New open source tool will use data to guide the fashion industry towards sustainability

“We cannot wait until 2030 to find out if the world has achieved its sustainability goals. By then it will be too late”. Guided by this wake up call, a new institute was created to help fashion companies make sure they reach the sustainable development goals set by the United Stations and answer to IPCC’s call to significantly reduce carbon emissions over the next 11 years to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5C.

Launched today by Maxine Bédat, founder of extinct conscious fashion brand Zady, the New Standard Institute aims to be a data and innovation hub for the fashion industry and its stakeholders, identifying research gaps and opportunities for improvement as well as developing science-based industry benchmarks.

The new organization plans to create an open source tool with verified data, research and resources to clarify what “sustainability” means and how the industry can go about achieving it, from mapping the supply chain to setting concrete targets for energy, water and chemical management, and finally developing internal policies to measure and report progress.

Consumers are also invited to use the platform to push for change by learning exactly what to demand from their favorite fashion brands. "A recent survey of fashion CEOs found that fashion companies attribute the major responsibility for driving the industry towards sustainability to consumers above any other group”, said Bédat in a statement. That’s why the New Standard Institute is inviting consumers to sign a petition on its website before launching the open source tool. “You have the ability to drive change in this industry”, added Bédat, addressing consumers directly.

Photo: Maxime Bédat, courtesy of New Standard Institute