Using the clothes we love to protect the nature we need

Background information:

The textile industry is globally important for driving industrialisation, trade, development, social value, and female empowerment. However, the way we produce and consume textiles is unsustainable, and is already contributing to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Addressing these impacts needs a systemic approach and a paradigm shift towards circularity. The entire textiles value chain must work together to confront the consumption patterns that are the driver of harmful impacts, using tools such as circular business models and circular design.  This shift is needed – not only to confront the drivers of the adverse impacts of textiles but to also highlight the solutions in terms of circular design and circular business models, bringing together everyone to walk the same path.

Based on the findings from UNEP’s upcoming report, Sustainability and circularity in the textile value chain – Recommendations for action and a global roadmap, this event provided a space to discuss and agree on concrete steps to be taken at the international level to aid implementation of the priorities identified in the report, with a focus on holistic actions for sustainable consumption patterns and circular business models.

This session examined:

• Individual and collective actions stakeholders can take
• Taking stock of progress towards circularity and ambition levels
• Global coordination mechanisms and other frameworks needed to achieve ambition

Date: Friday 3rd June 2022

Time:  14.00- 15.15 CEST

Location: Stockholmsmässan, Multi-stakeholder Action Hub  – Stage 1

Organisers:

• The Government of Kenya
• UNEP
• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

Agenda:

Opening remarks & welcome:

• Ms. Elisa Tonda, Head of the Consumption and Production Unit, UNEP

Moderator:

• Ms. Laila Petrie, CEO, 2050

Panellists:

• Dr. Ayub Macharia, Director, Environmental Education and Awareness Unit in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Government of Kenya 
• Ms. Elisa Tonda, Head of the Consumption and Production Unit, UNEP
• Ms. Federica Marchionni, CEO, Global Fashion Agenda
• Mr. Kartikeya Sarabhai, Director at Centre for Environment Education, India 
• Ms. Mette Grangaard Lund, Technical Officer, Green Jobs, International Labour Organisation (ILO)
• Mr. Zuhair Ahmed Kowshik, Asia Pacific Regional Facilitator, Children and Youth Major Group of UNEP 

Closing Remarks:

• Mr. Robert Watt, Head of Strategic Policy Engagement, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

Recording: