PEFC's new guide titled: “Enhancing Sustainability through Forest-Positive MMCF Sourcing. A Guide for Fashion Brands and Retailers," aims to help fashion brands and retailers adopt responsible sourcing practices for man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) and highlight the significance of sustainable forest management.
The whitepaper emphasises the need for fashion brands to understand environmental and social risks linked to forests and offers insights into how PEFC's holistic approach to sustainable forest management effectively mitigates them, ultimately promoting the wellbeing and preservation of forest ecosystems.
The whitepaper also provides practical solutions for brands to ensure the traceability of MMCF materials, enabling them to make verifiable claims about their responsible feedstock sourcing practices.
PEFC International's textile programme lead Julia Kozlik said: "We are thrilled to release this whitepaper, addressing the urgent need for responsible sourcing practices in the fashion industry.
"By leveraging the knowledge shared in this paper, fashion brands and retailers can make informed decisions, support sustainable forest management, and preserve biodiversity."
The whitepaper explains the fashion industry relies heavily on natural resources and specialised labour, making it particularly vulnerable to the environmental and social implications that can arise throughout the product value chain.
It also highlights that as MMCFs predominantly originate from forest-based feedstock, it is crucial for fashion brands to be aware of the potential risks that can emerge at the forest level and take proactive measures to address them.
The report points out sustainable forest management encompasses a range of measures to combat key issues such as:
- Biodiversity loss
- Forest degradation
- Deforestation
- Risks to workers and forest communities.
It concludes that by actively supporting sustainably managed forests, fashion brands can contribute to a forest-positive future. This includes safeguarding endangered species, restoring forest ecosystems, promoting biodiversity, preventing deforestation, and ensuring safe and fair working conditions while respecting the rights of Indigenous communities.
