A report by an MP is urgering the UK government to end the era of throwing away clothes plus poor working conditions in the fashion supply workplace.
The MPs’ proposals are designed to force the fashion industry to change its ways. They have listed 18 recommendations covering environmental and labour practices. It is not just the fashion industries they want to change but the old clothes which pile up in landfill. When clothes are washed fibres can also end up in the sea, polluting the environment.
300,000 tonnes of clothing are burned or buried in the UK every year. Fast fashion is the inexpensive clothing which is produced quickly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest fashion trends. Fast fashion is so common as it is cheaper clothing; as there is an increase for consumers wanting what is on trend it is easier for the consumer to get want they would like at a bank friendly price. Fast fashion is challenging new fashion lines that are being introduced in traditional fashion houses, this is because fast fashion brands are getting very popular. It is also not common for fast fashion retailer to bring out a mass amount of clothing each week in order to stay on trend.
Among the recommendations from the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) were:
- A 1p charge per garment on producers to fund better recycling of clothes;
- Ban on incinerating or landfilling unsold stock that can be reused or recycled instead;
- Tax changes to reward reuse, repair and recycling – to support responsible fashion companies;
- Mandatory environmental targets for fashion retailers with a turnover above £36 million.
All of these proposals have been rejected by the government, the EAC have now accused the government of being “out of step with the public”.
The government have said that action is already been taken in regards to the issue of ‘fast fashion’.
Labour MP Mary Creagh, committee chairwoman, said: “The government has rejected our call, demonstrating that it is content to tolerate practices that trash the environment and exploit workers, despite having just committed to net zero emission targets.”
She added: “Ministers have failed to recognise that urgent action must be taken to change the fast fashion business model which produces cheap clothes that cost the earth”.
Fast fashion brands are retailers such as Zara, Topshop, Primark and Forever 21.
