In the past, fashion retail seemed disconnected from concerns about sustainability, with many assuming garments arrived in basic packaging. However, the push for sustainable practices now showcases wooden hangers, paper shopping bags, and recycled fibers, reducing visible plastic in stores.
Yet, the reality beneath this eco-friendly façade reveals a significant reliance on artificial textiles in the fashion industry. While cotton and wool production remains stable, synthetic fibers like polyester, viscose, and nylon have significantly increased, causing a dilemma in the sector’s environmental impact.
A recent dispute between Inditex SA (owner of Zara) and Zalando SE, a leading online fashion retailer, highlights a clash over plastic usage. Inditex aims to halve its emissions by 2030 and eliminate single-use plastics, while Zalando hesitates to stop using polybags for distributing clothes due to concerns about damage prevention during transit.
Although Inditex’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint are commendable, Zalando questions the practicality of this crusade. Packaging accounts for a small portion of the overall carbon footprint in fashion retail, with the major environmental impact arising from clothing production itself.
Polybags serve a crucial role in safeguarding garments during transit, preventing spoilage due to moisture or dirt. For instance, Patagonia continued using polybags after discovering that 30% of unpackaged items were damaged. Inditex, too, plans to reuse and recycle its bags rather than completely eliminate plastics.
However, critics argue that Inditex, a proponent of fast fashion, contributes significantly to rising carbon footprints by promoting frequent clothing purchases. Its strategy focuses on rapid trend replication, frequent stock turnovers, and inexpensive materials, perpetuating the idea of disposable clothing.
The ongoing struggle between Inditex and Zalando coincides with the post-Christmas sales season, emblematic of the industry’s sustainability challenges. While efforts to reduce plastic use are important, addressing excess inventory and the culture of excessive discounting would have a more substantial impact on cutting carbon footprints.
Sustainable progress in the fashion industry may stem from consumers buying fewer, higher-quality garments that can be repaired rather than discarded. In a world dominated by cheap polyester clothing, the environmental impact of disposable plastics in clothing outweighs concerns about the bags they come in.
