Sustainable Development Goal 12
One of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), responsible consumption and production, aims to ensure sustainable patterns of consumption and production. This SDG acknowledges the need for a transformation away from the current linear model of production and consumption, where resources are harvested, consumed, and disposed of.
Responsible consumption and production, one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strives to ensure sustainable patterns of consumption and production. The current linear model of production and consumption, in which resources are harvested, used up, and then disposed of, must be transformed, as this SDG admits.
Responsible production and consumption habits can also be influenced by individual activities. Customers can cut down on their use of natural resources by choosing products that are energy-efficient, reducing trash, and purchasing goods created from sustainable materials. When products reach the end of their useful lives, consumers can recycle them or dispose of them responsibly in addition to repairing or reusing them.
Fast fashion
The phrase "fast fashion" refers to the widespread production of inexpensive, stylish apparel that is swiftly discarded after only a few wears. Due to its involvement in waste generation, pollution, and resource depletion, this industry has a considerable negative influence on the environment. Sustainable consumption and production patterns are key component of SDG 12 and are essential for tackling the detrimental effects of fast fashion.
The fast fashion industry operates on a linear model of production and consumption, where clothing is designed, produced, and disposed of in a short period. This model relies on exploiting workers in low-wage countries, excessive resource use, and creating enormous amounts of waste.
Fast fashion has a severe negative influence on the environment. The making of clothing contributes to the release of greenhouse gases, the contamination of water, and the depletion of natural resources. The fashion sector is the second-largest consumer of water globally and 10% of the world's carbon emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Additionally, the fast fashion sector has detrimental social effects. Most women working in low-wage countries are frequently put in long hours under risky circumstances for meagre remuneration. They are denied access to unionisation rights and secure working conditions, among other fundamental human rights. The industry also encourages individuals to buy more than they need, perpetuating a culture of overconsumption that results in the wasteful disposal of perfectly good clothing.
A substantial change towards sustainable consumption and production patterns is required to overcome these problems. This necessitates a shift to a circular economy, where materials are reused, recycled, or repurposed to cut down on waste and resource depletion.
The environmental effects of rapid fashion can be addressed with the help of the circular economy concept. This paradigm aims to keep products and materials in use, reduce waste and pollution, and restore natural systems. The fashion industry may use the circular model to utilize recycled or sustainable materials, develop simple goods to disassemble and reuse, and set up closed-loop production systems.
Sustainable business practises are already being incorporated into the business strategies of several fashion companies. For instance, H&M has started a worldwide clothing collecting effort where customers may drop off unwanted or outdated clothing to be recycled or reused. In its collections, luxury clothing company Stella McCartney only makes use of eco-friendly materials including organic cotton, recycled polyester, and vegan leather.
Responsible production and consumption habits can also be influenced by individual activities. Customers have the option of purchasing apparel created from eco-friendly materials like organic cotton or recycled polyester or used clothing. By mending, donating, or selling goods they no longer require, consumers can also extend the life of their clothing.
In conclusion, tackling the negative effects of rapid fashion requires responsible consumption and manufacturing habits. A foundation for developing a sustainable fashion sector that benefits society and the environment is provided by the circular economy model. We can all contribute to encouraging ethical consumption and production habits by promoting sustainable fashion brands and making thoughtful buying decisions.