X-MINING ​​What is Sustainable Fashion? Striving for sustainable fashion​

Sustainable fashion refers to efforts to minimize the impact on the environment and society at all stages of the fashion industry and to aim for a sustainable future.​

​​The impact of the fashion industry on the environment is large, and it is said that many environmental problems are caused by unsustainable production and consumption patterns. Thus,, there is growing interest in the role individuals and corporations can initiative in promoting sustainable fashion.​

​​This article introduces the current state of the fashion industry, its environmental impact and how consumers and companies can engage with sustainable fashion.​

​​The fashion industry has a large environmental burden due to the amount of energy consumed in manufacturing and other factors, and is said a significant issue internationally. From the procurement of raw materials to the production stage, the fashion industry’s annual CO2 emissions reach approximately 90,000 kilotons, highlighting its substantial environmental impact.​​​​​​​

​​To understand its impact, look at the production process until the clothes reach the consumer and after they reach the consumer.​

Note: Sustainable Fashion|The Ministry of the Environment

From production to Consumer

The Clothing reach our consumers through a variety of production and sales processes. First, we will introduce a series of steps.

Production Process

​​Fibers are roughly divided into natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, and wool, and synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon. When natural fibers are used in the procurement stage of raw materials, the use of agricultural chemicals and chemical fertilizers is regarded as a problem as an impact on the environment. On the other hand, since synthetic fibers use petroleum-derived raw materials, there is a concern about carbon dioxide emissions due to fossil fuel consumption.​

​​Especially at the stage of production overseas, as multiple plants and companies intervene, it is also considered a problem that we are unable to grasp the full picture of the adverse impact on the environment.​

Transportation and Sales Process

​​Transportation is an important process for selling clothing. Air and truck transportation, for example, release a large amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Air transportation, in particular, consumes a large amount of fuel and emits CO2 in long-distance transportation.​

​​In the fashion industry, the disposal of unsold products is also an important environmental issue. If the amount of waste is increased, unsold products may become waste, resulting in an increase in the use of waste disposal and landfills, which may have an impact on the global environment.​

After reaching the consumer​

The fashion industry generates a large amount of waste due to its high consumption speed and disposable culture. Incineration of waste creates the risk of air pollution and soil pollution, which in turn contributes to environmental impact.​

Sustainable fashion aims to improve the industry’s sustainability by minimizing its environmental impact.

​​In sustainable fashion, it is important to choose materials that are friendly to the earth, such as recyclable materials, recycled materials, and organic natural materials.

​​This is expected to reduce the environmental impact of the use and production of synthetic fiber derived from petroleum.

Sustainable fashion is closely related to the SDGs.

​​SDGs is the abbreviation for Sustainable Development Goals, which was adopted by the member states of the United Nations in 2015. It refers to 17 sustainable development goals to be achieved by 2030.​

​​Since its adoption in 2015, many companies and organizations have been focusing their efforts on SDGs initiatives. In particular, our commitment to sustainable fashion is compatible with SDGs and contributes to a variety of developmental goals, including Target 12, “Responsibility to Build.”

What can we do in SDGs? A (Link) of individuals and companies’ efforts

​​The fashion industry has been pointed out as having a large environmental burden on production and manufacturing, and I introduced that it is being taken up as an international issue. On the other hand, there are some areas in Japan that are not regarded as serious problems, and some companies and organizations are working on them.​

​​Accordingly, the Ministry of the Environment established a special page on sustainable fashion and disclosed how it is working to raise the country.​​​

Educational Activities on Sustainable Fashion

​​The Ministry of the Environment conducts awareness-raising activities because the percentage of interest in sustainable fashion is low. We provide information on the importance of sustainable fashion, the use of sustainable materials, and the effective use of resources through recycling. Information on sustainable fashion is widely disseminated to raise consumer awareness.​

Supporting the Development of the Fashioning Industry

​​This report introduces examples of companies and brands engaging in sustainable initiatives, as well as support measures for sustainable fashion initiatives.​

​​One example is the promotion of “appropriate amount of production, appropriate amount of purchase, and recycling” and the promotion of “circular type” measures to reduce the amount of clothing discarded.​​​

Measures to enable consumers and companies to work together

​​​It presents that both consumers and companies can work together to make sustainable fashion initiatives a better future for the environment.​

​​For example, we recommend that people wear clothes for as long as possible, and that companies make careful clothes that can be worn for a long time.​

​​Please refer to the following for a detailed explanation of how we can face sustainable fashion initiatives.​

​​The following three points are introduced in detail as points of sustainable fashion.​

• ​​Materials and production processes with low environmental impact​
• ​​Whether it was produced in an appropriate working environment​
• ​​Durability and Long-term Wearability

​​Materials and Manufacturing Processes with Low Environmental Impact

​​​In sustainable fashion, the use of environmentally friendly materials and sustainable production processes are important. For example, natural materials such as organic cotton and hemp, recycled polyesters, and recycled fabrics should be chosen to reduce the burden on the global environment.

​​Sustainable fashion clothing is designed based on the principles of circular economy. This refers to clothing that can be worn for a long period of time, including durable designs, repairable specifications, and indications that encourage reuse.​

​​Efforts to extend the fashion cycle through the recycling of used clothes and the recycling of materials also fall within the category of sustainable fashion.​

Whether it was produced in an appropriate working environment

​​​It is also important that sustainable fashion respects the rights and well-being of workers.

​​It is important to provide a working environment that protects the rights of workers, such as the Fair Trade Certification system, which certifies whether raw materials and products in developing countries are traded fairly, and the establishment of a supply chain, which fulfills our social responsibilities.​​​​​

​​Durability and Long-term Wearability

​​​It is also necessary to be aware of whether there is a quality problem or whether the design is easy to repair. Durability and high quality, classic design, and the possibility of up-cycles are taken into consideration, and it is important to decide whether you can wear it for a long period of time.​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​​These points are chosen in consideration of the global environment and society. By raising the awareness of consumers and businesses, we will make progress toward the realization of a more sustainable fashion industry.​

​​As a consumer, the key to practicing sustainable fashion is to be environmentally conscious and enjoy fashion with minimal social impact. The Consumer Affairs Agency has introduced initiatives we can take when choosing, caring for, and disposing of clothes that are no longer worn.​​

Selecting clothes

​​​When choosing clothes, also emphasize quality for longer lasting. By choosing high-quality natural materials and clothing with a manufacturing process that incorporates sustainable fashion, durability is improved and can be used for a long time.​

​​In addition, it is important to select basic items that are not influenced by trends. Simple designs and colored clothes can be used for a long time without being influenced by trends, thus avoiding wasteful consumption without being disposable.

​​Another way of contributing to sustainable fashion is to search for clothes at recycling stores, used clothing stores, and flea markets and make effective use of existing resources.​​​​​​​

When cleaning clothes

​​​Microplastics, which fall out of synthetic fibers during washing, have a serious environmental impact. These small plastic particles can flow into the ocean through the water channel, which can adversely affect the ecosystem and marine organisms.

​​The use of dedicated washing nets may be a solution to this problem. It is also important to follow the laundry labels on your clothes and to be careful not to wash them too much.​

​​It is also important as part of sustainable fashion to repair and reuse old and damaged clothes. In addition to repairing damage such as holes and tears, you can add different designs to use them as new items.​​

When disposing of lost clothes

​​​By recycling and reusing clothes that are no longer worn, we can help conserve resources and reduce waste, thereby reducing the burden on the environment.​

​​It is also a good idea to use a clothing recycling program to recycle clothes that you no longer wear.

​​You can also donate to a charity shop if your clothes are in a usable condition. This creates an opportunity for others to reuse their clothes.​

​​Let’s not forget that the efforts of each individual leads to positive changes in the fashion industry as a whole, and let’s work proactively.​

Note: Recommended Sustainable Fashion Practices: Consumer Agency

​​It is important for companies to work on a recycling-based model in order to realize a sustainable fashion industry. Materials and designs that take into account the manufacturing process and disposal are required.​​​

​​For example, it is important to use eco-friendly materials to reduce the amount of fiber discarded in the manufacturing process. It is required to select materials that minimize the impact on the environment, such as recycled fibers and organic cotton.

​​By adopting a design that makes it easy to disassemble clothing, it is easier to recycle and reuse, and simplifying materials and manufacturing methods such as monomaterials (single materials) can reduce the environmental burden.​

​​Already, many companies are increasingly taking steps to turn used clothing and waste into products with new value. In the future, we will be able to generate new items while further reducing waste.​

Sumitomo Metal Mining’s Near-Infrared Absorbing Materials are inorganic materials with superior weather resistance, offering high transparency in the visible range and strong absorption in the near-infrared range.

​​By kneading SOLAMENT™* into fibers, the photothermal conversion function, which converts light energy into heat, exerts a high-absorbing power in the near infrared region.​​​​​​​​​

*SOLAMENT™ is a material technology brand made from CWO™, nanoscale particles that have the unique ability to absorb NIR, invented by Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., and are covered by patents and trademarks in both Japan and internationally.

​​Sumitomo Metal Mining aims to contribute to sustainable fashion using SOLAMENT™ and achieve new innovation.​​​​​​​​​

​​If you would like to know more about how to use SOLAMENT™, please refer to the discussion below, which introduces examples of how to use SOLAMENT™ for textile applications.​​​​​

Dialogue on Innovation: Pioneering the Textile Revolution with SOLAMENT™ through Co-Creation.

​​Sustainable fashion is an effort to reduce the impact on the environment and pursue the effective use of resources. Reduce the burden on the earth through recycling-oriented models, recycling technologies, and the selection of sustainable materials. Through the transformation of the fashion industry, companies and consumers are required to work from what they can do for a healthy future.

​​Sumitomo Metal Mining aims to contribute to sustainable fashion using the near-infrared absorbent SOLAMENT™. Why not contribute together to sustainable fashion by exploiting the characteristics of near-infrared absorbing materials to improve comfort and reduce environmental impact?

​​If you have any questions about near infrared absorbing materials, please feel free to contact us.​

Material: Near Infrared-Absorbing Materials