Less microplastic pollution with sustainable fashion

Just how environmentally damaging is the global fashion industry? According to a 2019  UN report, it is the second most polluting industry in the world. Manufacturing of clothing, textiles and shoes accounts for 8 to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions – more than the emissions from shipping and air traffic combined. It also consumes 93 billion litres of water each year, equivalent to the annual water need for 5 million people.

The picture gets even bleaker when microplastics are added to the mix. These extremely small plastic fragments or fibres find their way into the marine environment and accumulate in the food chain. Over 1.5 million metric tons of microplastics are being released into the ocean each year – and 35 per cent of this comes from the fashion industry.

This is largely due to the use of polyester, which is made from petroleum-based fibres. When polyester clothes are worn, washed and thrown away, they shed microfibres, which eventually end up in the sea.

The good news is that there is growing awareness among consumers and manufacturers alike about how detrimental the fashion industry is – particularly when it comes to microplastic marine pollution. More stringent environmental standards are being introduced throughout the entire value chain, and many companies are incorporating sustainability into their business strategy.

Read on to learn what key Norwegian fashion players are doing to reduce their footprint.

One thing is certain: fashion industry practices need to change. Otherwise, we will not be able to meet global emission reduction targets or keep the oceans free of plastic.

Gisle Mariani Mardal – Head of Development at NF & TA and a long-time proponent of sustainability – shares his take on these issues.

At the heart of the problem, according to Mardal, is “fast fashion”, where cheap clothes are used briefly before being thrown away. It is a rapidly growing problem. Compared with 15 years ago, the average global citizen buys 60 per cent more clothing and wears the clothing only half as long.

“To solve this problem, we must reduce production volume and increase the use of the clothes we buy. Research also shows that an average person wears an item up to four times. By simply doubling this use, we can reduce the item’s environmental footprint by 49 per cent,” he says.

Nina Skarra, a Norwegian sustainable fashion pioneer, designer and founder of Nina Skarra MedlemSKAP, agrees.

“We have to stop thinking that we can attain sustainability in the business models used by the cheap fashion chains, with high volume at low cost. Regardless of how you twist and turn it, it will not be sustainable.”

“Focus must be placed on creating new business models where profitability is the result of design, technology, production, and ethical and environmental sustainability,” she says.

“There are tremendous opportunities for companies that are taking sustainability seriously and beginning to pave the way for the use patterns of the future,” she adds.

“To solve this problem, we must reduce production volume and increase the use of the clothes we buy. Research also shows that an average person wears an item up to four times. By simply doubling this use, we can reduce the item’s environmental footprint by 49 per cent,” she says.

Although the problem seems straightforward, the solution is complex. Changing consumer attitudes is important, but we will not get far by giving people a guilty conscience. In addition, it’s difficult for buyers to make informed choices: the value chains in the fashion industry are hard to trace and there is little transparency.

Tom Wood offers both responsible jewellery and low-impact clothing. Founder Mona Jensen describes several concrete steps manufacturers can take to become more sustainable:

“A number of clothing brands release collections that are way too big in terms of styles and volume. And many companies, for instance, use recycled materials without knowing whether the rest of the production process is sustainable or whether the quality of the final product will be good enough. This is a new issue about which there is far too little knowledge and experience.”

Jensen explains that Tom Wood releases only two clothing collections each year, with relatively few pieces in each collection. By building on a classic design year after year, the company can use the same piece in multiple collections. It is therefore not dependent on producing a large volume of new clothing each year and it can help to relieve the pressure on consumers to follow trends.

“We use only high-quality, durable materials, and work as much as possible with natural materials, although they cost more,” she says.

Norwegian trainer manufacturer New Movements is another example of how fashion can become sustainable. The company’s mission is to make trainersign that last from recyclable materials. The company also has a recycling programme where customers can return their worn-out shoes and receive a discount for a new pair. Meaning, New Movements will reuse the materials to make new shoes.

Norwegian company Nofir, meanwhile, has developed a system for large-scale collection of plastic fishing nets and ropes. Each year, it collects some 7 000 metric tons of raw material for recycling. Among other products, this plastic is used to manufacture ECONYL®, a strong nylon yarn that can be used in clothing, carpets and other textiles. The yarn is used by global luxury brands such as Burberry, Prada and Stella McCartney.

These are just some of the ways Norwegian companies are working to reduce the negative impacts of clothing and shoe manufacturing, including microplastic marine pollution.