Biodiversity

In 2021 we received a $2m grant ($4m with co-financing) from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to drive the Transforming the Fashion Sector with Nature project in partnership with Conservation International, a GEF agency. The grant was given to help support us in achieving two high level outcomes:

1. Provide guidance and capacity building to fashion companies so they can understand their impacts on nature, work towards creating individual strategies to mitigate these impacts and catalyse investment in key landscapes.
2. Support existing on-the-ground platforms in key commodities by encouraging company participation and investment to improve sourcing pathways of these materials.

Under this project, we developed science-based tools and projects that empower fashion businesses to rethink their relationship with nature.

Catalysing collective power through existing on-the-ground actions: The Sustainable Supply Pathways

The Sustainable Supply Pathways in biodiversity were opportunities for members to deliver on-the-ground impact in two key commodities: leather in Brazil and Cashmere in Mongolia.

Leather Impact Accelerator

We engaged in and supported the Leather Impact Accelerator designed by Textile Exchange. The programme helped cattle farmers change their production methods to collectively build a supply of deforestation and conversion-free leather.

Find out more on the Textile Exchange site.

Cashmere Project

In partnership with Textile Exchange, Conservation International and with support from the Global Environment Facility, the Cashmere project aimed at supporting herders and positive social, animal welfare and environmental impacts through the production of sustainable cashmere. Through the project, we developed Impact Incentives model, workshops, one to one support, and the creation of a guidance document to help companies source more sustainable cashmere.

For more information, please see the Textile Exchange website.

Deforestation is the leading cause of biodiversity loss across the world.

From expansion of cattle in the Amazon and Cerrado to the deforestation and subsequent plantations for cellulosic fibers, the majority of fashion materials are sourced in or near areas of deforestation. Recognising the fashion industry has an impact and unique opportunity to address this crisis, it is imperative that we examine the potential deforestation and conversion risk of these materials and the subsequent biodiversity loss and detrimental impacts on nature. Once risk is understood, there are coalitions and methods that can help companies prioritise where to focus and how to establish due diligence across material portfolios (ex. Fashion Nature Risk Lens, Accountability Framework Initiative, Science Based Targets for Nature, Science Based Targets Initiative Forests, Land, and Agriculture Guidance).

Together with Conservation International, we launched a workstream to enable joint action towards Deforestation and Conversion-Free fashion supply chains. This collaboration will involve identifying fashion-relevant areas of key deforestation and natural ecosystem conversion and the identification of opportunities for the industry to act collectively. We look forward to catalysing industry transformation on such a critical topic for nature, biodiversity, climate, and community outcomes.