Hannah Ernst

Governments are already discussing digital product passports that disclose a product’s supply chains. Could clothing labels be our new source of sustainability information?

According to the  2022 Fashion Transparency Index, less than half of all surveyed brands disclose their first-tier suppliers, and less than a third communicate a science-based decarbonization target. However, 60% of consumers claim they value brands that are transparent about their operations. As climate neutrality becomes a top priority among many governments, the role of fashion in carbon conversations increases. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, producing millions of garments often derived from fossil fuels that will – sooner rather than later – end up in landfills. Consumers want to make the “right“ choice but often lack the information or education to do so.

But what if fashion brands had to disclose a garment’s social and environmental impact on clothing labels?