In a circular economy, 'fashion and sustainability are not an oxymoron' • FRANCE 24 English

The EU recently announced proposals to crack down on "fast fashion" by making fashion products and clothing more sustainable as part of a push to bolster environmental standards. The plan, which will now be negotiated by EU member states and lawmakers, also aims to ensure their production takes place in full respect of social rights. FRANCE 24 is joined by environmental and social justice campaigner Livia Firth to offer insight and a deeper perspective on the urgency of embracing a circular economy and implementing environmental and social standards in the fashion industry. She is Co-founder and Creative Director of Eco-Age and Founder of the Green Carpet Challenge (GCC). "We created Eco-Age fourteen years ago," recounts Ms. Firth. "We started talking about sustainability when very few people or businesses were even considering it." Fast forward to 2022, sustainability has become so fashionable that it's become a veritable catchphrase and "there is more greenwashing than you can handle," she explains. Ms. Firth describes fashion as "an all-encompassing industry," beginning with agriculture. "When you talk about deforestation, for example, you have fashion. When you talk about planetary boundaries, you have fashion. When you talk about slave labour, you get fashion. When you talk about pollution and carbon emissions, it's all about fashion." And so, as individuals and consumers, we have "the power to effect change," she asserts. 🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen 🔴 LIVE - Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN 🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/ Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen Follow us on Twitter: https://f24.my/TWen Discover the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen