Under the auspices of UN Climate Change, fashion stakeholders worked during 2018 to identify ways in which the broader textile, clothing and fashion industry can move towards a holistic commitment to climate action. They created the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action which contains the vision to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Fashion Industry Charter was launched at COP24 in Katowice, Poland, in December 2018 and renewed at COP26 in Glasgow, UK, in November 2021 .
More than 100 brands, including Adidas, American Eagle, Burberry, Chanel, Esprit, Guess, Gap Inc. Hugo Boss, H&M Group, Inditex, Levi Strauss & Co., Puma SE, PVH Corp., Target, Kmart, Lululemon, Mango, Ralph Lauren and leading membership organizations, including Business for Social Responsibility, Sustainable Apparel Coalition, China National Textile and Apparel Council, Outdoor Industry Association and Textile Exchange; global logistics company Maersk; and global NGO WWF International have committed to implementing or supporting the 16 principles and targets that underpin the Fashion Climate Charter.
Key points of the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter
- Hitting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and halving greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2019 levels by 2030.
- Materials such as cotton, viscose, polyester, wool and leather must have a low climate impact by 2030, meaning they must be recycled in a closed loop, and are deforestation-free, land conversion-free, and produced using regenerative practices.
- Phasing out coal from owned and supplier sites as soon as possible and by 2030 latest. There should be no new coal power by January 2023 at the latest.
