June 2024

In June, our CE Jacinta FitzGerald was invited to speak at the FSC Fashion Roundtable in Auckland, about the NZ fashion and textiles industry and the work we are doing at Mindful Fashion New Zealand advocating for a circular and thriving industry.

Forests and Fashion

Man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs - viscose, acetate, lyocell) are the fastest-growing segment in global fibre production. However, a significant portion of MMCFs is sourced from uncertified forests, exposing them to deforestation and illegal logging.

Moreover, while these fibres made up only 7.3% of global fibre consumption in 2022, we will need a further 15 million hectares globally to meet the increased demand for wood-based materials in the coming years.

Sustainable Sourcing

The importance of sourcing from sustainable forestry for wood-based products is clear.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ensures sustainable forestry, prioritising wildlife protection, community rights, and worker well-being in the supply chains of forest-based products.Sustainable sourcing begins at the forest level.

FSC certification also works to protect biodiversity and has the highest requirements for biodiversity protection currently available for commercial forestry. Forest managers must protect rare, threatened, or endangered species and critical ecosystem services.

A central aspect of FSC involves ensuring a regenerative supply, which is key to enabling a circular economy. Moreover, the FSC Recycled label signifies that a product is crafted from 100% recycled or reclaimed materials, actively contributing to the circular economy.

It's imperative that the fashion industry sources its wood based materials from certified sustainable sources. Fashion brands can sign up to the Fashion Forever Green Pact to start the journey to move to sustainably sourced wood-based products including MMCF's.

Image: © FSC / Bablu Singh