HLPF side event examines UN partnership on sustainable fashion and SDGs | News | SDG Knowledge Hub



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July 10, 2018: On the margins of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), a group of United Nations organizations organized a side event on the theme "United Nations Partnership on Sustainable Fashion". and the SDGs ". Failing a coordinated approach to ensure that the fashion industry contributes to sustainable development, the side event outlined how a UN partnership for sustainable fashion could materialize.

Hosted by Robb Skinner of the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP), speakers from each of the co-organizing organizations provided feedback on how their agencies can contribute to such a partnership.

Marie Chatardová, President of the Social Council (ECOSOC) opened the meeting by recalling a meeting held in March 2018 at the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe region (UNECE). ODD. She emphasized the importance of establishing a partnership on fashion, noting that the $ 2.5 trillion US industry employs more than 75 million people worldwide, but that's not the only way to help. she is currently in a state of environmental and social urgency. , the industry emits 10% of carbon emissions (SDG 13), produces 20% of wastewater, is often linked to dangerous working conditions (SDG 8) and has harmful effects on health due to dangerous substances used in production (SDG 3). 19659003] Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of UNECE, drew upon Chatardová's opening remarks to review the environmental, economic and social impacts of fashion. She described the 2030 Agenda as a roadmap, with the SDGs as tools for achieving sustainable development, calling for sustainable fashion to be part of the roadmap. Algayerova emphasized the need for behavioral change, including transparency of the supply chain

After opening remarks, panelists described the potential contributions of their organization to the Partnership as well as initiatives to the fashion industry on the road to sustainable development. , Cittadellarte and BEST Fashion, discussed the importance of symbols, logos and flags, focusing particularly on the symbol of infinity used in the logo SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production). He described fashion as merging the natural and the artificial, but noted that both are imbalanced. Highlighting existing guidelines such as those on eco-toxicological requirements for clothing, it provides an overview of companies and badociations working for a more sustainable fashion and calls for traceability throughout the value chain.

Laura Choi and Alva Holmes, Fashion for Conservation One of the reasons why sustainable fashion has recently appeared is that "wearing a red dress is a badier subject than discussing the environmental and social implications of the dress ". They announced two initiatives on craft training to promote fair work capacity. , and mbad market clothing from sustainable sources, noting that the company does not have to choose between durability and style.

UN Planet's One Planet Network is looking to make progress towards SDG 12 and addresses issues such as marine plastics.

Birgit Lia Altmann, UNECE, described recent developments and current initiatives undertaken by the Commission, including the Forests to Manufacture and Manufacture Wood-based Fibers from Trees, which are less harmful than cotton or polyester. She highlighted joint efforts with the Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Commerce (CEFACT) and the International Trade Center (ITC), highlighting work on the traceability of sustainable value chains in the garment and clothing sectors. shoe. the Center has worked for ten years to connect informal craftsmen to high-end brands. She noted the sustainability of market access and connections, citing an initiative launched in Kenya in 2012 and still operational today.

Elisa Tonda, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP or UN Environment), discussed circularity in economies promoting the sound management of chemicals, the traceability of chemicals in products, the 39 resource efficiency and sustainable lifestyles. She also described the efforts of labeling and communication to reach consumers, and the UN-Environment Strategy to gather, collaborate and accelerate impact, highlighting the One Planet Network not only as a way to progress towards SDG 12 but also on issues such as plastics.

Amber Barth, International Labor Organization (ILO), emphasized the importance of workers, describing the ILO's Better Work program, which operates in seven countries and employs more than 1,400 factories employing 1 , 9 million workers. She pointed out that, in contradiction of some beliefs, better working conditions do not decrease business profitability, but rather increase it.

Lilian Liu, United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), described the company's approach through more than 70 local networks. She noted UNSG support to companies that can contribute to a UN partnership on fashion, including the Water Mandate CEO, Science-Based Targets, SDG Compbad, Traceability Guide and a Code of Conduct and a manual for the fashion and textile industry.

Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu, UNFCCC, recalled a stakeholder rally in January 2018 to discuss whether the fashion industry was on track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement on Human Rights. climate change. The meeting noted, she noted, that climate change was not a priority for the fashion sector due to lax regulations in producing countries and the lack of demand consumers. Xhaferi-Salihu said the UNFCCC's work with fashion focuses on three different themes: enabling collaboration "within the sector"; facilitate collaboration with decision makers; and catalyze action and recognition.

Francis Dobbs, Connect4Climate, World Bank Group, showed a trailer for Fashion4Climate, highlighting the goal of reaching a wider and younger audience. He framed the communication initiatives as flexible to connect stakeholders and help with advocacy efforts to spread the word, encouraging behavioral change.

Leonie Meier, UNECE, presented on behalf of Teresa Moereira, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. She mentioned the UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection, revised in 2015; the importance of involving consumer badociations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and businesses in the promotion of self-regulation; and international cooperation to implement joint work. Meier also stressed the need to focus on developing countries and economies in transition.

Ola Goransson, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), praised the 3,800 initiatives collected from the global register of voluntary and multi-stakeholder engagement with stakeholders on the UNCCD Knowledge Platform. sustainable development. He pointed out that recent partnerships have been concluded on SDG 14 (underwater life) and ocean plastics, describing the range of bodies and conferences that have generated interest .

Karen Newman, independent expert, described the UN as similar to fashion. the industry, with many sectors that do not always collaborate. Thus, she said, the SDGs are important in that they provide common issues to work on together. She noted that the competitive nature of the fashion sector made cooperation difficult, especially on knowledge sharing, procurement practices and costs.

The conclusions of Monika Linn, CEE, outlined the next steps of the partnership. She said that UN Environment was acting as the first hosting organization and that she would hold a first meeting before the end of the year. The Partnership, she noted, will be officially launched in March 2019 at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya

The event was co-organized by the ILO, ITC, UNDESA, UNECE, UNEP, UNCTAD, UNGC, UNOP and the World Bank Group. [HLPF Side Event Programme: UN Partnership on Sustainable Fashion and the SDGs]

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