For this classification, "Sustainability" is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. These encompass the pillars of Environmental, Social, and Economic Sustainability.
Definition
Carbon Neutral Fashion
Fashion brands or products that offset their carbon emissions by investing in carbon-reducing projects, making their overall environmental impact zero.
Carbon offsetting
Compensating fashion-related emissions through environmental projects
Circular assessment
Evaluation of a product's potential for recycling
Circular Economy
An economic model that seeks to minimize waste and make the most of available resources by keeping products, materials, and components in use for as long as possible. Note 2023 Literature Review in the Journal of Resources, Conservation and Recycling Volume 194, July 2023, 107001, fround 221 definitions.
Circular Fashion
A system that ensures products are reused, recycled, or biodegraded. Designing producing and using clothes to maximize their lifecycle and minimize waste. A design and production model that emphasizes the reuse and recycling of materials, aiming to create a closed loop that minimizes waste. A regenerative system where garments are circulated for as long as their maximum value is retained then returned safely to the biosphere
Climate neutral
Fashion production with net-zero climate impact
Climate positive
Business practices that benefit the environment beyond neutrality
Closed-Loop Fashion System
A system in which fashion products are designed to be disassembled and repurposed at the end of their life cycle, aiming for zero waste and continuous material reuse.
Closed-Loop System
A production process where materials are designed to be reused or recycled at the end of their lifecycle, creating a zero-waste system.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
The practice of companies taking responsibility for their environmental and social impacts, including ethical labor practices and eco-friendly production methods.
Cradle to Cradle (C2C) (CTC)
A design framework that encourages products to be made with materials that can be safely returned to nature or reused in new products, promoting a circular economy.
Cross-lifecycle assessment
Evaluation comparing different product lifecycles.
Eco-Labeling
Certification or labeling systems that indicate a product meets certain environmental or ethical standards, helping consumers identify sustainable products, such as organic or Fair Trade certifications for garments. Labels that certify products meet environmental standards, helping consumers make informed choices.
End-of-life protocol
Planned disposal or recycling of garments.
Energy efficiency
Optimizing power usage in production.
Environmental Sociology
The study of the relationship between society and the environment, including how cultural practices, social behavior, and systems influence environmental outcomes like fashion consumption.
Ethical Manufacturing
The practice of ensuring that all aspects of garment production—such as labor rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions—align with ethical standards.
Ethical Sourcing
The practice of ensuring that raw materials and products are sourced in a way that supports human rights, fair labor, and environmentally sustainable practices.
Fair Trade Certification
A certification that ensures products are made according to ethical and sustainable standards, supporting fair wages, good working conditions, and environmentally sound practices.
Forest stewardship
Responsible management of forest-derived materials.
Impact Investing
Investing in companies or projects that generate positive environmental or social impacts, such as those promoting sustainable fashion production methods or eco-friendly materials.
Impact measurement
Quantifying social and environmental effects.
Industrial ecology
Studying material flows in fashion production.
Local Sourcing
The practice of sourcing raw materials or finished garments from local suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation.
Product Stewardship
A responsibility-sharing approach where manufacturers, consumers, and other stakeholders work together to minimize the environmental impacts of products throughout their life cycles.
Regenerative Fashion
Fashion that goes beyond sustainability by actively improving environmental health, such as using farming practices that restore ecosystems.
Slow Consumption
A consumer behavior trend that promotes mindful and intentional purchasing decisions, focusing on quality over quantity and reducing the overall consumption of fashion products.
Social Innovation
Innovative solutions to social problems, including new approaches to sustainable fashion that create positive impacts on communities and the environment.
Social Responsibility
Refers to a company's commitment to ethical and sustainable practices throughout its entire supply chain. This encompasses a wide range of issues, including: Fair Labor Practices, Human Rights, Ethical Sourcing, Transparency & Accountability, Community Engagement.
Social Sustainability
The practice of meeting the social needs of people while maintaining environmental sustainability, focusing on fairness, justice, and well-being in communities involved in fashion production.
Sufficiency economy fashion
A model derived from Buddhist economics focusing on moderation, sustainability, and resilience rather than growth. Region-specific (e.g. Thai Royal Projects); not yet globalised in fashion discourse.
Supply Chain Transparency
The practice of sharing detailed information about a company's supply chain, including sourcing, labor conditions, and environmental impact, to ensure accountability. Visibility into all steps of garment production from raw material sourcing to final product.
Sustainability
The practice of creating and consuming fashion with a minimal impact on the environment and society.
Sustainability Metrics
Quantitative measures used to evaluate the environmental and social impacts of fashion products or practices, often including carbon footprint, water use, and waste generation.
Sustainability Reporting
The practice of publicly disclosing a company's sustainability performance, often including data on environmental impact, social responsibility, and ethical practices.
Sustainable Business Model
A business approach that incorporates sustainable practices at every stage of operation, from product design to production to marketing, while balancing financial, social, and environmental goals.
Sustainable Fashion
A practice of producing clothing and accessories in a way that minimizes environmental impact and social injustice. Fashion that promotes ecological integrity and social justice while considering the life cycle of materials and products. Creating and consuming fashion in a way that conserves resources and minimizes environmental impact. Clothing designed manufactured distributed and used in ways that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
A management approach that ensures the entire supply chain—from sourcing to manufacturing to distribution—is environmentally responsible and socially ethical.
Textile Waste
The discarded fabric or clothing waste that is produced during garment manufacturing or at the end of a product's lifecycle, which contributes to landfill pollution.
Transparency
The practice of openly sharing information about the sourcing, production processes, and labor conditions of a fashion brand, allowing consumers to make informed, ethical choices. Clear communication about sourcing and production practices. Openness about production processes and supply chains. A principle where companies disclose the origins, materials, and ethical practices of their products.
Upcycling
The process of transforming waste or discarded products into new, higher-value products, often used in the fashion industry to reduce waste. The process of transforming waste materials or old products into new, higher-value fashion items. Transforming waste materials into new products of better quality or environmental value. Transforming waste materials into new, higher-value products. The process of transforming by-products waste materials or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or environmental value. The process of creating new garments from old or discarded materials, minimizing waste.
Waste Minimization
A set of practices aimed at reducing waste production in the fashion industry, including better fabric utilization, garment recycling, and improved waste management practices.