Textile dyeing is the second largest polluter of clean water globally, after agriculture. Greenpeace?s recent Detox campaign has been instrumental in pressuring fashion brands to take action to remove toxic chemicals from their supply chains, after it tested a number of brands? products and confirmed the presence of hazardous chemicals. Many of these are banned or strictly regulated in various countries because they are toxic, bio-accumulative (meaning the substance builds up in an organism faster than the organism can excrete or metabolise it), disruptive to hormones and carcinogenic.

Polyester is the most popular fabric used for fashion. But when polyester garments are washed in domestic washing machines, they shed microfibres that add to the increasing levels of plastic in our oceans. These microfibres are minute and can easily pass through sewage and wastewater treatment plants into our waterways, but because they do not biodegrade, they represent a serious threat to aquatic life. Small creatures such as plankton eat the microfibres, which then make their way up the food chain to fish and shellfish eaten by humans.

Not only that, the sources of fabric has turned to be unsustainable. Cotton, etc has been exploited lavishly and disrupted normal environmental balances by using excessive pesticides and fertilizers. But now with increased awareness and pressure, some companies have turned to organic cotton.

Campaigns by organizations like Greenpeace has made companies to make changes due to public pressure too.

The UN is also making a difference by providing a platform through Climate Neutral Now (CNN) campaign. 

With the help of the UN, the world?s USD 2.5 trillion USD fashion industry is shifting to more sustainable business models which can help fight climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Shifting practices in the fashion industry to reduce carbon emissions is key to limiting warming to as close to 1.5?C above pre-Industrial Revolution levels, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.