Recent studies estimate more than 2% of the global greenhouse gas emissions stem from the fashion industry. With the global average temperatures projected to rise by 3 degrees Celsius this century – well beyond the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal of the Paris Agreement – disruptive solutions and unprecedented actions are needed to curb emissions and achieve net-zero by 2050.
A new report, co-authored by Fashion for Good and Apparel Impact Institute and sponsored by HSBC, for the first time charts a trajectory for the industry to meet the net-zero ambition, mapping the integral levers across existing solutions, such as renewable energy, and innovative solutions, such as next generation materials. Estimating an investment opportunity of $1 trillion to finance the transition, the report breaks down the funding needed by solution category and identifies the types of funders best placed to take advantage of the opportunity and benefit from the positive returns.
“Unlocking The Trillion-Dollar Fashion Decarbonisation Opportunity: Existing And Innovative Solutions” builds on existing research, as well as the knowledge and expertise of Fashion for Good and Apparel Impact Institute. The report estimates the emissions reduction of existing and innovative solutions, and calculates the finance needed to bring them to scale and drive the industry to net-zero by 2050; a critical step to mapping the path and actions for the fashion industry in the decades to come. The findings in the report are significant – analysis shows an estimated $1 trillion is required to finance the decarbonisation of the fashion industry by 2050.
“Reducing carbon emissions will be one of, if not the, defining challenge of our generation and indeed the fashion industry. The good news is that a strong pipeline of solutions – both disruptive and ready to be implemented – can drastically decarbonise the industry. This report highlights that not only are the opportunities plentiful and financially attractive, but they are key to getting us to a net-zero, circular industry.” – Katrin Ley – Managing Director, Fashion for Good
Though $1 trillion may appear to be substantial, the majority of this spend is allocated to projects that offer an attractive financial, as well as environmental, return on investment and can therefore be funded by financial capital. More than $35 trillion of financial capital is available globally for good return Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investments, a figure expected to exceed $50 trillion by 2025 according to insights from Bloomberg Intelligence. However, critical barriers to unlocking the financial capital needed remain. With input from key industry stakeholders, the report highlights those barriers and presents examples of financing opportunities.
“This report reframes decarbonisation as an investment opportunity rather than a cost. These proven, investable solutions require a tremendous amount of capital, and we now need to create the pathways for all forms of financial capital in order to bring them to scale.” – Lewis Perkins – President, Apparel Impact Institute
The financing opportunity is multi-faceted and will require a committed and coordinated effort by brands, manufacturers, philanthropy, government, and industry organisations. The report splits up the amount of finance required per emission-reduction solution across the different financiers, appealing to different risk appetites and profiles, and providing a nuanced and detailed pathway to achieving net-zero.
“The fashion industry is becoming increasingly aware of its environmental impact and of the need to swiftly transition to net-zero. This report shows that, while there are challenges to overcome, this transition is possible and will open up new opportunities for businesses in this sector. Collective action is critical. The financial system must play its part by providing the investment to fund net-zero solutions at scale.” – Zoë Knight – Managing Director and Group Head of the HSBC Centre of Sustainable Finance
Some key findings from the report
- “Unlocking the Trillion-Dollar Fashion Decarbonisation Opportunity” estimates 47% of CO2 reductions come from implementing existing solutions, while 39% comes from scaling innovative solutions, and 14% from other solutions – including reducing overproduction, material efficiency improvements, and scaling circular business models.
- The report evaluates 7 solutions to reach net-zero in the fashion industry by 2050, including a shift to renewable energy, sustainable materials and processes, accelerating the development of next generation materials, and phasing out coal, amongst others.
- The total cost to implement these solutions and achieve net-zero is $1.04 trillion, including
○ $639 billion towards existing solutions (61%)
○ $405 billion towards innovative solutions (39%) - Philanthropic and government grants represent $50 billion (only 5% of the total), but are critical for catalysing industry and financial capital
- The report covers insights, key actions and recommendations to unlock the $1 trillion financing opportunity, including
○ the cost breakdown by financier groups needed to accelerate the transition to a net-zero industry
○ for governments to strengthen policy framework and mechanisms to catalyse private investment.
○ for philanthropies to encourage coordination and explore blended capital approaches.
○ for brands to pursue stronger engagement and commitment to innovation and suppliers
○ for manufacturers to adopt a strategic capital improvement plan that is aligned with brand partners
○ for banks and lenders to prioritise key production regions and innovative financing opportunities
○ for equity investors to become familiar with the increasingly large array of investment opportunities.
Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) is a nonprofit collective founded in 2017 by four industry leaders: the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) and Target Corporation. The organization emerged organically as a result of a real need that apparel brands and retailers self-identified. Gap Inc., PVH, Arvind Mills, HSBC, GIZ, Stichting Doen and Schmidt Family Foundation joined the founders in the first three years of start-up and organizational development.
HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. We serve more than 40 million customers through our global businesses: Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Global Banking & Markets. Our network covers 64 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, North America and Latin America.
Fashion for Good is a global platform for innovation, made possible through collaboration and community, convening brands, retailers, suppliers, non-profit organisations, innovators and funders to make all fashion good.
At the core of Fashion for Good is their innovation platform. Based in the Amsterdam headquarters with a regional programme in South Asia, the global accelerator programmes gives promising start-up innovators the expertise and access to funding they need to grow. The platform also supports innovators through its scaling programme and foundational projects, driving pilots and supply chain implementation with partner organisations. The Good Fashion Fund catalyses access to finance to shift at scale to more sustainable production processes.
As a convener for change, Fashion for Good houses the world’s first interactive museum dedicated to sustainable fashion and innovation, a Circular Apparel Community co-working space, and creates open-source resources and reports.
Fashion for Good’s programmes are supported by founding partner Laudes Foundation, co-founder William McDonough and corporate partners adidas, C&A, CHANEL, BESTSELLER, Kering, Levi Strauss & Co., Otto Group, PVH Corp., Stella McCartney, Target, and Zalando, and Asia and affiliate partners Arvind Limited, Birla Cellulose, HSBC, Norrøna, vivobarefoot, Welspun and W. L. Gore & Associates.
