The global fashion industry is valued at more than 2.5 trillion dollars and employs over 75 million people worldwide. The sector is an engine for economic development, but how does it align with sustainable development?
Many leading brands and fashion consortiums are increasingly concerned about the environmental and social impacts associated with the textile industry. Almost 65 percent of global fabric consumption consists of synthetic fibers derived from fossil fuels, and the majority of the remainder is made up of water- and pesticide-intensive crops.
Sustainable solutions and alternative materials are required!
Renewable and responsibly sourced forest fibers are part of the solution for a sustainable fashion industry.
Modern wood fibers can be used to produce sustainable, renewable and biodegradable textiles and a range of materials the fashion sector can use to reduce its ecological footprint. New technologies are able to convert wood pulp into fibers with a circular approach, reusing chemicals and lowering the amounts of water and energy that are required in the process of manufacturing synthetic materials.
The 'Forests4Fashion' Initiative
The Forests4Fashion initiative was launched in 2014 to promote sustainable forest management beyond the forestry sector. It aligns with the goals of the UNECE/FAO Integrated Programme of Work, which is to raise awareness about the relevance of forests and forest products and services to other sectors, such as fashion and textiles.
- Through communication and outreach activities on social media and through exhibitions and engagement with the design community, the F4F initiative aims to:
- raise awareness about the environmental and social impacts associated with textile fibre production;
- help initiate real change in the world of fashion by showcasing ways to do things differently together with all stakeholders;
- promote sustainable forest management through the use of certified wood pulp for textile fibres; and showcase the work of talented designers that have placed sustainability at the core of their designs.
Partners
- UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion
- UN Forum on Forests
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
- Citadellarte Fashion B.E.S.T.
- Zoi Environment Network
- Independent designers/brands/companies: Olistic the Label, Maria Lafuente, Tiziano Guardini
Sports Challenge
Launched in 2021, the Forests4Fashion Sports Challenge is a call to the World of Sports, including sports events' organizers, committees, athletes, sportswear brands, producers and consumers to help advance circularity and sustainability in sports, which aims to encourage the reuse of sportswear where possible, and promote the use of renewable fibres.
Contact us if you are interested in joining the challenge!
Read more about the Challenge here.
Watch the UNECE Executive Secretary's announcement here.
The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion
We are an active member of the Steering Committee of the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion in order to continue to promote the use of sustainable forest fibers in the garment sector. Members of the Steering Committee include representatives from: UNEP, the World Bank, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNOP, ILO and Global Compact. In this context, we were involved in organizing several events, including an informal policy dialogue on fashion in Moldova on 19 May 2021, a “Sustainable Fashion Hard Talk” at the High-level Political Forum on 7 July 2021, an “Alliance Talk on Women, Fashion and the SDGs” on 9 December 2021.
Find more information here.
Past Events and Activities
- UNECE launches the Forests4Fashion Sports Challenge (2021)
- Contribution to the multi-stakeholder MMCF 2030 vision in collaboration with TextileExchange and Forum for the Future (2020). The vision sets out five interrelated areas for ambitious and collaborative action along the entire lifecycle –from raw material sourcing and fibre production right through to disposal and re-use.
- World Café on Forests for Fashion during the 5th European Forest Week with Olistic the Label, PEFC, and Zoi Environment Network (2019)
- Exhibition at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, with Maria Lafuente, Olistic the Label, Citadellarte Fashion B.E.S.T., and PEFC (2019)
- Exhibition at the High-Level Political Forum in New York, with UNFF, PEFC, SFI, Maria Lafuente, Citadellarte Fashion B.E.S.T. and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh (2018)
- Production of the short movie “Made in Forests” in collaboration with Michelle Yeoh
- International Day of Forests - Forests for Fashion - Fashion for Forests with Citadellarte Fashion B.E.S.T., PEFC, and various designers (2014)
Resources
- Synthesis report on United Nations System-wide Initiatives related to Fashion (2021)
- Envisioning the future of Man-made Cellulosic Fibres (2020) by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future
- Forests for Fashion Brochure (2019)
- UN Alliance aims to put fashion on path to sustainability (2018)
- Forest for Fashion – Fashion for Forests event summary (2017)