Fashion Revolution Week 2025 marks a pivotal moment. With just five years remaining to meet the ambitions of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the commitments of the Paris Agreement, urgent action is non-negotiable. In 2024, the planet saw its hottest four consecutive days on record, and the critical 1.5°C threshold was breached repeatedly for an entire year. This stark reality forces us to reflect on an essential question: is the fashion industry prepared to take meaningful action on the climate crisis or will it remain a bystander in the race against time? Burning fossil fuels, particularly coal, is the primary driver of the climate crisis. Yet, Fashion Revolution’s What Fuels Fashion report reveals a lack of action from major fashion brands. A staggering 86% of these brands fail to disclose publicly available coal-phase-out targets, despite dire warnings from climate scientists to transition rapidly away from coal. This inaction is further compounded by the alarming rise in scope 3 emissions, even Targets initiative (SBTi) commitments. The issue is undeniable: only 6% of brands are transparent about how they are funding decarbonisation initiatives, and an even smaller fraction— just 3%—are upfront about compensating workers impacted by the climate crisis. Leadership is failing, too. Only 18% of brands link executive bonuses to absolute emissions reductions, signaling profit still takes precedence over planetary health. Meanwhile, sustainability teams are being downsized, treated as dispensable as sales and profits decline. The gap between the crisis and the industry’s response is unacceptable. Greater accountability and bold action are urgently needed. Fashion Revolution Week 2025 aims to spotlight these urgent challenges and catalyse change. While the fashion industry operates on a global scale, its impact—and the solutions required—varies by region, community, and context. This overview highlights the most pressing issues that must be addressed to create a fashion ecosystem that prioritises people and the planet over profit. Our intention is clear: to inspire bold, localised action by empowering teams to prioritise the issues that matter most in their regions. This moment demands nothing less than transformative change. We know this long list of topics can be very overwhelming and daunting, but remember: There is hope. We can turn anger, despair, and fear into hope through collective action and that is exactly our intention with this year’s Fashion Revolution Week. Join today the Fashion Revolution and engage your local policymakers to legislate to address pressing issues in the fashion industry and protect people and the planet. Read our ‘Identify your local issues Toolkit’ to define what comes next in your country and team to participate in this global movement. We have built a fact-checked library with reports and courses that may also be useful for further reading. Project Lead: Patricia Barroso Designer: Molly Porteous
REPORT LIBRARY
SPECIES
1
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
AMAZON DEFORESTATION
Since 1970, species populations have declined by nearly 70%, while the human population has doubled. The World Economic Forum warns that over $44 trillion — more than 50% of global GDP — is at risk if we fail to halt nature degradation by 2030. The Nature and Biodiversity Playbook for Business Bain & Company
Ancient forests are crucial carbon sinks, meaning they absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Yet, 300 million trees are logged each year to produce viscose, with ancient forests in Indonesia, Canada, and Brazil bearing the brunt of this demand. Canopy Planet
In addition to deforestation, cotton production is also associated with illegal land grabbing and pesticide use, causing pollution of soil and water sources.
Nowhere to Hide: How the Fashion Industry Is Linked to Amazon Rainforest Destruction Stand.earth
There are an estimated 370 million Indigenous Peoples spread across 70 countries worldwide. The ecosystems they steward make up roughly 20% of the planet and hold an estimated 80% of the world’s intact biodiversity. Indigenous Peoples’ land stewardship and sourcing lead to healthier ecosystems and increased biodiversity, contributing significantly to the global tapestry of fashion, apparel, and textiles.
WE NEED TO
HALVE GLOBAL
EMISSIONS
BY 2030 According to the International Energy Agency, we need to halve global emissions by 2030 to mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
Just 47% of 250 brands reviewed in What Fuels Fashion disclosed a Science Based Targets Initiative verified, time-bound, and measurable target to reduce carbon emissions that covered scopes 1 to 3. Of the 1105 brands disclosing progress, 42 disclose increasing Scope 3 emissions the most difficult to mitigate. What Fuels Fashion? Fashion Revolution
2,500 8,000 LITRES OF
LITRES OF
WATER WATER
IEA
ESTIMATES OF THE GLOBAL
EMISSIONS FROM FASHION
VARY SIGNIFICANTLY BETWEEN
2%-10% In 2019, the global fashion industry was estimated to be responsible for a staggering 1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions). There are long-standing estimates suggesting that the industry accounts for three to eight percent of total GHG emissions, with some citing 10%. However, the true extent remains unclear. A lack of transparency in emissions reporting obscures the true scale of the problem. The Global Fashion Transparency Index 2023 Fashion Revolution
The Water Footprint Network estimates a single T-shirt requires almost 2,500 litres of water while a pair of jeans needs 8,000 litres of water. Water Footprint Network
Food, fibre, and biofuel systems, including retail, consumer goods, and lifestyle, are responsible for 72% of the impact on threatened species. The Nature and Biodiversity Playbook for Business Bain & Company
However, the global fashion industry is not transparent about how much water is consumed in the manufacturing and processing of our clothes - with just 24% of brands disclosing this information. The Fashion Transparency Index 2023 Fashion Revolution
Fashion Revolution
~14% OF
MICROPLASTIC
POLLUTION COMES FROM
APPAREL
According to ZipRecruiter, job postings for DEI roles fell 63% in 2023.
What Fuels Fashion? Fashion Revolution
In a survey of 1,000 fashion industry professionals, across 41 companies and three focus groups, 37% of black employees reported having to supplement their income compared with just 23% of their white counterparts. State of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Fashion Council of Fashion Designers of America and PVH Corp
Fossil fuel demand must fall by a quarter by 2030 to limit global warming, according to the IEA but only 6% of reviewed brands in What Fuels Fashion disclose a renewable energy target in their supply chain, and 4% disclose their progress against it. IEA
What Fuels Fashion? Fashion Revolution
26.6 MILLION
TONS OF TEXTILE
WASTE
PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN
MODERN SLAVERY In 2021, 50 million people were living in modern slavery, 12 million of them were children. Walk Free Foundation
AT-RISK
GOODS
Textiles and Garments account for $12.7 billion and $147.9 billion respectively in value of at-risk goods imported by G20 countries, of modern slavery. The Global Slavery Index 2023
Circularity, Garment Durability, and Just Transition: Understanding the Trinary Interrelationship through an Integrative Literature Review MDPI The Fashion Transparency Index 2023 Fashion Revolution
The majority (69%) of textile production is from fossil-fuel-based synthetic fibres, projected to rise to 73% by 2030. Fashion’s Plastic Paralysis: How Brands Resist Change and Fuel Microplastic Pollution Changing Markets Foundation
An estimated 14% of global microplastic pollution comes from apparel, but just 24% of big fashion brands disclose what they are doing to minimize the impact of microplastic fibres. The Global Fashion Transparency Index 2023 Fashion Revolution
8,000+
CNV International
After analysing three garment factories in Bangladesh, employing over 8,500 workers, and three factories in Turkey with nearly 1,000 workers, it was found that in Bangladesh, the gender pay gap for base wages ranged from 22% to 30%, while in Turkey, it ranged from 4% to 17%. Gender Pay Gaps in Global Supply Chains Anker Research Institute
50 MILLION
26.6 M tonnes of textile waste have been mapped in 12 countries so far An estimated 92 million tonnes of waste is produced per by The World of Waste. year by the fashion industry, but the true scale is unknown The World of Waste given that just 4% of brands disclose their pre- and postconsumer waste according to the Global FTI 2023. This waste comes from high-consumption countries, mostly in the Global North, and is sent to waste-receiving countries, predominantly in the Global South, leading to an uneven distribution of environmental and social consequences.
Nature Communications
CNV International finds that the average garment worker in Cambodia earns a mere 260 USD per month while living expenses for garment workers are around 500 USD.
Earth Sight
McKinsey
WORLDWIDE
The Global Fashion Transparency Index 2023 Fashion Revolution
Diversity and Inclusion in the Fashion Industry MBS and British Fashion Council
58% of reviewed brands in What Fuels Fashion disclose a time-bound and measurable sustainable materials strategy, roadmap, or target, yet only 50% reveal their progress against it.
Some projections indicate the fashion sector alone will overshoot the 1.5°C target by 50%.
PEOPLES
The Global Fashion Transparency Index 2023 found that 99% of brands reviewed did not disclose the percentage of workers in their supply chain paid a living wage rate.
Only 51% of brands analyzed operating in Europe have a Diversity & Inclusion strategy at their leadership level.
Earth Sight
370 MILLION INDIGENOUS
POPULATION
DROP
TREES
Over 100 brands have supply-chain links to Brazilian leather exporters, including JBS, the largest exporter known to engage in Amazon deforestation.
Conservation International
2
300 MILLION
FASHION INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
SOCIAL REPERCUSSIONS
Workers are increasingly losing their livelihoods to climate hazards - but they are not being compensated. Just 3% of brands reviewed in What Fuels Fashion disclose efforts to financially compensate workers affected by the impacts of the climate crisis (loss and damage) and/or a brand’s decarbonisation strategy What Fuels Fashion? Fashion Revolution
LOSS OF
~ONE MILLION
JOBS
3
It is estimated that extreme weather events could lead to the loss of nearly one million jobs in the fashion sector. However, What Fuels Fashion finds that big fashion brands are not taking sufficient action to protect workers in their supply chain - either from job loss or any other climate hazards with just 4% of brands disclosing efforts to retain and/or up-skill supply chain workers whose jobs are at risk and just 4% publicly commit to a just transition strategy. ILR
What Fuels Fashion? Fashion Revolution
UNSUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODELS
Although estimates suggest between 80bn to 150bn new garments are produced each year, the true size of the global fashion industry is unknown because just 11% of big fashion brands reviewed in What Fuels Fashion Report disclose their production volumes. The OR FoundationCampaign encourages brands to disclose their production volumes in their Speak Volumes campaign. What Fuels Fashion? Fashion Revolution
CONSUMPTION PROJECTED TO
SYNTHETIC INCREASE CHEMICALS BY 63% BY 203O While an estimated 8,000+ synthetic chemicals are used in the fashion manufacturing process, just 35% of big fashion brands disclose a Manufacturing Restricted Substances List outlining what chemicals are used to make our clothes
40% OF
ENVIRONMENTAL
CLAIMS WERE
COMPLETELY UNSUBSTANTIATED
How toxic are the textiles that we consume? Green MEP
The industry continues to produce at staggering volumes, with global consumption projected to increase 63% by 2030, with total clothing sales potentially reaching 160 million tonnes by 2050, more than three times today’s amount.
An EU Commission study from 2020 examined environmental claims made in the fashion industry and found that 53% were vague, misleading or unfounded - with 40% completely unsubstantiated.
The Fashion Transparency Index 2023 Fashion Revolution
Circular Business Models Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Inventory and reliability assessment European Commission
2024