August 2019 – We know that in the great challenge to climate change the private sector plays a priority role, and we also know that the great environmental challenge cannot be faced by a single subject. An unprecedented collective action is needed, able to guide the real change that our Planet needs.
The pact signed by as many as 32 international fashion greats, from luxury to fast fashion, from textiles to distribution, and wanted strongly by the French president Macron who, on the eve of the G7, entrusted François-Henri Pinault, president and CEO of the group Kering, always at the forefront of sustainability, brings together the largest fashion companies to involve them in a collective project to safeguard the planet.
The Fashion Pact represents a first great common effort to increase the collaboration between private companies and national states and to favor the transition towards a sustainable economic model, the 32 signatories declared in fact to want to enroll at least 20% of the fashion industry at a global level in their effort. “We only have 11 years left to stop irreversible climate change,” reads the G7 Fashion Pact, and it really takes an unprecedented effort.
The fashion industry contributes about 10% of global emissions of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, due to long supply chains and energy-intensive production. This sector today consumes more energy than aviation and shipping combined. The practices of change in the fashion sector to reduce carbon emissions are therefore fundamental to limit the heating foreseen by the objectives of the Paris agreement on climate change.
The objectives of Fashion Pact are based on the international Science Based Target initiative born with the intention of being able to guide companies in defining ambitious climate change mitigation objectives to ensure that their Climate Action is in line with scientific objectives , and there are mainly three areas identified as necessary for safeguarding our planet in the pact presented during the G7 in Biarritz:
- halt global warming, creating and implementing an action plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in order to keep global warming below 1.5 ° C;
- safeguard biodiversity, achieving the objectives set by the parameters established by the SBT initiative, to restore natural ecosystems and protect species;
- protect the oceans, reducing the negative impact of the fashion industry through concrete initiatives, such as the gradual reduction of disposable plastic.
The 32 companies that signed the Fashion Pact: Adidas, Burberry, Bestseller, Capri Holdings Limited (Versace, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo), Chanel, Ermenegildo Zegna, Carrefoyr, Everybody & Everyone, Fashion3, Fung Group, Galeries Lafayette, Gap, Giorgio Armani, H&M Group, Hermes, Inditex, Karl Lagerfeld, Kering, La Redoute, Matchesfashion.com, Moncler, Nike, Nordstrom, Prada Group, Ralph Lauren, Puma, Pvh (Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger), Ruyi, Salvatore Ferragamo, Selfridges Group Stella McCartney, Tapestry.
