Every 11 July, the United Nations commemorates World Population Day to raise awareness of each of the advances in human rights and opportunities for the nearly 8 billion people who currently inhabit planet Earth. However, this progress is not universal, we face great environmental and social challenges that can only be solved by creating opportunities that strengthen collective thinking. From CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster we are promoting a collaborative ecosystem, conscious and committed to ethical, circular and regenerative fashion and textiles.
The fashion and textile sector can lead and create these opportunities, transforming those practices that have led to a disconnection with the people who make the garments and their rights, the irresponsible use of natural resources, and the alarming amounts of waste generated. Regarding the latter, according to the European Union, around 5.8 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year in Europe, equivalent to 11.3 kg per person. Therefore, CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster joins the commemoration of this day, so that fashion and textile are committed to sustainability throughout the value chain.
A key point to achieve this sustainability on a worldwide scale is consumer education. The textile sector can provide tools that raise awareness among the population and teach them to take care of their garments, preserve them for longer, appreciate as well as revalue them, and be aware of the work, effort and time dedicated to their production. The accelerated projects in the CirCoAX programme of the education and platforms group have a fundamental role to play in this transformation towards a sustainable textile and fashion industry that is aware of its impact on the world’s population and the planet.
Just as we have advanced in life expectancy and increased the population, we must achieve social wellbeing and this implies not only moving towards circular models, but also laying the foundations for the societies of tomorrow. In this sense, companies in the textile and fashion sector, in addition to providing services or products with inspiring designs and sustainable materials, must integrate innovation and social purposes. A pacifist and humanist like Mahatma Ghandi conveyed a valuable message to the industry «There is no beauty in the finest cloth, if it produces hunger and unhappiness.»
Today, in CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster we reflect on all the opportunities that the textile and fashion sector can generate to have a positive impact on people and the planet. In Europe, clothing and shoes consumption will increase by 63% by 2030, so now is the time to reverse these scenarios and accelerate the sector’s transition towards a green and social economy.
