United Nations – 233 –
Intl Day of Zero Waste – UN Chief Message | United Nations
Summary
110seconds video
The International Day of Zero Waste highlights the urgent need to address the fashion and textiles industry’s environmental impact. Textile production uses harmful chemicals, consumes significant resources, and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Rapid clothing production results in substantial waste, with the equivalent of a garbage truck of clothing discarded every second. To align with sustainable development goals, there’s a call for more sustainable production and consumption practices. Positive trends include increased consumer demand for sustainability and initiatives like the United Nations’ fashion industry charter for climate action. However, more action is needed. Investors, young people, governments, and businesses must work together to promote sustainability, reduce waste, and embrace resource efficiency. On this day, the aim is to ensure fashion benefits both people and the planet.
Full Script
This year’s International Day of Zero Waste puts the focus on fashion and textiles. And rightly so, Earth is a fashion victim. Textile production often uses thousands of chemicals, many of them harmful to people and the environment. It devours resources like land and water, and it belches out greenhouse gases in flaming the climate crisis. That clothes are being produced at the staggering rate, and textile wastage is huge. Every second, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothing is incinerated or sent to landfill. We need a different approach, one that delivers on the commitment in the sustainable development goals for sustainable production consumption. There are signs of hope. Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainability. And initiatives are bringing together business, industry associations, civil society and more to drive sustainability across the sector. They include the fashion industry charter for climate action, convened by the United Nations and the fashion pact, launched by the Government of France. And the United Nations advisory board on zero waste is uniting partners to end waste, including from textiles and to help meet the SDGs. But we must do more to secure change. Investors through their choices, young people in civil society, through advocacy, governments through regulations, promoting sustainability and decent jobs, and businesses through embracing circularity, waste reduction and resource efficiency across their supply chains. On this international day for zero waste, let’s all commit to ensure fashion sense makes good sense for people and the planet.
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