Product Environmental Footprint

All fibres deserve a fair environmental rating. To achieve this, rating methods must resolve inherent bias against natural fibres, the International Wool Textile Organisation has told lawmakers as part of a consultation on forthcoming European legislation. What's at stake? Loss of credibility with consumers. While a harmonised approach to measuring the environmental performance of products is desirable, the system must be meaningful and accurate. Only then will it have the intended result of identifying truly sustainable products, IWTO said. IWTO responded to a consultation that was part of a wider initiative being developed by the European Commission. The initiative will lead to legislation on the environmental claims companies will be allowed to make about their products and services. Ensuring a level playing field for natural fibres The wool industry has been proactive in identifying the limitations of current environmental assessment methods. Research led by the industry led to a

Merino wool sheep in South Africa Reviewers of a leading environmental impact tool for apparel find that its systems must improve, or it risks producing misleading results. A number of environmental impact tools have been developed in recent years.  These tools aim to measure the environmental footprint of apparel products. One such tool is the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Material Sustainability Index (MSI). It is one of the suite of tools in the Higg Index. Dr Stephen Wiedemann and Dr Kalinda Watson of Integrity AG & Environment (Australia) reviewed the MSI with specific reference to fabrics made from natural fibres, making several key recommendations. These recommendations would bring the Higg tool into alignements with ISO standards, and establish a level playing field for rating both natural and syntheric fibres. Read the full review in the peer-reviewed journal Sustainability. Where the MSI Needs to Improve In their review, Drs Wiedemann