G7 Fashion Pact Goals

Fashion rarely finds a mention when you talk about the G7 summit, the global organisation event, which sees leaders of advanced economies of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States gather to "exchange ideas on possible solutions" and address looming crises. When it does - it's always about the style statement of world leaders, or what the first ladies are wearing (and ugh, how they fare). This year, however, it made a poignant and worthy exception.

Some 32 major fashion leaders, including Fran?ois-Henri Pinault, the chief executive of the French luxury heavyweight Kering, were at the sidelines of the forum in Biarritz, France, to unveil a "historic" fashion pact to fight climate change and improving sustainability. The initiative is led by French president Emmanuel Macron, who in April this year, asked Pinault to bring together the biggest names in fashion in a bid to tackle the impact the €1.5 trillion-a-year industry is having on the environment. Together these brands comprise over 30% of fashion’s overall production output.

The G7 Fashion Pact is essentially aimed at focusing on climate change, biodiversity and ocean protection. Each signatory has to commit to from "reducing emissions and using carbon-offset programs to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050" to "achieving 100% renewable energy across their own operations" and "eliminating single-use plastics by 2030" to "supporting innovation to eliminate micro-fiber pollution".

It certainly made the 32 conglomerate appear as though they are genuinely concerned, thinking beyond minting profits, and all for the well-being of the planet, making good on these promises is yet to be proven.

Kind reminder: We still haven't managed to achieve the Eight Millennium Development Goals that all 191 UN member states have agreed to try to achieve by the year 2015. "Just saying".

Noble as their intentions may be, its critics point out the pact is simply on good faith, merely based on a framework of guidelines, as it is NOT legally binding. Without stringent regulation, it is easier for brands to resort to old tricks than to look out for the ecosystem. The other challenge lies in the issue of supply chain - most of these signatories apparently don't have control over the supplies of their goods (unless it's high-end luxury goods), where the guidelines essentially have to be followed by the book. 

There are also two other major concerns: In order to meet the challenges, the brands not only need to cut back on the quantity its producing - which will no doubt adversely affect their sales and profits - to ensure the sustainability targets, but the influential signatories together don't even make 50% of the overall fashion industry. All this makes it tough, if not impossible, to make an actual dent.

One must give credit however where it's due, Pinault - who showcased the pact to leaders gathered at Biarritz for the summit - has come up with the extremely complex and painstaking guidelines within a matter of months. And others have agreed upon it. At a time when climate change is being felt at an alarming rate, where millenials are growing conscious of their carbon footprint and the cost of their extravagances and privileges are having on the ecology, there is a desperate need for fashion to become more sustainable.

Most of the industry still isn’t included

It is impressive that the coalition collectively represents more than 30% of fashion’s production. But that also means nearly 70% is not part of the pact. To be fair, Pinault accomplished a great deal enlisting so much support in a matter of months. Kering also hopes to keep signing up fashion brands and other stakeholders (Tip: the leading Mills & Manufacturers).

There remains a lot of work left to do. None of these issues means the group can’t be effective. Of course, it’s also preferable that these companies have taken this step rather than remain silent. The fashion pact is most definitely a step in the right direction. The signatory CEO's are scheduled to convene in October to discuss further pledges and come up with action plans. What it will eventually achieve is only to be seen and hope to live long enough to witness the day it actually happens :)