"High-Carbon Industries Like Fashion Also Embrace Eco-Friendly Trends... Companies and Government Must Respond"

KITA International Trade and Commerce Research Institute, Report on 'Essential Environmental ESG Era, Eco-friendly Trends and Implications in the Fashion Industry'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] There has been a recent spread of eco-friendly trends even in the high-carbon fashion industry, prompting calls for swift responses from Korean fashion companies and the government.

The Korea International Trade Association's Institute for International Trade and Commerce analyzed this in its report titled "The Essential Environmental ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) Era: Eco-friendly Trends and Implications in the Fashion Industry," released on the 20th.

The fashion industry is considered a representative high-carbon sector causing environmental pollution due to the production of polyester fibers, a petrochemical product, and the disposal of excess inventory clothing. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, countries worldwide have been implementing policies for transitioning to a low-carbon economy and carbon neutrality. Additionally, the emergence of the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), who are willing to pay more for "sustainable fashion," has ushered in an era where eco-friendliness is essential in the fashion industry.

The report explained the changes in fashion industry trends caused by this movement by dividing them into three stages: "textiles (upstream) - dyeing and processing (midstream) - finished product manufacturing and distribution (downstream)."

In the upstream sector focused on textiles, the use of recycled polyester fibers, plant-based, and synthetic materials is expected to increase. Although recycled polyester fibers are more expensive due to additional processes such as material collection, sorting, and washing compared to regular polyester fibers, the report explained that not only physical recycling but also chemical recycling will become possible once the technology is commercialized, making it more effective for environmental protection. Furthermore, with overseas legislation banning fur sales and famous brands discontinuing fur use, the "vegan fashion" industry, which replaces animal-based materials with plant-based and synthetic materials, is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 13.6% until 2027.

In the midstream dyeing process, 15-20% of the world's wastewater is generated. In response, the industry is focusing on developing new technologies such as natural dyeing, waterless dyeing, and microbial dyeing. In the downstream sector, eco-friendly fashion specialized platforms have begun to emerge in the market, and companies utilizing digital technologies such as 3D sample production and virtual fitting rooms for smooth distribution, sales, and inventory management, as well as secondhand trading and subscription economy platform companies, have appeared.

Yang Ji-won, a researcher at the Trade Association, stated, "Our companies need to enhance competitiveness through the development of eco-friendly fiber technologies and product differentiation, promote harmony among the three elements of material-product-brand, and establish an organic value chain structure through collaboration between companies." He added, "The government also needs to revise regulations related to the disposal of single-use items such as plastics, which are raw materials for recycled fibers, and provide meticulous support across the industry, including product manufacturing, overseas expansion, and investment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.