November 2023
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about making fashion fairer.
The UK supports and wants to encourage sustainable fashion and the Government recognises the importance of buying practices which do not harm the planet.
Fashion is the third-largest manufacturing industry in the world and, by some calculations, it produces up to ten per cent of the world's emissions. According to the Valuing Our Clothes report analysing the contents of British wardrobes by the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP), we purchased 1,130,000 tonnes of new clothing last year in the UK. Meanwhile, an estimated £30 billion worth of our clothing hangs about gathering dust because people simply do not have time to wear it all or do not really like what they are buying.
That is why the Government's Resources & Waste Strategy for England identified textiles as a priority sector for action. Government funds Textiles 2030, a voluntary partnership with industry to reduce the environmental impact of textiles, with signatories covering over 62 per cent of all clothing put on the UK market. This initiative is driving forward action on design, circular business models and recycling.
The Government is also clear that it expects all UK businesses, including the fashion industry, to respect human rights throughout their operations, in line with the UN Guiding Principles. Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act places a requirement on businesses with a turnover of £36 million or more, to publish an annual modern slavery statement setting out the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains. The "Work in Freedom" programme has supported 433,650 women and girls in the garment sector in South Asia, Lebanon and Jordan with training and access to services since 2018.
Since October 2020, a wide group of stakeholders, comprising retailers, manufacturers and non-profit organisations have also been working with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority to address poor practice and working conditions.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Best wishes,
Angela Richardson MP
Member of Parliament for Guildford, Cranleigh and our villages