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As pressure increases on businesses to satisfy their high-profile sustainability pledges, regulatory action will drive the agenda this year.
Eco-friendly marketing promises by brands are anticipated to be altered, while measures to enhance textile recycling are expected to gain traction.
The poor economic picture is a dangerous headwind that jeopardizes investments in environmental improvements and labor conditions in the fashion supply chain.
In the next year, regulators will target the industry's glacial progress on climate and labor rights, generating new incentives and dangers for sustainability initiatives.
The fashion industry's glacial progress toward sustainability has come under increased scrutiny in the last year.
Regulators accused large companies of "greenwashing," growing inflation aggravated the already difficult lives of seamstresses, and rising weather extremes underscored the need for immediate action to fulfill global climate change aspirations.
"Our business, like practically all other industries, is falling short of these targets," said Amina Razvi, executive director of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC).
As we approach 2023, the sector is under greater pressure to go beyond obnoxious marketing promises, as regulatory measures will set the agenda this year. At the same time, economic headwinds threaten to undermine progress as the window of opportunity to avert catastrophic
climate change closes.
"As 2023 approaches, we're well into the decade of [implementation and] the need to deliver outcomes," Elisa Niemtzow, vice president of consumer sectors and global membership at consultancy company Business for Social Responsibility, said.
