FASHION REVOLUTION | FASHION TRANSPARENCY INDEX 2021
Zero deforestation means no forest areas are cleared or converted, while net-zero deforestation allows for the clearance or conversion of forests in one area as long as an equal area is replanted elsewhere. However, we chose only to look for zero deforestation commitments because it is more ambitious and arguably easier to measure. Finally, the topic of regenerative agriculture is becoming increasingly popular among sustainability advocates in the global fashion industry. As it seems like it might become the next big industry buzzword, we decided to add an indicator to the Index this year to see how many brands share information about this topic publicly. Regenerative agriculture can be defined as ‘a system of farming principles and practices that increases biodiversity, enriches soils, improves watersheds, and enhances ecosystem services.’ Most fashion brands depend on agriculture to source raw materials, yet we found that only 9% of major brands disclose evidence of implementing regenerative farming practices for at least one raw material source.
In one interesting example, Burberry has recently launched a Regeneration Fund, which supports carbon insetting projects in partnership with Pur Projet. Carbon insetting is a process which focuses on a brand’s own supply chain and promotes biodiversity, helps restore ecosystems and supports the livelihoods of local producers, as well as storing carbon at source and removing it from the atmosphere through agroforestry. However, it is important to note that regenerative agriculture has been practiced in communities all over the world for thousands of years. The conversation about shifting to regenerative agricultural models should focus on valuing the knowledge of indigenous communities and returning to more traditional methods of farming, which will require deeper reflections on our shared colonial past as an industry and as a global society.
SPOTLIGHT ISSUES
"If there is no traceability and transparency in the supply chains, brands cannot be aware of the effect of their business practices on human rights and neither on the environment." Dr Flavia Loscialpo and Eleonora Mongelli
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