The growing use of plastics in fashion is a problem – an increasing amount of harmful petrochemicals are being used to make clothing, which is rarely recycled, and ultimately ends up in our environments.
The public wants action on the use of plastics, and most say that they are trying to reduce the amount of plastics in their everyday lives. There is also a broad desire for more action on the use of petrochemicals by the fashion industry.
But the public is reluctant to say that they actually buy synthetic fibres, with only a third of us saying that we regularly buy clothing containing synthetic materials, despite plastics accounting for the majority of textile production.
In response to the growing issue of plastics in fashion, the RSA is calling for new measures to turn the tide, including a tax on virgin plastics used in clothing; a ban on marketing petrochemical-derived clothing; and a commission to prepare for the future of fashion.
pdf 418.6 KB
Authors
Related articles
-
Introducing the Fellowship Promotion Guide
Fellowship news
Fionna Monk
Our brand-new Fellowship Promotion Guide is a powerful new resource designed to make it easier than ever for current Fellows and staff to share the value of the RSA Fellowship with others.
-
Why 2025 is an exciting year to be an RSA Fellow
Fellowship news
Fionna Monk
Happy New Year! 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the RSA Fellowship, brimming with new opportunities, initiatives, and global collaborations. There’s never been a more exciting time to be part of this dynamic and engaging community. Here’s more on why this year promises to be an inspiring and impactful year for RSA Fellows worldwide.
-
Counting the cost of bowling alone
Blog
Andy Haldane
In his 2025 CEO Lecture, Andy Haldane addresses how the ever-increasing cross-border flows of goods, people and information affect widening divisions and accelerate the depletion of social capital.