European Climate Pact

Autumn is coming, and with it a change of wardrobe. Before you hit the high street or start adding to your online basket, read our latest article to get a glimpse into the world of sustainable fashion. From second-hand clothes to innovative new biomaterials, you could be a sustainable trendsetter this season.

In this month’s issue, we also:

• meet a Climate Pact Ambassador who’s helped a lot of people become more sustainable
• find out how online fashion giant Zalando is supporting the Climate Pact
• discover the Financial Times’ new Climate Game.

From excessive water use to the mass release of greenhouse gases, and from truckloads of textile waste to water pollution from dyeing, fast fashion fuels environmental damage and climate change. So, how can you stay on top of trends while making your wardrobe more sustainable?

We explore what’s up and coming

Can a small ripple of climate action create a tidal wave? For European Climate Pact Ambassador Anna Desogus, the answer is a resounding yes! A pioneer of original workshops in Poland, Anna has reached over 3 000 people and encouraged them to take action.

Read more

Phoebe loves motivating people to make sustainable choices. Some of her top tips on fashion: if one item goes into your closet, one has to leave; do not buy clothing just for one occasion – rent or borrow instead; and remember that the most sustainable clothes are the ones you already have in your wardrobe.

“To become part of the slow fashion movement is not just about buying fair and sustainable, or buying second hand. It is also about cherishing the clothing we have and valuing the tremendous amount of labour and resources that goes into every item.”

Suzanne is passionate about sparking debates on climate and getting young people involved. She has worked on a Generation Climate Europe paper that examines the adverse impact of the fashion industry and gives examples of empty green claims.

“If you take good care of your clothes, you don’t often need to buy new ones. We should shift our mindset to one of repairing, reusing and recycling. When I do need something new, I check where the clothing comes from and whether the brand’s green claims are true. Usually, I buy clothes in second-hand shops or through apps like Vinted, which I also use to sell my own clothes.”

Popular online fashion company Zalando has signed up to the European Climate Pact, promising to reduce its carbon emissions in line with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target. The German company, which has nearly 49 million users across 25 markets in Europe, has also set itself the goal of running on 100% renewable electricity by 2050. Zalando recently launched a new ‘pre-owned’ fashion feature in several EU countries, which enables customers to find second-hand items that have been vetted for quality.

Italian fashion design, engineering and production company Pattern has committed to reduce its carbon emissions as part of the European Climate Pact and to help achieve some of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Its five-year plan – From Red to Green Carpet – aims to create sustainable and socially responsible luxury fashion that will be paraded on the world’s most famous red carpets.

From 26 to 30 September, join online or in person in Brussels for enriching debates on the future of sustainable energy, with public authorities, companies, NGOs, consumers and experts.

Register now

The news often feeds us negative stories, particularly when it comes to climate change. The Solutions Journalism Network instead focuses on how people are trying to solve problems – and what we can learn from their stories. The platform’s Climate Solutions section explores ideas currently in motion for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling environmental degradation.

Can you reach net zero by 2050? Try the Financial Times’ new Climate Game to find out! The game sees you appointed ‘global minister for future generations’ and asks you to make some pretty important decisions. Play on to see what your future looks like.