SUSTAINABILITY IN THE APPAREL INDUSTRY

The apparel industry has one of the worst emissions and overall carbon footprint records of any sector. Apparel and footwear production currently accounts for 8.1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, or as much as the total climate impact of the entire European Union. The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of all water pollution worldwide. Under the scrutiny that these facts bring, many firms in the industry have resolved to adapt to a more sustainable model of production, with the commitment to lower their carbon footprint, reduce waste, and become more energy-efficient, with some adopting renewable energy as their primary source.  The goals of this research project include the following: 1) to develop an understanding of sustainable practices in the apparel industry through research into three specific companies practices 2) to understand the motives behind creating a sustainable apparel business through conducting semi-structured interviews with apparel business owners and finally 3) to survey two different age groups to determine how much more they would pay to purchase clothing made through sustainable practices. The results of the survey showed that a large majority of young people indicated a strong concern for the environmental impact of their buying choices, but a smaller number indicated that this concern actually factors into their buying habits. It may actually benefit apparel firms to be known for being in the sustainability business.