Earth Day and the Fashion Industry
- Charlotte Garbutt
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
This blog post is a combination of two articles written for my transformEd style magazine, one for Earth Day 2026 and one I wrote for Earth Day 2025.
A Powerful Message (written for Earth Day 2025)
Earth Day 2025 - 'our planet, our power' - has a focus on the global drive towards clean, renewable energy. But how does this relate to the fashion industry and is anything in the power of the consumer?
Non-Renewable Power
The use of fossil fuels for intensive clothing manufacturing and the production of synthetic fibres present the two most powerful environmental threats.
The production of petroleum-based synthetics like polyester, nylon and acrylic involves the use of non-renewable energy sources, leading to greenhouse gases and environmental pollution. Other manufacturing processes including fabric dyeing can also be energy-intensive, and transport within the fashion sector also contributes towards a high carbon footprint.
People Power
Whilst the average consumer isn't able to affect brands' energy choices, we can have an impact.
Buy local: avoid environmental transport costs and support local brands and those manufacturing in the UK or Europe. The countries where much of our clothing is made rely on 'dirtier' sources of power, so the closer to home tends to be the better.
Be a natural: avoid buying new synthetic garments in favour of natural fabrics, especially those with organic certifications.
Go loopy: look out for brands and fabrics using closed-loop manufacturing. TENCEL™ Lyocell is a good example of the use of a closed loop production process which recovers almost 100% of solvents used.
Clean up your act: if possible, reduce your own energy by washing by hand and air drying your clothes. Washing by machine: make 30°C your go-to temperature.
Back Down to Earth (written for Earth Day 2026)
Beginnings
Wednesday 22nd April is Earth Day 2026. Earth Day officially started in the United States just as some were waking up to the impact the human race was having on the environment. Publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962 had been a pivotal
moment with Carson’s book raising awareness of the dangers of synthetic pesticides on human health. Despite opposition to her writing by pharmaceutical companies, Silent Spring became a bestseller and the debate she sparked resulted in the ban of DDT. Earth Day itself was the brainchild of Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson who had been concerned about environmental issues, with a huge oil spill in Santa Barbara in 1969 prompting others to join in actions to protect the environment in the first Earth Day in 1970.
Earth Day 2026
As last year, the theme of this year's Earth Day is "Our Planet, Our Power". The focus isn't solely on policy makers and industries, but also on the impact of small community-led actions.
So what's it all about and how can we get involved? Resources are available on the earthday.org website. There's an article and a quiz about sustainable fashion. As a transformEd style magazine reader, I'm sure you'll ace the quiz! Here's link if you want to try the 10-question quiz. You'll be relieved - as I was! - to know I was classed a "Sustainable Fashion Master". Let me know how you fare!
Taking Action
Earthday.org invites us to take action, for example by signing a petition or donating to plant trees as part of the trademarked Canopy Tree Project. But is tree planting greenwashing (when green actions are just a marketing ploy)? The brands below will acknowledge that planting trees in itself is not the answer to the climate crisis and can't reverse the damage done to the planet through fast fashion. It does, however, play its part by offsetting carbon emissions and restoring biodiversity after deforestation.
The rest of this post mentions some of the brands that plant trees but also have a sustainability-first model that goes beyond greenwashing gimmicks.
Tentree
The clue is in the name and Tentree does what it says on the tin, planting one tree for every ten items sold. A B-Corp and Fairtrade company, Good on You gives Tentree its top rating of 5 ("Great") for the environment with an overall rating of 4 ("Good"). Selling both menswear, womenswear and children's clothing, there's something for everyone including from their Plus Size range. Their sustainable ethos is also reflected in their choice of fabrics, such as organic cotton, recycled polyester REPREVE® and cellulose-based TENCEL™ lyocell.
Rapanui
Also rated "Good" by Good on You is UK-based menswear and womenswear brand Rapanui. In addition to using sustainable fabrics, the company regularly takes part in environmental initiatives and collaborations. During Rapanui's Buy One Get One Tree weekends, a tree is planted for every order placed.
NIKIN
Another brand gaining the "Good" rating ("Great" for "Planet") is Swiss brand NIKIN which has partnered with One Tree Planted to plant over 2.5 billion trees. Consumers can also join their tree planter loyalty club. On their website, they tell the tale of how a couple of "childhood friends met for a beer in Lenzburg in 2016" and "the idea for NIKIN was born".
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