In 2021, the global apparel sector contributed an estimated 897 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) to the global carbon budget— roughly 1.8 percent of global GHG emissions. Two years later, a baseline study estimated that number to be 1.7 billion tons of CO2e, accounting for 6-8 percent of global carbon emissions. Fueled by high demand and fast-fashion trends, apparel production has grown rapidly, but with few manufacturers employing environmentally conscious practices. As a result, both brands and consumers are increasingly motivated to work towards sustainable supply chains, a task that requires a close look at the production process all the way from the t-shirt to the cotton plant.
In 2007, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) established a Clean by Design (CbD) process. CbD is an approach to green supply chain efficiency that brings together apparel retailers and fashion brands to reduce the environmental impact in their factories. Mills that employ the CbD method use less water, burn fewer tons of coal, and save money in operational costs. Since its inception, CbD has been introduced to more than 200 mills worldwide.
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