Fashionably green ...

Edie.net reports that more than 300 fashion companies have signed up to code that aims to reduce the environmental impact of the rag trade which according to Lord Philip Hunt, Minister for Sustainability "represents a concerted effort from the fashion industry, including top names in the high street and manufacturers, to change the face of fashion". The Sustainable Clothing Roadmap seeks to tackle some of the thorny issues associated with 'throw away fashion'. Organisations involved in the project will not be tied to a single set of actions but all will make changes that will lead to social or environmental improvements. Key areas to be looked at include traceability in the supply chain, using more sustainable fibres and other materials, reducing waste and increasing recycling. According to government statistics the British clothing and textiles sector currently produces around 3.1 million tonnes of CO2, 2 million tonnes of waste and 70 million tonnes of waste water per year - with 1.5 million tonnes of unwanted clothing ultimately ending up in landfill. The minister also announced a review into 'green' labelling in what might be the start of a fightback against 'greenwash' claims by commercial concerns, orgnisations and even government.Added 16 March 2009Clothing retailer Adili has teamed up with the Carbon Trust to label T-shirts and sweatshirts with their carbon footprint giving eco-conscious consumers "complete transparancy" about the environmental impact of clothing.