All that glitters is not gold. Behind the charm of elegance, sophistication and exclusivity that hovers over fashion brands, as well as sustainability and environmental reconversion projects implemented in recent years, there are data and figures that are difficult to quantify. Brands spend billions of dollars every year to convince customers to buy more and more products that are being sent to landfill at an increasing rate. BUT disposable spasmodic mechanismEncouraged by the transfer of labor to poorer countries where safeguards are lacking, production costs are lower, factories produce highly polluting emissions, and toxic substances are dumped into waterways.
All this, however, is impossible to keep track of, as Fashion Transparency Index, analysis tool transparency of the supply chain of the largest fashion houses. Published for the first time in 2016, it is based on certain criteria, including the protection of human rights, the environment, social impact, and finally supply chain transparency. This year, the average score for the 250 companies ranked in the Fashion Transparency Index was just 24%. (Brands are valued at about 250 possible points, which are then converted into percentages). Mass retailers OVS, Kmart Australia and Target Australia top the list with 78% each, followed by H&M, North Face and Timberland with 66%. Unfortunately, however, almost a third of companies score less than 10%, and even the most virtuous brands fail to disclose some important data that would help understand, for example, how these brands actually think about achieving their ambitious goals. position yourself in terms of sustainability.
A stance that is becoming increasingly unsustainable as the time to reach climate targets shortens and authorities tighten control of the sector by cracking down on greenwashing. Currently, the industry lacks reliable data on key issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, production volumes, water pollution and working conditions. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess progress and accountability for real change. This is not only an ethical issue, but also an economic one: it is now unthinkable to believe that we can attract investments in non-transparent companies. Greater transparency does not in itself mean solving all the environmental and social problems of fashion, but it certainly represents an excellent starting point.
According to Boph Liv Simpliciano, head of policy and research at Fashion Revolution, transparency is “the bare minimum.” “We are in a climate crisis. There is a crisis of inequality. Really scary things happen in the world every day and we don’t have time to really show the chains of responsibility.”
Source: Elle