Whenever I hear about the huge environmental impacts of the fast fashion industry, I get a multitude of feelings. Fear, regret, anger, defiance, guilt…to name a few.

Though it might be hard to tell from what I wear to class when I’m perennially exhausted from studying, I absolutely love fashion and I love style. At the same time, I really care about the environment. Usually, these things are on opposite ends of the argument.

It’s especially hard because while I may be aware of the impact of fast fashion and of the more sustainable alternatives that some companies offer, on a student budget, I usually can’t afford to buy from companies that aren’t fast fashion. While I have gone a long way towards reducing my wardrobe and learning to buy only things that I wear often, I’m still fighting an uphill battle that I think many other students struggle with as well.

That’s why I was thrilled to hear of the newest commitment that H&M has made to their brand and to their customers.

In its second annual sustainability report, H&M announced that by 2030 it will be 100% circular and renewable (“only using recycled materials and renewable resources, including cotton, water, and energy”) and by 2040 it aims to be climate positive – that is, it will be reducing emissions instead of contributing to them.

In addition to making these commitments on a business level, H&M has gone a step further by setting up a non-profit foundation that “rewards scientists with big fashion ideas.” This foundation offers awards to scientists who come up with innovative ideas that can change the industry and make it more sustainable on many different levels. Some of the ideas recognized this year include: 

• Grape leather – made from grape skins that are normally burned (reduces waste and emissions)
• Solar textiles – a concept which makes it possible to manufacture nylon using only water, plant waste, and solar energy. While being worn by consumers, it also (somehow) manages to trap carbon.
• Content thread – basically, you can put information into your clothing fibers to the point that if you scan the fibers of your clothing, it can tell you information such as who sewed the clothes, the types of fiber in it (which helps with recycling), where it came from, etc.
• Denim-dyed denim – when jeans are made with cotton, they have to be dyed blue in a super environmentally intensive process. This new concept dyes new jeans using old jeans, thus bypassing that horrible process.
• Manure couture – clothing made from the fiber in cow poop but what’s really awesome is that all the ‘other stuff’ in the manure (think water, phosphates, etc.) are used to create energy for the process so not only is waste reduced but also the energy is more or less renewable too!

I think H&M’s efforts are fantastic and do a lot towards minimizing their impact. I especially appreciate that the company is focusing inward on their company’s impact but also outwards by sponsoring new technologies and innovations. In this way, they can maximize their positive impact. If other companies follow H&M’s example, maybe there is hope for us eco-conscious but fashion-loving individuals.

Sources:

http://www.refinery29.com/2017/04/148680/hm-sustainability-award