Deforestation - How many trees are in my clothes?
I wanted to write about fabrics made from wood pulp, marketed as sustainable solutions and alternatives to traditional textiles like cotton or polyester, but … the reality is more complex.
It turned out that about 30% of rayon and viscose come from pulp sourced from endangered and ancient forests. The sheer scale of the industry compounds the issue - 120 million trees disappear into clothing every year.
Despite growing awareness of these issues, the commitment of major brands to zero deforestation practices remains relatively low. Only a small percentage of brands have made public commitments to sourcing wood pulp sustainably and preventing deforestation in their supply chains. Furthermore, even among those brands that have made commitments, transparency and accountability regarding their progress are lacking.
Sources: Fashion Revolution
“We need fashion brands to take a stand and be transparent about the origin and traceability of their products: where what we consume comes from’”
Fashion brands have a responsibility to address their role in deforestation and adopt more sustainable practices throughout their supply chains. This includes sourcing materials from certified sustainable sources, implementing transparency measures, and supporting initiatives aimed at forest conservation and restoration.
Responsible land use
- considering broader land use implications, such as converting natural ecosystems to plantations or agricultural land. It seeks to minimise negative impacts on biodiversity, water resources, and local communities.
Protecting endangered and ancient forests
- avoiding sourcing wood pulp from endangered or ecologically sensitive forests, including ancient and primary ones. This requires careful mapping and monitoring of sourcing areas to identify and protect high conservation value forests.
Transparency and reporting
- providing transparent reporting on their wood pulp sourcing practices, including the percentage of certified or responsibly sourced fibre in their products, progress toward sustainability goals, and efforts to address any gaps or challenges in their supply chains.
Stakeholder engagement
- engaging with stakeholders, including local communities, indigenous peoples, NGOs, and government agencies, is essential for ensuring that sourcing practices respect land rights, cultural values, and traditional knowledge.
Many consumers are unaware of the environmental impact of the clothing they buy or the link between fashion and deforestation.
The issue of deforestation in the fashion industry is a significant concern with far-reaching environmental impacts.
Clear-cutting forests for raw materials without adequate reforestation efforts is crucial for the degradation of the environment, biodiversity decline, disruption of ecosystems, endangerment of wildlife and plant species, and climate change - trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, and their removal contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
This situation underscores the importance of consumer awareness and advocacy in promoting sustainable practices within the fashion industry.
By supporting brands that prioritise ethical sourcing and transparency, consumers can help drive positive change and encourage greater accountability throughout the supply chain.
Additionally, increased pressure on companies to disclose their progress and take meaningful action can further incentivize industry-wide improvements in sustainability practices.
