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Faster fashion, more wastage
The clothing company's website lists a
number of measures to reduce
environmental impacts in areas such as
raw material sourcing, manufacturing,
logistics, store decor and packaging. The
store in Hong Kong would donate
leftovers of sample items to Salvation
Army Hong Kong on a monthly basis.
Katarina Kempel, press officer of
H&M, added that although the company
did not have a plan to deal with the
customers' clothes wastage problems, it
encouraged people to recycle and donate
unwanted clothes.
While Zara declined to be interviewed,
Mango referred Varsity to seek answers
for the questions asked from the
company's website, saying that
information not provided in the website
"could be considered confidential".
Their company websites carry corporate environmental policies similar to those listed on H&M's website. But no specific measures to reduce customers' clothes wastage are mentioned.
David Chiu Kam-chiu, acting operations officer of Salvation Army Hong Kong, said consumers regarded environmental protection as the responsibility of the fashion companies, while clothes manufacturers and retailers would not take up full responsibility in the matter because of the costs involved.
Mr Chiu said the government and the public should take effective measures to reduce wastage. Both the environment and the economy would need to be considered when planning and executing sustainable development, he added.
On clothes donation, Mr Chiu said:
"We hope that instead of just wasting (by
not wearing the clothes themselves) they
(the donors) genuinely want to help the
needy."
Milan Station, a local chain store
known for buying and selling second-hand
fashion of luxurious brands, is another
outlet for unwanted items.
The company's manager, Keith Chan Cheuk-fai, said there were customers who bought and sold the same product within a few days or even within a day, as some only used it for a feast or party and others found that they did not like the product soon after the purchase.
From top: Jeanne Tan talks about how fast fashion can worsen the clothes wastage problem; Keith Chan Cheuk-fai has witnessed the transience of fashion;
shoppers reap bags of items on the opening of the first H&M store in Hong Kong; Marcus Yuen Chun-wah warns of the environmental impact of discarded fibres.