Fashion emissions rise for second year as cheap polyester undermines climate pledges

The fashion industry's greenhouse gas emissions rose 6.3% in the latest reporting period, following a 7.5% increase the year before, pushing total sector emissions to 1 gigaton, roughly Japan's annual footprint. The main driver is the continued dominance of cheap virgin polyester, which undercuts recycled alternatives and keeps production scaling with revenue growth. Even as the number of brands with science-based targets grew from 100 to over 700, emissions kept climbing, exposing a gap between marketing and operational reality. Apparel Impact Institute research cited in the article projects global fashion profits could drop 34% by 2030 due to climate-driven supply chain disruptions and rising operational costs. The report also highlights Burberry's decision to push its net-zero target from 2040 to 2050 as evidence that some legacy brands are retreating from earlier timelines. Until material consumption is decoupled from revenue growth, sector-wide climate commitments will remain difficult to achieve.