Page 18 - TECOFASH

CHAPTER 4

3.4. Understanding Sustainability Risks and

Their Impact on the Fashion Business

The Sustainability Risks Matrix

Main Sustainability Risks in the Fashion Industry:
O3-A1: Intergenerational approach and collaborative training guidelines
As a first step partners will develop the methodology for an intergenerational approach as chosen to
Environmental Impact: Resource-intensive processes, pollution, and waste generation
•
deliver the training. The aim of this output is to create long term relationships between an
contribute to environmental degradation.
entrepreneur, responsible for running a retail business and a youth, who will help them introduce
Supply Chain Ethics: Complex supply chains can lead to labor rights violations and poor
•
sustainable changes to the business. In order to reach this objective, a framework for the
working conditions.
collaboration will be developed. The relationship will be be voluntary and included as such in the
Fast Fashion and Overconsumption: Rapid production and short product lifecycles drive
•
framework but encouraged in order to maximise participation in the training activity and further
overconsumption and massive textile waste.
apprenticeship programmes. Partners will explore existing suitable frameworks that can be used in
Water Scarcity: High water usage in textile processes impacts regions facing water
•
the RETAIL project. In addition, partners will seek involvement of relevant networks to increase the
scarcity.
project scope. For instance, DCC is a member of the Enterprise Europe Network with EASME
Biodiversity Loss: Sourcing materials without sustainable practices can endanger species
•
actively encouraging members to collaborate and engage with all relevant EU projects. Partner will
and biodiversity.
also explore other relevant programmes such as mobility programmes (Erasmus+, Erasmus for
Social Inequality: Pursuit of low production costs can perpetuate social inequality in
•
young entrepreneurs), etc. From this work, a methodological report will be issued.
developing countries.

• Lack of Circular Economy: Linear fashion practices result in significant textile waste,
hindering circular economy transition.

• Climate Change: Fashion's carbon footprint from production and transportation
contributes to global climate change.