ZW Live! webinar – “Beyond circular fashion – Why we need to end overproduction”
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The current model of fast fashion is one of the main drivers of overconsumption, resource depletion and social exploitation.
Legislative initiatives aimed at restructuring the sector – like the EU strategy for sustainable textiles – focus on more sustainable products via eco-design rules and waste management of textile products. However, during the last decades, the use of cheap synthetic fibres has been fueling the current business model based on overproduction, combined with limited accountability for negative environmental and social impacts.
This overproduction represents the biggest environmental impact of the fashion sector, way ahead of the impact of end-of-life management. Since overproduction is a systemic feature of a growth-dependent business model, it becomes apparent that the current legislative measures and the latest EU textiles strategy leave this most significant point unaddressed.
Building on the best practices in the European market, Zero Waste Europe has identified four criteria which, when applied simultaneously, could be considered as key to identifying a virtuous business model: 1. Design for physical and emotional durability; 2. Demand-driven production to phase out unsolds and discounts; 3. Full supply chain transparency and traceability post-sale; 4. Extending the use-phase after first ownership.
With this webinar we opened the discussion about our recent ‘Beyond circular fashion’ report with stakeholders from business and academia and particularly go into greater depth to answer these key questions:
- What does a sustainable fashion business model look like?
- What challenges do sustainable businesses face?
- How can governments and legislation support the transition?
Re-watch the webinar
Speakers
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Julia FaureCEO and co-founder of Loom -
Anna HärriDoctoral researcher at LUT University -
Theresa MörsenWaste & Resources Policy Officer at Zero Waste Europe -
Moderator - Joan Marc SimonDirector-Founder at Zero Waste Europe