During Paris Fashion Week, and in response to concerns raised by both local residents and members of the environmental sector, the Shadow Minister for Climate Change Janet Finch-Saunders MS, has launched the Welsh Sustainable Fashion Pledge.
This aims to tackle the environmental challenges of fast fashion, with around 350,000 tonnes of clothing ending up in UK landfill every year, despite much of it still being wearable and holding commercial value.
More needs to be done to change the current mindset that society has towards fashion and clothing. This will be achieved through the Welsh Sustainable Fashion Pledge, that encourages the Welsh Government, Welsh Parliament, and the Welsh public to consider backing, buying and using sustainable clothes.
Commenting on the launch of the Welsh Sustainable Fashion Pledge, Janet said:
“During Paris Fashion Week it would be easy to be carried away and be influenced to update the wardrobe at home, but please, stop and think of the harm fashion is causing our country.
“The current environmental impacts of the throwaway fast fashion culture is very concerning. With around 350,000 tonnes of clothing, that are often still in a good and wearable condition being thrown into UK landfills every year, the need for urgent action is apparent.
“The environmental impact is further exacerbated by the amount of clothing that is being imported into the UK each year. For example, in 2024 almost £15 million worth of clothing was brought into the country.
“It is to tackle these impacts that I have launched the Welsh Sustainable Fashion Pledge. This calls on the Welsh Government and local authorities to improve awareness of recycling or re-use facilities for textiles, such as clothes banks or charity shops, requesting that the Welsh and UK governments provide targeted support to boost local clothes manufacturing, asking fashion retailers to operate a textiles take back recycling scheme, and to pledge to back, buy and promote sustainable fashion.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
