In order to combat present climate and environmental changes, many organizations and world leaders have worked on certain sustainability goals to develop and promoted by United Nations. They majorly worked on topics like pollution (air,water,land), ending poverty, gender inequality, healthcare and education.
Fashion industry is considered world’s largest employment provider, especially women, so for the improvement at certain steps industry has took initiative for the same. Certain goals are set up by the members of United Nation for sustainable market, peace and prosperity for upcoming three decades and keeping a futuristic vision for the same. There are certain sustainability goals or norms set up by the fashion industry, here are they:
- Gender equality:
Fashion and garment industry is the largest employment providers for the women especially and their rights. Mostly traditional works are carried out women and men enjoy seniority and this remains consistent at the other end of the supply chain. It is very commonly found that exploitation of women and their rights. Certain policies and norms are now being worked out to upgrade women inequality and to raise the standards.
- Economic growth:
Today sustainable goals are set up for full and productive environment. Industries have worked out for garment workers for fair wage and equality and enjoy market profits through stock broking, business percentage and banking policies.
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure:
Developing an ever-changing and stream lined infrastructure should be the goal of a sustainable and fast fashion industry. In fashion industry technology and modernism is running parallel for its up gradation. To increase efficiency human labor is majorly it is replaced by new technology and automation.
To stop this sort of discrimination fashion industries are utilizing technology in a way that growth is their major role instead of exploiting labor or manpower. Technology can progress but not on cost of jobless or increase unemployment.
- Responsible consumption and production:
Procure sustainable consumption and production patterns, brands and customers must acknowledge their roles in causing environmental and human harm. Oversupply of clothing and excess production is a big problem in the garment manufacturing industries. So there are order based or job working industries who have fixed their production criteria to stop the over production and material wastage problem. There are sustainable policies and methods to stop this.
- Climate and environment action:
Garment manufacturing and textile units are majorly considered most pollution creating industries. Uses of carbon and chemicals have made air, water and land pollution. So along with industries, government and environmentalists have developed certain policies against harming nature. Many industries have started accepting it and have also worked on sustainable goals. Consumer awareness and fashion habits have been very helpful in this or have played a major role to improvise.
- No poverty, no hunger, healthcare and education:
Many brands along with improving their supply chains have shaken hands with government and NGOs to provide labor with better living and good working environment. They have provided industries with living quarters, canteen facilities and clinics or hospitals too. They have also provided schooling for children and for women working in the industry. Certain examples are like Reliance Industries Pvt. Ltd., GRASIM international, ABGL, etc. fair wages, limited hours and well-being programs are conducted by industries now a days.
- Clean water and sanitation/ clean energy:
It has been noticed in last decade that for good fashion reckless water pollution and inhumane labor conditions are faced as a result. So strict book of rules and regulations are circulated in the industry close eye by the government is done to redesign the quality of climate, water and labor. Here recycling had been a big solution for regular pollution and excessive usage of water and energy.
Protection on restoration of eco system, land, water and air had made environment sustainable and resilient. Industries are working on washing or wash care policies for garments so that recycle of water and usage of energy can be done. Many industries have put a hold on usage of microfibers and micro plastic that is generated during washing of textiles.
- Laws and policies:
Climate injustice, labor rights violation and gender inequality had been a big issue in last decade. So as to overcome and fight the corruption certain sustainable goals and policies are developed not even by government but also by garment production industries.
Strong means of operations and fortify overall bonding for sustainable development in fashion industry.