Hello again!
It’s nearing the end of February and still snowing here in Utah. I don’t mind……for now :) The 4 seasons are beautiful and remind me of the natural ebb and flow of life.
Eventually, though, my thoughtful regard for winter will turn into grumpiness and I'll be ready for sunnier skies and warmer temps.
My birthday is also this month :) Which means a Red Robin Mountain High Mud Pie is coming my way.
See right there where it says fan fave? Yeah, that's cause it's the best dessert on the face of the planet.
If you don’t agree…..it’s ok. We’re all entitled to our own opinion……
Anyway, the topic for this month’s blog post came from the owner of Conscious Fashion Collective, an online platform for all things conscious fashion. Much of their content is accessible for free, but they also offer extra benefits, resources and events in their monthly membership, and this content came because of said membership).
So thank you to Elizabeth for bringing this topic to my attention!
Inside the Circle platform for CFC members, Elizabeth’s post read: Big News: EU’s Anti-Greenwashing Legislation (+ key points to know)
Now, let’s get something straight right outta the gate.
My interest level in the law……..government…….legislation…..anything having to do with these topics is extremely low., (despite the fact that I believe legal actions do need to be in place to help the apparel industry make progress). But I’ve never been a political person, I find it hard to relate to those who want to go through law school or become a tax pro….work in government….. All the legal stuff. It just all seems like thee most boring thing on the face of the planet.
So I have MAD RESPECT for those who do this type of work!
Cause I’d rather watch paint dry.
An opinion I’ve always been hesitant to share, as I hate to hold stereotypical qualities of “fashionistas").
But thank goodness for people out there who have a passion for this! We rely on you!
Now, having said all that, it should give you, the reader, an understanding of my “agenda,” or lack thereof. I write about this topic from the experience of someone who doesn’t have a lot of faith in the law. I’m not here to push certain agendas but to finally give some time and thought to a topic long overdue. Who knows? Maybe I’ll feel differently after deep diving. But as of right now, it’s safe to say, you won’t find me in a library studying for the Bar.
My disinterest in government led to me feeling overwhelmed when I saw Elizabeth’s post. And even though I’ve been dismissive of government my whole life, the fact remains that many businesses won’t do “the right thing” unless there are severe, tactile consequences. I.E. laws in place that will shut them down and throw them in prison unless they adhere.
“Dumping hazardous liquids into a river? Sure! Convince people a product is all natural? Why not?! Make unbelievably cheap products with child labor? (I'm talking to you Temu).
If it keeps costs down, let’s try to get away with it!”
The fashion industry is notorious for unethical practices like this. So let’s explore this Anti-Greenwashing legislation which I will be reading and processing in real time, as I write this.
Elizabeth’s link opens up to the European Parliament’s News page in an article dated 1-17-2024 titled:
My first thoughts: What are MEPs? Quick Google search. Ah, duh- Member of the European Parliament.
(As embarrassing as that was to admit, I really did have to look it up).
Anyway, the main points highlighted are:
As I read on, it all seems very reasonable.
Steps in the right direction! Since one of the biggest issues in fashion are vague, unsubstantiated ”sustainability” claims that lead people to think products are better than they really are.
Most folks have heard of “sustainable fashion,” but their main takeaway after seeing this term are things like organic cotton or even made in the U.S.A.
The article goes on to read:
…...I like the sound of this because from the moment I stepped into this sector of the industry, a love/hate relationship has bloomed between me and these buzzwords.
I mean, come on- ask anyone on the street what any of these words mean and most responses are
“Uhhhh, I don’t know…..it’s better for the planet….?”
Or,
“Oh, it’s just a marketing play.”
So, for a government to step in and say enough is enough sounds fantastic. But what about the U.S.? This is only for the European Union. Why aren’t these laws being passed here? What about the fine print? What are the consequences if not followed? Will people become more aware of marketing and actually notice these changes?
The next steps read:
Uhhhh…..24 months to transpose it into national law…?! I know these types of things take time but geez… Fashion isn’t the only industry slow to progress……..
Elizabeth Joy shared her thoughts on the news, which I found to helpful in thinking about all of this critically:
Here are my thoughts to address each of Elizabeth’s points.
Durability
The point that stands out to me the most is the mere fact that unfounded durability claims will be banned. How many times have you seen marketing for something like this, and you just think, ”How did they even quantify or test that??”
“A washing machine will last for 5,000 cycles” Ok….Is that the case under normal conditions? To Elizabeth’s point- yes, the full lifecycle of a product needs to be taken into account, which takes years.
Green-hushing
Maybe you thought I meant to spell greenwashing. Nope there is a new word joining the gang. For those of you thinking, “What the heck does that mean?” Let me explain.
I’m left with the same questions as Elizabeth. Will companies choose to say nothing because it will truly be under a legal microscope? Will they scrap all marketing and verbiage out of fear? Will companies extend their “sustainability” positions or departments to allocate for compliance?
“Could it get more difficult to ascertain the companies making genuine progress versus the ones who are not?
This is difficult to say, as conscious fashion is still, in relation to traditional fashion, a new space! I’d say we’re about 10-15 years in, (sustainable fashion growing in awareness and practice), so, for laws to come into place is huge progress!
However, since these are only for the EU, perhaps this side of the pond can learn from the outcomes of these laws. After all, trends trickle down from Europe. It's par for the course for America to take a hint....eventually.
All in all, I’m brand new to dissecting and distilling legislation and this post has left me with more questions than answers. My hope is that over time my ignorance in this arena will dissipate as I do know that these types of laws are needed for substantial progress in this industry.
Who knows, maybe I’ve got a little Elle Woods in me and the law will make its mark in my life just as bright pink made its way into the court rooms.
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