme’ which was in partnership with cotton connect and the Self-Employed Woman’s Association. The programme was formed focusing on the Indian region to produce more sustainable cotton and to help woman get jobs while doing so. Cotton connect are a company who have developed a way and specialise in growing cotton is a more sustainably, by using less chemicals and fertilisers to produce cotton in bulk. The programme started off as three years, but was extended to six due to its success. Primark focused on using woman farmers who were unemployed to empower them for having a job and for producing cotton in a sustainable way and helping the planet.
In three years, the programme was a great success. Compared to normal cotton farmers, the Sustainable cotton programme was using 40% less fertiliser, 44% lest pesticides and 10% less water. The training of the farmers has also helped woman to improve their livelihoods with higher profits from buying less chemicals. For a long term goal, Primark has said they want to ensure all the cotton in its supply chain is sustainably and responsibly sourced.
Without the development and founding of Cotton Connect and a new sustainable growing method, the reduced emissions would not have been possible. Primark now as a brand are promoting this to other retailers in the industry for everyone to get involved.