At COP28, happening right now in Dubai, COP president Sultan al-Jaber said, There is “no science” that phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to keep global temperatures under 1.5C above preindustrial levels.” What?!
On the one hand, we have a fossil fuel president telling us that there’s no science to justify phasing out fossil fuels. On the other hand, we have virtually every climate scientist telling us that the only path to limit warming to 1.5C is by phasing out coal, oil, and gas (i.e., fossil fuels). So who do we believe? The person with the vested financial interest in oil and gas or the scientists? That was a rhetorical question!
At the same time, we have an industry that is heavily dependent on fossil fuels – the clothing industry. From the ~60% of clothing that is plastic based (plastic being a fossil fuel product) to the manufacturing process at factories to transport, the fashion industry is a fossil fuel industry.
So how do we remove fossil fuels from the fashion industry? Lots of things have to change, but let’s talk about limiting (halting) the production of plastic clothing!
It won’t be easy – wearing plastic is ingrained in us whether in a formal dress or a running shirt. And, if we’re able to ignore the microplastics that end up in the ocean every time we do laundry or the potential health implications of wearing a toxic chemical on our largest organ (our skin), then there’s a lot to love about plastic clothing. It’s cheap, lightweight, durable, and extremely versatile. It’s no wonder that plastics have taken over the clothing industry.
It won’t be easy to replace plastics, but we have to try.
Step one is something I’ve mentioned before (a few times!) and it’s something each of us can do. Wear what you own! If we all wear what we own and shop secondhand first, then the industry doesn’t have to make so much new stuff! Even if nothing else changes, if we can reduce production, we are reducing dependence on plastic.
If you do buy new, consider what materials you are buying. Organic cotton, linen, Tencel lyocell, and wool are all plastic free alternatives that can be just as good, if not better, than plastic. In fact, for my performance running clothing, I love wool and Tencel lyocell. They’re breathable and really good for temperature regulation. They also don’t smell as bad as my plastic running clothes! It’s harder to find sometimes, but the options are out there.
And finally, we need to push the industry to change. If consumers demand new fabrics, the industry will have to follow suit. If voters demand regulatory changes that put limits on fossil fuel use in the clothing industry, the industry will have to change. This is simplified, of course, and it won’t happen overnight but it doesn’t have to be impossible.
Changing the industry’s dependence on fossil fuels will involve a lot more than just limiting plastic in new clothing production, but that would be a huge start! I don’t have high hopes for sincere action on this front at COP28, but there are people there who are making sure to get their voices heard. Let’s make sure to keep any momentum and action going post-COP28.
The Green Ostrich 