Greta Thunberg protests against the greenwashing trap set by fast fashion

Even though we know the fashion industry is particularly polluting, it’s hard to tell good from bad among all the brands that claim to make progress to be more respectful of fauna and flora, as well as human rights. Climate activist Greta Thunberg knows this well and uses all channels to pursue her mission of raising awareness and soliciting action. So, after making the first page of Vogue Scandinavia in August 2021 to denounce the devastation of the textile industry, he returns to hammer his message on video, in another women’s magazine, the SHE British.

Too many people fall into the greenwashing trap according to Greta Thunberg

In this FAQ video released on October 26, 2022, Greta Thunberg explains:

“Most people know that [la fast-fashion] it is very harmful to the environment, but I think many seem to believe that many are [les marques] who are really trying to do better, to really become more sustainable, etc.

When in reality, this is often not the case. [Les marques] use it to trick people into thinking they are doing something. They use greenwashing, which is a very common misconception. “

Several European brands seem to agree with Greta Thunberg lately. For example, in July 2022, in Morocco’s Agafay desert, Saint Laurent had moved a VIP lounge for a 10-minute show (involving an entire staff of models, hairdressers, makeup artists, etc.), against few measures to compensate for the carbon impact of the event. In August, the UK blocked boohoo and Asos for practices similar to greenwashing. In September, the Netherlands asked H&M and Decathlon to rectify some terms of their communication, which were deemed too vague and therefore potentially confusing.

We tend to accumulate and throw away too many clothes

In addition to urging brands to stop their misleading communication, the Swede, who will turn 20 on January 3, 2023, is also calling on the general public to be more responsible in purchasing behavior. Greta Thunberg continues in the video of the YOU UNITED KINGDOM :

“We must move away from this vision of the planet and things, we constantly accumulate things and then throw them away. As activists, we understand the link between [l’industrie pétrolière] and fast fashion, but overall people don’t seem to grasp all the implications of the fashion industry. “

Consume less and prefer second-hand clothes to new ones

Adopting a more responsible behavior in terms of clothing therefore begins by consuming less, and in particular by favoring second-hand if you have to buy new pieces, as Greta Thunberg illustrates:

“I would say that over 90% of the clothes I received come from other people like family, friends and classmates because I don’t buy new things. “

According to a study report by the consulting firm McKinsey, the fashion industry accounts for about 10% of the world’s carbon emissions. It would be responsible for 2.1 billion tons of greenhouse gases in 2018. And even the pandemic was not enough to significantly reduce its globalized wings. So, remembering the dire consequences the fashion industry can have, from a medium that particularly affects its target clientele, may be a profitable strategy that Greta Thunberg is pursuing.

Front page photo credit: YouTube screenshot.