We can and We must Slow Fast Fashion
Forests are an essential part of our planet, providing vital ecosystem services, including oxygen production, carbon sequestration, and water regulation. Yet, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been lost in the last 50 years, largely due to human activities such as cattle ranching, soy production, and logging.
One often-overlooked connection between fashion and deforestation is the production of viscose, a popular fabric made from wood pulp. According to a report by Canopy, an environmental nonprofit organization, more than 150 million trees are logged each year to produce viscose and other cellulosic fabrics. This deforestation not only threatens the health of our planet but also the communities and wildlife that rely on forests for their livelihoods.
Fortunately, there are steps we can take to slow deforestation and promote sustainability in fashion. One important step is to support sustainable fashion brands that prioritize eco-friendly materials and production methods. By choosing clothing made from organic cotton, recycled materials, or innovative materials like Tencel or Econyl, we can help reduce the demand for wood pulp-based fabrics like viscose.
Another step is to reduce our overall consumption of fast fashion. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the fashion industry produces more greenhouse gas emissions than the shipping and aviation industries combined, largely due to the high volume of clothing that is produced and disposed of each year. By choosing to buy fewer, high-quality pieces and caring for them properly, we can help reduce the environmental impact of our clothing choices.
In conclusion, sustainability in fashion has a vital role to play in the preservation of forests and the health of our planet. By choosing sustainable fashion options and reducing our overall consumption of fast fashion, we can help protect the forests and wildlife that are essential to our planet's health and wellbeing. So next time you're considering a new clothing purchase, think about the impact it may have on our forests and consider making a more sustainable choice.