In a magazine interview with Vogue, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg blasted the fashion brands for their massive impact on climate change.
According to Thunberg, the fashion industry must accept responsibility for the environmental impact of its products. She accused some brands of using “greenwash” ad strategies to make their clothes appear sustainable.
“Many are making it look as if the fashion industry is starting to take responsibility, by spending fantasy amounts on campaigns where they portray themselves as ‘sustainable,’ ‘ethical,’ ‘green,’ ‘climate neutral’ and ‘fair.’ But let’s be clear:” Thunberg said.
“This is almost never anything but pure greenwashing. You cannot mass produce fashion or consume ‘sustainably’ as the world is shaped today. That is one of the many reasons why we will need a system change,” she added.
Vogue Scandinavia accepted the reprimand, arguing that they supported Thunberg’s values about sustainable living and environmental protection.
Thunberg, 18, was featured on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia’s first issue. Greta stated in the interview that she last purchased new apparel three years ago and that it was “second-hand.”
The clothing worn by Sweden’s most famous climate activist on the cover is made of sustainable, recycled materials.
On Sunday, she posted a photo of the front cover of Vogue Scandinavia, which shows her wearing an oversized trench coat and caressing a horse in the woods.
Thunberg, one of the world’s most well-known climate activists, criticized “fast fashion that many treats as disposables” in her post.
The fashion industry is a huge contributor to the climate-and ecological emergency, not to mention its impact on the countless workers and communities who are being exploited around the world in order for some to enjoy fast fashion that many treat as disposables.
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) August 8, 2021
The term “fast fashion” refers to the rapid, low-cost production of clothing to meet seasonal demand. Thunberg called for a “system change,” claiming that fashion could not be mass-produced and consumed “sustainably as the world is shaped today.”
According to the United Nations, the fashion industry is “widely regarded as the world’s second-most polluting industry.”
According to the UN, it accounts for more than 20% of worldwide wastewater. Every year, the fashion sector consumes over 93 billion cubic meters of water, which is enough to sustain five million people.
In terms of carbon emissions, the industry accounts for around 8% of total global emissions. According to the UN, this is more than all international flights and shipping combined.
As a result, fashion brands have begun to take steps to lessen their environmental impact.
However, environmental activists such as Thunberg claim that many of these firms are advocating solutions that only appear to address the problem.
These brands are frequently accused of greenwashing, which is a type of marketing ploy aimed to deceive consumers about a product’s environmental qualities.