Fashions change, Forests stay: How sustainable forest management can help the fashion industry reduce its carbon footprint
Fashions change, Forests stay: How sustainable forest management can help the fashion industry reduce its carbon footprint
Fashion event
It is now widely recognised by the business community that consumers expect brands to be environmentally friendly. According to a recent Nielsen study, 73% worldwide would change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment.
Corporations are increasingly expected to play their part, with carbon reduction strategies to support the Paris Agreement goal to keep global warming well below 2°C and as close to 1.5°C as possible.
Across the world, the fashion industry is responding.
Encouragingly, around 250 brands have signed up to the Fashion Pact, pledging to take actions consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C and a “just transition” to achieve net zero by 2050.
They specifically recognise the importance of maintaining natural forests and restoring ecosystems through their supply chains, as well as the role of lower impact materials, such as PEFC-certified man-made cellulosic fibre (MMCF).
This webinar illustrated how different stakeholders are tackling this issue and helped the audience to better understand the role of forests in mitigating climate change, the value of sustainable forest management, and how responsibly sourced forest products – MMCF, packaging and rubber – can support your sustainability goals.
Watch the webinar recording:
The speakers
The session was moderated by Deepa Hingorani, Fashion Sustainability Consultant.
| Joël Mertens, Director of the Higg Product Tools, Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) |
As Director of SAC, Joël is responsible for developing tools to help the apparel and footwear industry measure and understand the environmental impacts of products and materials. The Higg Material Sustainability Index (MSI) and Product Module (PM) simplify the life cycle assessment process to characteristics that are more familiar to material and product developers, enabling confident impact measurement and assisting in strategic planning. |
| Leonie Meier, Associate Economic Affairs Officer, UNECE/FAO |
| Leonie is an Associate Economic Affairs Officer at UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and will explain what role forests play in climate change mitigation and what are the global polices and trends in this space. |
| Ana Belén Noriega Bravo, National Secretary of PEFC Spain |
| Ana Belén will share the insights on sustainable forestry and how PEFC standards contribute to climate change mitigation. Anna will also share information on some of the carbon projects PEFC is working on. |
| Shailja Dubé, Institute of Positive Fashion Programme (IPF) Manager, British Fashion Council |
Shailja is responsible for the strategy and delivery of the British Fashion Council’s commitment to help the UK fashion industry transition to a just economy, with transformative impact on key social and environmental issues. Shailja is passionate about creating systems-level change to an equitable and responsible fashion economy. She worked as Responsible Retail lead at Accenture focusing on the intersection of sustainability and business in the fashion, luxury, and wider retail sectors. |
| Andrés Fernández, Head of Sourcing, MANGO |
| Andrés started at Mango as Woven Ladies’ Buyer and later became Head of Buying for the Men’s division. Andrés fields of expertise are fashion buying and business management. He studied Mechanical Engineering at UPC Barcelona and holds an MBA from IESE Business School. MANGO has joined UNFCCC Fashion Pact and the fashion group is working toward 100% sustainable packaging, 100% sustainable cotton and 50% recycled polyester by 2025, and 100% cellulose fibres of controlled origin by 2030, in addition to a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the same year. |
Industry Organisation (TBC), will give an overview of the industry’s trends and joint actions towards the reducing its carbon footprint and with special focus on MMCF.