With climate change becoming a growing concern, the fashion industry has come under the microscope for its unsustainable practices. The fashion industry contributed 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2018 which is 4% of the global total. Based on recent studies, the industry is on a path of exceeding the 1.5- degree pathway set by the IPCC and that was affirmed in the Paris Agreement 2015. To tackle GHG emissions in the industry, abatement steps have been proposed by the experts which includes operational changes and upcycling strategies. Brands have undertaken the post-consumer upcycling initiative with the wearable waste through the take back schemes. These schemes are further popularized by Gen Z with channels of thrift shopping and product afterlife enhancement.
Why- The fashion industry needs to change its practices to stay in the 1.5-degree pathway and this gives push to the need of awareness regarding sustainable initiatives. Aswe look towards a greener tomorrow in the fashion industry, the brands and major fashion houses need to implement sustainable strategies in their process to suit the changing consumer needs.