The global fashion sector contributes approximately 8.3 million tonnes of methane emissions in the fashion industry each year, according to Collective Fashion Justice (CFJ), a charity advocating for an ethical fashion system that safeguards people, animals, and the environment. This substantial figure indicates that the fashion industry’s methane output is nearly four times greater than that of France, which emits 2.1 million tonnes annually.
Despite accounting for only 3.8% of materials used in fashion, a staggering 75% of the industry’s methane emissions are linked to the production and use of animal-derived materials such as leather, wool, and cashmere. This highlights the urgent need for a shift toward more responsible, animal-free, and fossil fuel-free alternatives. CFJ emphasized in a recent press release that reducing methane emissions is the quickest method for fashion brands to contribute to lowering global temperatures.
In a groundbreaking white paper created in collaboration with researchers from New York and Cornell Universities, CFJ has unveiled the first-ever assessment of methane emissions in the fashion industry.
There is a worldwide consensus on the urgency of tackling methane emissions, with the United Nations, leading organizations, and 150 countries endorsing the Global Methane Pledge. This commitment aims for a 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030, using 2020 figures as a baseline. Methane is especially harmful to the climate crisis, being 86 times more potent than carbon in the short term. Importantly, methane remains in the atmosphere for a significantly shorter duration than carbon, meaning that mitigating methane emissions now can lead to a quicker reduction in global temperatures.
Ed Miliband MP, England’s Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, emphasized the critical nature of addressing methane, remarking that “if CO2 cuts are the marathon, methane is the sprint,” at the launch of the UK’s Methane Action Plan.
Focusing on reducing methane is vital for rapidly lowering global temperatures. Prior to this report, however, there lacked a publicly accessible and credible figure detailing the fashion industry’s methane emissions.
“The fashion industry is on an unsustainable path to missing the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C climate target. We cannot afford to delay action in the face of this existential crisis. A strong emphasis on significant methane reductions is critical for swiftly diminishing global temperatures, but the fashion sector cannot rectify issues it doesn’t fully grasp. That’s why our findings regarding the industry’s methane footprint mark a pivotal moment. With this data now available, the fashion industry can better assess its climate impact and must utilize it to implement targeted, science-based strategies for methane reduction, which should include divestment from virgin animal-derived materials like leather and wool,” stated Emma Hakansson, founding director of CFJ.
Following ruminant animal-derived materials, the second largest contributor to methane emissions in fashion comes from the use of non-renewable energy sources, particularly gas and coal, which power processing and manufacturing facilities. A shift to renewable energy across the fashion supply chain is crucial. “If the fashion industry aims to sustain its future, it must reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, using 2020 as the reference point. This presents an opportunity for our industry. Our research shows that it is entirely feasible to make significant reductions in global temperatures by focusing on ethical transitions from conventional, animal-derived materials to innovative, animal-free, and recycled alternatives. Our planet’s future relies on brands investing in and creatively implementing lower-emission materials that move us away from the most methane-intensive products, particularly those sourced from ruminant animals,” Hakansson added.
“Without immediate action to mitigate methane, we will not resolve the climate crisis. Collective Fashion Justice’s latest research underscores that the fashion industry must tackle methane emissions in fashion industry practices, acknowledging its role in methane-heavy animal agriculture through the use of leather and wool. We must lessen our dependency on these animal-based systems and pivot toward plant production, not only in food but also in fashion,” stated George Monbiot, journalist and environmental activist.
This report serves as a crucial opportunity for the fashion industry to recognize the need for immediate action on methane mitigation, offering a potential emergency response to the climate crisis, due to methane’s potency and shorter atmospheric lifespan compared to carbon.
