Fashion brands failing to clean up viscose production

What do luxury brands such as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior have in common with low-cost retailers Walmart, Matalan and Boohoo?

Answer: They are all failing to tackle pollution in their viscose supply chains – causing huge harm to ecosystems and local communities at production sites in India, China, and Indonesia.

Viscose is the third most commonly used fibre in the world, popular for its ability to replicate the properties of silk and cotton.

Being made from trees and plants means viscose has huge potential to be a sustainable alternative to oil-derived synthetics such as polyester and water-hungry natural fibres such as cotton. However, viscose has become synonymous with deforestation, the dumping of untreated wastewater and the use of toxic chemicals that pollute water, air and soil around factories and cause severe health impacts for workers and local communities.

And new analysis carried out by the Dirty Fashion campaign from Changing Markets Foundation has shown that the majority of retailers are failing to act to clean up their viscose supply chains.

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