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30 major textile groups representing 147 brands have revealed their "Fashion Pact" in Biarritz, France, to reduce their environmental impact.
The fashion industry is one of the most polluting markets in the world. A triple commitment at the heart of this new collective initiative to try to stem the 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the 500,000 tons of plastic microfibers, and the hundred thousand liters of pesticides generated every year by the sector.
the 45th G7 summit took place in Biarritz on 24th to 26th of august, the French president Emmanuel Macron has invited the Elysee representatives of 32 main actors in fashion to present their “Fashion pact”. Representing about 150 brands, the writing was signed by Hermes, KERING (Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga), Adidas, Burberry, Nike or Inditex (Zara, Stradivarius).
The French President has requested the French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, Leader of Kering group, to mobilize the fashion and luxury goods industry, which has an annual turnover of 1,500 billion.
The secretary of State for the French Minister of Ecological Transition, Brune Poirson declared to Echos newspaper “this is the first time that the textile industry is interested in preserving biodiversity and nature.” “It's a world premiere that so many companies in the fashion world coming together around a common goal".
The main missions consist of "mitigate and adapt to climate change," "bend the curve of biodiversity loss within 10 years" and protect the oceans, with few targets: 100 % of renewables by 2030 "throughout the supply chain" or "eliminate disposable plastic by 2030".
Kering declared "each group has his commitment charter", and another meeting will be planned for October to "instore in detail the way to work together, and priority actions". Kering précised “the textile groups will report annually”.
To verify the companies involvement, the French Minister of Ecological Transition declared "influencers on social media and NGOs will be very vigilant on the possible gap between speeches and acts to push them to play the game, the effects on their reputation may be violent if not”.
However, Kering specified that “relocating clothing production closer to consumers is not on the agenda of this pact”. “Neither a questioning of fast fashion and the multiplication of collections”.  Already criticized for its impact on the environment.
Pierre Cannet from World Wildlife Fund France has mentioned: "We had a doubling between 2000 and 2014 of clothing consumption in the world, the trend should continue with a craze for fast fashion in Asia and an explosion in the use of synthetic fibers”. He also warns "If it's a matter of selling more and putting renewable energies, it will not be enough. We have to review the model, reduce production, make clothes that can be used longer, that no longer emit micro-plastics when we wash them and produced sustainably."
Sources: Luxe.net, l’Express