The fashion and textile sector isn't just about style; it's the frontline against the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
It also holds immense cultural and economic importance, providing livelihoods and a sense of identity for millions, while simultaneously posing risks to workers and the environment at every stage of its lifecycle.
The UNEP Textile Initiative provides strategic leadership and encourages sector-wide collaboration to accelerate a just transition towards a sustainable and circular textile value chain.
UNEP’s work includes supporting and informing governments, such as through its Global Textile Policy Dialogue, assisting industry, particularly SMEs in developing countries, in shifting towards circular business models, scaling the use of industry standards for circularity, eliminating hazardous chemicals, while adopting a life cycle approach and addressing overproduction and overconsumption to redefine the fashion industry’s economic model.
Underpinning all of this is support for evidence-based decision making through its thought leadership reports.
Bettina Heller, Programme Manager,
Consumption and Production Unit,
Industry and Economy Division, UN Environment Programme
