only 6% According to an analysis conducted by Finwatch, all clothing brands and retailers adopting so-called science-based climate targets, in line with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, take all emissions into account. It became clear that I put it in the .
Finland’s corporate responsibility watchdog reported last month that only 10 of the 182 companies it analyzed had passed the toughest scrutiny. This means that companies’ emission reduction targets are in line with his 1.5 degree target and include a wide range of measures to reduce emissions across the value chain. .
“If there are major flaws in the pledges of the most progressive companies, it doesn’t seem likely that emissions from the industry will decline quickly enough,” it commented. Lasse LeiporaFinnwatch’s climate expert.
“To solve the climate crisis, we need to cut all emissions quickly and reliably,” he stressed.
Finnish clothing manufacturers and retailers included in the survey included Marimekko, Reima, Stockmann and Tokmanni.
The fashion and textiles industry is estimated to be responsible for 4-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Most of the emissions come from the production processes that many major brands outsource. According to Finnwatch, the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative provides considerable leeway for calculating emissions. This fact is “unfortunately often” used by companies.
For example, standards can be met by committing to involve some subcontractors in initiatives rather than actually reducing emissions. Companies can also set emission reduction targets as a percentage of certain business metrics such as revenue or production volume. This means that as your business grows your emissions will not decrease fast enough.
Reducing emissions from production can be challenging as it requires cooperation with subcontractors.
While Finwatch believes the initiative is a useful tool for achieving base-level climate targets, despite the freedom provided by the initiative, companies are encouraged to pursue the same reduction targets across their value chains. I stressed that we need to adopt.
“By setting stringent targets that also cover emissions from subcontractors, it will be easier for companies to justify to their partners why they need to reduce their emissions.” argues Leipola.
Finnwatch said that in a context where the 1.5-degree target carbon budget is set to dry up in a few years, a target that fails to account for the majority of emissions with its partners is simply inadequate.
“The fashion and textile industries have realized the enormous strain on the climate and the environment, but acted too late. Decision makers must therefore act now. must oblige companies to change their operating models in line with the 1.5 degree target,” emphasized Leipora.
“Careful planning of climate action in the fashion and textile industries is needed to ensure that the transition is fair for vulnerable producing countries as well.”
In the meantime, consumers have to follow one simple rule, according to Watchdog. It’s about buying new clothes much less frequently and repairing and recycling old clothes for as long as possible.
Alexi Teiweinen – HT
