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
Yn ystod Wythnos Ffasiwn Paris, ac mewn ymateb i bryderon a godwyd gan drigolion lleol ac aelodau'r sector amgylcheddol, mae Janet Finch-Saunders AS, Gweinidog yr Wrthblaid dros Newid Hinsawdd i’r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, wedi lansio Adduned Ffasiwn Cynaliadwy Cymru.
Y nod yw mynd i'r afael â heriau amgylcheddol ffasiwn cyflym, gan fod tua 350,000 tunnell o ddillad yn mynd i safleoedd tirlenwi yn y DU bob blwyddyn, er bod llawer o’r dillad yn dal i fod yn addas i’w gwisgo ac yn dal i fod â gwerth masnachol.
Mae angen gwneud mwy i newid y meddylfryd sydd gan gymdeithas tuag at ffasiwn a dillad. Bydd hyn yn cael ei gyflawni drwy Adduned Ffasiwn Gynaliadwy Cymru, sy'n annog Llywodraeth Cymru, y Senedd a'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru i ystyried cefnogi, prynu a defnyddio dillad cynaliadwy.
Wrth sôn am lansiad Adduned Ffasiwn Cynaliadwy Cymru, dywedodd Janet:
"Yn ystod Wythnos Ffasiwn Paris byddai'n hawdd cynhyrfu a chael ein dylanwadu i ddiweddaru'r cwpwrdd dillad gartref, ond da chi stopiwch a meddyliwch am y niwed y mae ffasiwn yn ei achosi i'n gwlad.
"Mae effeithiau amgylcheddol presennol y diwylliant ffasiwn cyflym tafladwy yn peri pryder mawr. Gyda thua 350,000 tunnell o ddillad, sy'n aml yn dal i fod mewn cyflwr da a gwisgadwy, yn cael eu taflu i safleoedd tirlenwi'r DU bob blwyddyn, mae'r angen am weithredu ar unwaith yn amlwg.
"Mae'r effaith amgylcheddol yn cael ei dwysau ymhellach gan faint o ddillad sy'n cael eu mewnforio i'r DU bob blwyddyn. Er enghraifft, yn 2024 daethpwyd â gwerth bron i £15 miliwn o ddillad i'r wlad.
"I fynd i'r afael â'r effeithiau hyn rwyf wedi lansio Adduned Ffasiwn Cynaliadwy Cymru. Mae’r adduned yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol i wella ymwybyddiaeth o gyfleusterau ailgylchu neu ailddefnyddio tecstilau, fel banciau dillad neu siopau elusen, mae’n gofyn i lywodraethau Cymru a'r DU ddarparu cymorth wedi'i dargedu i hybu gweithgynhyrchu dillad lleol, gan ofyn i fanwerthwyr
ffasiwn weithredu cynllun cymryd tecstilau yn ôl, a rhoi addewid i gefnogi, prynu a hyrwyddo ffasiwn cynaliadwy."
DIWEDD
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS
