Fashion brands tackling carbon emissions

Brands tackling carbon emissions: a look at industry initiatives and innovations

Throughout November, we are looking at the innovative brands tackling carbon emissions across industry sectors -from beauty and fashion to food & beverage, product design and materials, to technology, travel & hospitality.

Part 3: Fashion

With scientists warning that 10 gigatonnes of net CO2 will need to be removed from the atmosphere to keep the global temperature rise under 1.5°C by 2050, the urgent quest to meet net zero (or, increasingly, carbon positive) goals is sparking a cross-industry wave of innovation. As such, eco-minded brands are not only looking to reduce emissions but also exploring carbon sequestration – a sector that’s set to be worth $15.5bn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.3% (Research & Markets, 2021).

Below, we look at the fashion industry leaders tackling carbon emissions

Adidas and Californian sustainable brand Allbirds collaborated on the Futurecraft Footprint sneaker this year, which emblazons the product’s super-low carbon footprint (2.9kg CO2 emissions per pair) on the side of each shoe. Both teams took a low-emission approach to the design process, and the shoe is only available in white to avoid pollutive dyeing processes.

Another exciting development for activewear is Nike’s recently announced partnership with US-based Newlight Technologies. The latter’s carbon-negative bioplastic, AirCarbon, is lightweight and mouldable – ideal for sneakers. It uses ocean microorganisms to synthesise waste CO2 and methane gasses produced by agricultural operations, water treatment plants or landfills.

UK design studio and biotech start-up Post Carbon Lab is pioneering the use of (and research into) microbial pigmentation and photosynthesis coating for textiles. Living micro-organisms like algae are used in the treatment process, which then extract CO2 from the air and emit oxygen while the pieces are worn – effectively creating clothing that breathes.

For one of its 2021 capsule collections, British material science company Pangaia enlisted India/US-based Graviky Labs’ Air Ink innovation for the prints on its garments. This carbon-capturing technology captures air pollution particles and turns them into safe, water-based black inks.

Image credit: Adidas x Allbirds, Post Carbon Lab, Pangaia x Air-Ink

UK brand Vollebak has developed a process whereby black algae – which the company grows in Californian ponds – is used to form a sustainable black dye pigment for T-shirts. The ink then absorbs carbon dioxide from the air while the garment is being worn.

British brand Sheep Inc. uniquely powers the manufacturing of its merino wool garments by solar energy, while its products are also made from 100% biodegradable materials – meaning the process is completely carbon negative.

Maggie Marilyn, New Zealand’s first carbon-positive clothing brand, is working with independent carbon mapping experts Toitū Envirocare (also based in New Zealand). The brand uses carbon credits to quantify that the production process takes more carbon out of the air than is emitted.