Paving the Ground for Biodiversity-Positive Transformative Change in Fashion

Who doesn’t want to be pretty and fashionable? That’s what the fashion industry is for! But everything comes at a price—one we don’t pay at the checkout, but through the overuse of the planet’s resources, the loss of biodiversity, and growing social inequalities.

Understanding the situation

Recently, researchers from University of Pisa published a detailed analysis in the International Journal of the Commons, presenting their scientific findings on the global operation of the fashion industry. The analysis provides an overview of the entire sector and its impact on biodiversity and social inequalities: from raw material production through manufacturing and trade, to consumption, and finally to the end of a product’s life cycle—namely the generation and treatment of textile waste.

The article reveals how the fashion industry affects our environment and what social inequalities it causes both locally and globally. It highlights which areas are most severely impacted, what the main drivers are that make fashion one of the most polluting industries today, and what barriers stand in the way of transformation.

Moving toward solutions

The authors do not propose instant, easily adaptable fixes that would solve all the global problems caused by the fashion industry in one stroke. However, identifying the above factors provides a sound, science-based foundation for social, policy, and industry-wide dialogue on transforming the fashion sector.

The full analysis can be read here.

Although a biodiversity-friendly fashion industry is still a long way off, there are already good examples out there. Interest in the issue is growing, and more and more producers and manufacturers committed to sustainable fashion are emerging.

Check out UNIPI’s exciting and inspiring videos on the topic as well!