The Climate Of Business #134: $5tn of climate financing, 7 out of 9 planetary boundaries breached, UK's growing food emissions

Climate Change Reality

• Marine heatwaves 'spreading like wildfires,' warn experts (Euronews )
• Deadly flood losses mount as insurers and governments tally costs (Financial Times )
• At least 226 killed in Myanmar flooding from Typhoon Yagi (Al Jazeera )
• Rich countries could raise $5 tn of climate finance a year, study says (The Guardian )
• Mystery tremors were from massive nine-day tsunami (BBC )

• Portugal’s deadly wildfires have caused record breaking emissions (Euronews )
• Donald Trump’s plan to gut climate law would be self-harm, US energy chief says (Financial Times )
• Researchers warn methane emissions ‘rising faster than ever’ (Al Jazeera )
• Earth may have breached seven of nine planetary boundaries, health check shows (The Guardian )

Business Climate Reality

• Energy-intensive data centres are on the rise in Europe thanks to AI (Euronews )
• Farming must pay for its emissions, says EU chief climate scientist (Financial Times )
• Sweden cuts tax on flying despite admitting it would increase emissions (The Guardian )
• Iceland's high-tech farm turning algae into food (BBC )

• Close to 3% of the world’s greenhouse gases (GHGs) are emitted from seagoing vessels. And if we look beyond shipping, the global supply chain accounts for 11% (World Economic Forum )
• Top UK food firms urged to do more to cut ‘staggering’ emissions (The Guardian )
• Tourism’s Next Battlefront: Water (New York Times )
• Offshore drilling is putting Italy’s biggest delta at risk of sinking (Euronews )
• California accuses Exxon of misleading public on plastic recycling (Financial Times )

Reality Check?

The fashion industry stands at a critical juncture, grappling with its profound environmental and societal impact. The sector significantly contributes to climate change, accounting for approximately 4-8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This impact is exacerbated by the fast fashion model, which promotes rapid production and turnover of inexpensive clothing, leading to increased consumption of non-renewable resources, such as oil-derived polyester, now surpassing cotton as the leading textile. Fast fashion's reliance on synthetic fibres contributes significantly to microplastic pollution, harming marine life and exacerbating environmental degradation.

How can the fashion sector undergo sustainable transformation?

Sustainable materials help reduce fashion’s environmental impact by conserving resources, reducing waste, and minimising harmful chemicals. Since the fashion industry produces 1.2 billion tons of CO2 annually, shifting to eco-friendly fabrics is essential for a lower carbon footprint. Moreover, choosing quality over quantity, investing in durable, long-lasting pieces, and supporting transparent, ethical brands can help address overconsumption and waste, driving the industry towards true sustainability.

The path forward requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including businesses, consumers, and regulators, to foster a sustainable fashion industry. Sustainability in the fashion industry involves:

• Embracing innovative materials.
• Improving supply chain transparency.
• Promoting fair labour practices.
• Encouraging sustainable consumption habits.

As sustainable transformation becomes increasingly critical to the current and future success of companies within the fashion sector, employing credible decarbonisation strategies is key to:

1. Lowering financial risk
2. Protecting your business against rising cost of carbon
3. Avoiding greenwashing allegations
4. Complying with a rapidly changing regulatory landscape

45 alternative materials for the fashion industry

In the last years there has been a lot of novel fibres and eco-friendly alternatives which aim to help conserve resources, minimise waste, and reduce the use of harmful chemicals. Here are some key sustainable materials reshaping the future of fashion:

1. Hemp: A fast-growing, renewable plant that requires minimal water and pesticides, offering durability and breathability.
2. Recycled Polyester (rPET): Made from plastic bottles or old garments, reducing plastic waste and reliance on virgin materials.
3. Organic Cotton: Grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, using less water and promoting soil health.
4. Pi?atex: A vegan leather alternative made from the waste fibres of pineapple leaves, reducing agricultural waste.
5. TENCEL? Lyocell: A fabric derived from eucalyptus trees, produced using a closed-loop process that recycles water and solvents.
6. Bananatex?: A durable, waterproof fabric made from banana plants, requiring no pesticides or extra water.
7. Apple Leather: A plant-based leather alternative made from discarded apple skins, reducing food waste.
8. Recycled Cotton: Made from post-industrial or post-consumer cotton waste, helping to minimise textile waste.
9. Cupro: A silky fabric made from cotton waste (linter), offering a luxurious feel with reduced resource use.
10. Yak Wool: A soft, warm fibre harvested from yaks with a lower environmental impact than cashmere.
11. Alpaca Wool: A natural, sustainable fibre that is lightweight, insulating, and requires less water and chemicals compared to sheep’s wool.
12. Seaweed Fabric: Made from seaweed fibres, this innovative fabric is biodegradable and requires minimal resources to grow.
13. Peace Silk (Ahimsa Silk): A cruelty-free silk alternative made without harming silkworms, offering a luxurious, ethical textile.
14. Cork: Derived from the bark of cork oak trees, it’s renewable, durable, and biodegradable, often used as an alternative to leather.
15. Brewed Protein: Lab-grown protein fibres created through fermentation processes, mimicking silk, leather, and wool.
16. Recycled Wool: Wool garments and fabric remnants are reprocessed into new yarn, minimizing wool waste.
17. Bamboo Linen: Breathable and soft, made from bamboo stalks, though the production process still requires careful chemical management.
18. Merino Wool: A finer, softer type of wool from Merino sheep, offering warmth and breathability while being renewable.
19. SCOBY Leather: A biodegradable material made from a bacterial culture used in kombucha production, offering a sustainable alternative to leather.
20. S.Cafe ?: A fabric made from repurposed coffee grounds, offering natural odor control, UV protection, and quick-drying capabilities.
21. 2Recycled Nylon: Made from industrial waste such as discarded fishing nets, helping to reduce ocean and landfill waste.
22. Bamboo Lyocell: An eco-friendly fabric made from bamboo through a closed-loop process that minimises waste and water use.
23. Hemp Silk Blend: A combination of hemp’s strength and silk’s softness, creating a durable, luxurious fabric.
24. ECONYL?: Regenerated nylon made from ocean and landfill waste, used for sportswear and swimwear.
25. TENCEL? Modal: A sustainable fabric made from beech tree pulp using an eco-friendly, closed-loop process.
26. Ramie (China Grass): A natural fibre similar to linen, highly sustainable due to its rapid growth and low pesticide requirements.
27. Micro-Algae: Experimental fibres made from algae, offering biodegradable textile options with minimal environmental impact.
28. QMilk: Made from milk protein casein, this fabric utilises waste milk, requiring minimal water and energy in its production.
29. ECOVERO?: Viscose fibres from sustainably managed wood sources, using a low-emission, eco-responsible production process.
30. Qmonos: A bio-fabric created from spider silk proteins through genetic engineering, offering strength and flexibility.

?? Coming Soon! The Decarbonisation Marketplace by Plan A: At Plan A, we aim to enable science-based decarbonisation for businesses. To harness the power of networks and empower our customers to abate their emissions curves, we have created the industry-first Decarbonisation Marketplace that will launch soon. The marketplace is designed to give our client access to a partner network of vetted, qualified, and scientifically sound decarbonisation solutions and service providers to hasten timely and sustainable emissions reductions across their operations and value chains.

Sign up to join the decarbonisation marketplace waiting list here.

Ultimately, the transformation of the fashion industry toward sustainability is not just a trend but a necessity in addressing the environmental and ethical challenges it faces. By embracing eco-friendly materials, improving supply chain transparency, and promoting responsible consumption, the sector can significantly reduce its carbon footprint and foster a more ethical and circular economy.

Stakeholders—from manufacturers to consumers—must work collaboratively to implement sustainable practices and innovative solutions, such as those outlined in decarbonisation strategies and emerging sustainable materials. Through these efforts, the fashion industry can move closer to achieving long-term environmental responsibility, ensuring a more sustainable future for all.

Schedule a call with Plan A. Our experts are ready to discuss how your company can lead in sustainability and leverage ambitious decarbonisation strategies to gain a competitive edge.?

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