In the race against climate change, partnership and collaboration are vital in the transition to Net Zero.
This is why Envision Racing were delighted to team up with its partner, Superdry, ahead of the recent London E-Prix for the latest Race Against Climate Change: Live event.
Leading figures from business, sport and fashion came together to share ideas about how collaboration between the worlds of sport and fashion can accelerate a more sustainable future for sport and the clothing industry, and how innovation can play a key role in reducing the collective impact on our planet.
The summit, which took place at London’s Tobacco Dock, pulled no punches about the scale of the urgent challenge we face, with the world set to breach the 1.5C climate threshold by 2027, according to the World Meteorological Organisation. But guests also heard about the outstanding, pioneering innovation taking place in the apparel industry and in motorsport to alleviate the impact of climate change and help the world in the transition towards Net Zero.
The Superdry event was kicked off by Andres Bragagnini, Manager of Stakeholder Engagement at the Apparel Impact Institute. He highlighted how the textiles industry, Formula E, the broader sports industry and automotive industry have so much in common, when it comes to managing change to reduce their carbon footprints, with interconnected global supply chains and similar energy, logistical, transport, social and environmental challenges.
The fashion industry faces formidable challenges to become sustainable. The industry is one of the most polluting in the world, accounting for around 10% of emissions. If nothing changes, by 2050 the industry will use up to a quarter of the world’s carbon budget. The process of dying textiles is the second worst water polluter worldwide; it takes 2,000 gallons of water just to make one pair of jeans.
Against this difficult background, the fashion industry is making significant progress towards a target to reduce net emissions by 45% by 2030, explained Bragagnini. The Apparel Impact Institute (AII) has been working with hundreds of factories in countries like China, Bangladesh and India to improve production process and supply chains in the quest for sustainability. The organisation is leading with initiatives such as the Fashion Climate Fund, which improve access to finance for factories in some of the poorest parts of the world to invest in new technologies.
Superdry, the UK fashion brand, agreed a multi-year partnership with Envision Racing at the start of 2024, supplying the racing team’s high-performance clothing made with sustainable products. As one of three guest speakers in a fascinating panel debate around sustainable fashion solutions, Shaun Packe, COO of Superdry, explained how the partnership was the latest stage in his company’s journey to improve the way it operates.
“We make and sell apparel so we are not sustainable,” said Packe.
“All we can do is think about how we can reduce our impact. We started about four years ago and we have made good progress. About two-thirds of all the garments we sold last year are lower impact, with significant material difference to our normal products.
“We now recycle over 70 million plastic bottles into our garments.”
Speakers also included Joanna Czutkowna, Managing Director of 5Thread, who specialises in circularity in sports apparel. Joanna welcomed new EU legislation intended to improve supply chains and enhance sustainability in fashion.
“Some companies have taken voluntary action which has created an unlevel playing field,” Czutkowna said.
“Some people say, ‘We have been doing this for years and it is costing us a lot of money.’ Other retailers are coming on board who aren’t really doing anything. It is important to have that standardisation and that clarity for all brands to meet. I just hope the UK can get onboard in bringing in the EU legislation.”
Joining them on the panel, Pierrick Beraud, Global Head of Sustainable Finance at Univers, said: “Every single technology required to decarbonise the industry exists.
“Solutions are there, whether it is software, hardware, or transforming the manufacturing process. However, the question is whether they are scalable. Is the funding there, and who pays the bill? This is typically where the challenges lie.”
Closing the event with a talk about his personal experience of climate change as a professional sportsperson, Envision Racing driver Sébastien Buemi discussed how important it was to feel comfortable in his team clothing whatever the conditions, while also knowing that they have been designed and manufactured in a sustainable way.
“You want something that looks good, something that is sustainable,” Buemi said.
“At Envision we are always trying to do our best to contribute in a sustainable way.”
He went on to announce the launch of a sustainable fashion pledge as part of Envision Racing’s online fan engagement platform, which will encourage sports fans and fashion enthusiasts alike to pledge to make better, more sustainable choices around the clothes they wear and how they dispose of them.
In the fight against climate change, the collaboration between Envision Racing and Superdry, as well as the industry leaders participating in the event, showcased the power of partnership in advancing towards Net Zero. The launch of the sustainable fashion pledge exemplifies the ongoing commitment to sustainability, encouraging individuals to make conscious choices in their fashion consumption.
This collaboration not only inspires hope but also sets a tangible example of how united efforts can drive meaningful change in the race against climate change.
