In the photo: A woman watches as models present their outfits during the Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week show presented for World Environment Day in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 03 June 2023. Designers used recycled and discarded fabrics and earth-friendly dyes among methods for their outfits. The globe will mark World Environment Day on 05 June 2023 and will focus on solutions to plastic pollution. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER
As the fashion and cosmetics sector advances in sustainability, it can be hard to stay up with research. We can purchase from the correct companies, rent, buy secondhand, and take care of our clothes, but being a responsible shopper is still confusing. What does the terminology your favorite brands use mean?
Understanding our effect as shoppers and beyond might seem impossible due to complicated terminology, terrifying numbers, and too much information. Start by learning the language to make better shopping decisions. Harper's Bazaar published a glossary of popular terminology in sustainable fashion.
B Corp
B Lab-certified products fulfill rigorous sustainability requirements such as social and environmental performance, transparency, and responsibility.
Biodegradable Design
Where environmental organisms break down clothing and product components without harming the planet.
CO-neutral
Carbon neutrality implies reducing carbon emissions from clothes to reduce their environmental effect. "Being carbon neutral means that the amount of carbon dioxide produced (from burning fossil fuels) is equal to or less than the amount captured or taken away from the environment," says Bolt Beauty founder Lisa Sexton. Our actions and lifestyles must emit zero carbon dioxide to be carbon neutral. It applies to brands, enterprises, and individuals.”
Carbon footprint
Carbon footprint measures how much carbon dioxide an individual, business, organization, or community emits into the atmosphere.
Circularity
Circularity reduces environmental effects by cycling a garment's life. The process starts with sustainable design, then fair and ethical manufacture, and finally responsible repair, redesign, rental, and second-hand sales.
Eco-anxiety
Eco-anxiety, "a chronic fear of environmental doom", comes when climate change worries dominate your life.
The greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect heats Earth by trapping solar heat in its gasses. In its natural state, this is essential for life on Earth. However, using fossil fuels like coal and oil increases atmospheric carbon dioxide and alters Earth's natural levels.
Greenwashing
Greenwashing is when brands masquerade as eco-friendly without making the necessary improvements. For Bazaar, model and environmental activist Arizona Muse said we need to rethink the phrase as circumstances change. "Greenwashing is anything that is promoting something that you have not yet done," adds. "Greenwashing creates false information for customers wanting to educate themselves. This makes it harder for everyone."
IPCC
The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change evaluates climate change science. It produces crucial climate crisis assessments on its effect, future danger, and ways to slow it.
Below Net Zero
Net Zero occurs when greenhouse emissions like carbon dioxide and methane are removed or offset.
Organic
Organic clothing uses natural fabrics without hazardous chemicals. Organic cotton created without harmful processes may be on the rails.
Traceability
"Traceability describes the process of tracing the origins, movement, and evolution of products and materials," says TrusTrace, a fashion and retail supply-chain transparency and product traceability platform. "It sounds simple enough, but in reality, traceability is incredibly complicated to achieve, especially for large brands with thousands of products and suppliers along the value chain, spread across multiple continents."
Upcycling
Upcycling involves revamping and reconstructing old clothes into new ones. This protects raw materials and minimizes the water and energy needed to make new garments, which is vital for sustainability. /BGNES
