A New York bill could bring more climate accountability to the fashion industry
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/3/22891874/new-york-fashion-climate-change-environment
Author: Jasmine Hicks
A bill before the New York State Assembly, the “Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act,” or Fashion Act, would require apparel and footwear brands operating in New York state with more than $100 million in revenue worldwide to note and disclose the environmental and social impact of their operations. The bill’s introduction comes as the fashion industry is increasingly under scrutiny for its outsized climate impact and unsustainable practices. Fashion contributed to 2 to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2018. The industry also generates considerable waste: according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans discarded 17 million tons of textiles in 2018, of which only 2.5 million tons were recycled. The industry is also responsible for 20 percent of global wastewater, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.