Circularity in Fashion: Incorporating Social and Inclusive Narratives

A gender lens approach in circularity can greatly benefit companies to identify solutions that can help them move toward SDG12, while also focusing on SDG5 and SDG8 and contributing to SDG1 and SDG 9. A great deal of importance has been given to understanding the environmental impact of the fashion industry and why the shift to circularity is important. Understanding based on circularity models such as recycling, rental, repair etc. But its also pivotal to consider the social dimension of this shift in this highly feminized and global value chain that goes to the grassroots level. Until now a tool to measure the social dimension in çircularity has been missing. Therefore, a special framework has been designed for businesses and advocates of sustainable fashion to understand the social impact of their operations. The session will coalesce with a fireside chat with 2 circular SMEs to discuss their challenges in incorporating social elements into their circular practice. The outcome of the session should be to provide evidence why it is important to work on a social-circular framework for change. It will show how a new tool can help companies/policymakers achieve different SDG such as, SDG1 (No Poverty), SDG5 (Gender Equality), SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), along with SDG12 (Responsible Production & Consumption).