Less than 4% of firms that are members of the British Fashion Council have set any kind of emissions reduction objective, according to a recent research by the Collective Fashion Justice.
Designers without an aim for climate change include Victoria Beckham, JW Anderson, and Richard Quinn. According to Irish News, it was discovered that Roksanda, the Princess of Wales' preferred dress designer, does not have any set environmental goals.
Emissions of greenhouse gases from the fashion business account for up to 12% of global emissions. The analysis shows how much work still has to be done in order to reach the net-zero emissions target by 2050, despite numerous British fashion firms pledging to take action.
The report states that the British fashion sector has not yet sufficiently addressed some important areas of improvement. For example, 38% of industrial greenhouse gas emissions are linked to the manufacture of irresponsible raw materials, especially those sourced from ruminant animals and fossil fuels.
It's no secret that genuine leather, fur, and cashmere have long been associated with luxury in fashion. The atrocities of utilizing these materials obtained from animals have been made clear by animal rights groups, yet the effects on the environment are frequently disregarded.
The primary source of anthropogenic methane (32%) and 16.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions is the breeding of animals for food and fashion, according to the report.
"Plant-based substitutes have much lower environmental effects. For instance, MIRUM material, which performs similarly to leather, has a carbon footprint per kilogram that is roughly 52 times smaller than that of traditional cow skin leather."
Many small and independent fashion firms aspire to expand globally, and London Fashion Week provides a fantastic platform for these emerging designers.
Nonetheless, the CFJ report points out that "degrow" is one of the few essential strategies for combating climate change.
"Fashion will not be sustainable if it persists in producing an excessive number of products, consuming more than our finite planet can replenish, regardless of the materials or energy sources used."
The paper states, "The UK is the third largest footwear and apparel market in the world after China and the US. Some experts suggest that the industry must reduce in size fourfold in order to stay within planetary boundaries." Any worthwhile climate aim must include reducing the amount and scale of production and consumption.
It appears that when it comes to taking environmental responsibility, London Fashion Week designers still have a long way to go.
According to the study, the first step should be for the businesses to establish and release science-based goals for reducing their emissions, along with thorough strategies outlining how they intend to reach those goals. Maybe this research will force London Fashion Week to pull in its sustainability ties a little more.