Biodegradable

Where the materials used to create clothes and products naturally break down over time thanks to organisms in the environment, without causing any harm to the planet.

Carbon neutral

Working towards carbon neutrality means aiming for garments to have less of an impact on the planet, by minimising and counteracting carbon emissions. “Being carbon neutral means that the amount of carbon dioxide produced (from doing things like burning fossil fuels) is equal to or less than the amount of carbon dioxide being captured or taken away from the environment,” explains Lisa Sexton, founder of Bolt Beauty, a brand with sustainability at its core. “Carbon neutrality is about ensuring that the carbon dioxide we emit through our practices or lifestyles is zero. It’s a term that can be applied to brands, other businesses and even individuals.”

Carbon footprint

Carbon footprint is a way to measure the amount of carbon dioxide put into our atmosphere, either by an individual, a business, an organisation or a whole community.

Circularity

Circularity occurs when every part of a garment’s life span is cyclical, ultimately leaving less of an impact on the environment. This begins with sustainable design, followed by fair and ethical production and, when a piece has become worn, ensuring its next stage is responsibly taken care of – from repair and redesign, to rental and the second-hand sales market.

Eco-anxiety

Eco-anxiety is defined as “a chronic fear of environmental doom”, which occurs when the worry about climate change takes over your daily thoughts and day-to-day life.

Greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect occurs when gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap the heat from the sun, heating up our planet. When at its natural level, this is vital for life to survive on our planet. However, burning fossil fuels – such as coal and oil – puts more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere and changes Earth’s natural levels.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is when brands make themselves appear eco-conscious on the surface, without making the vital changes needed to do so. Model and environmental activist Arizona Muse previously told Bazaar that she believes we need to redefine the term as times change. “Greenwashing is anything that is promoting something that you have not yet done,” she explains. “Greenwashing is creating this information which is completely misleading for consumers who are just trying to educate themselves. It is making it more difficult for everyone.”

IPCC

IPCC stands for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – a United Nations body that assesses the science behind climate change. It releases important reports on the current climate crisis, including its impact, future risk and how we can reduce its rate.

Net Zero

Net Zero is when greenhouse gases – including carbon dioxide and methane – that end up in our atmosphere are balanced out by removal or offsetting.

Organic

If a garment is organic it means that it has been made from natural materials, without the use of harmful chemicals. You might spot organic cotton on the rails, for example, which been made without using any process that’s detrimental to the environment.

Traceability

“Traceability describes the process of tracing the origins, movement, and evolution of products and materials,” TrusTrace, a platform for supply-chain transparency and product traceability within the fashion and retail industries, explains. “It sounds simple enough, but in reality, traceability is incredibly complicated to achieve, especially for large brands with thousands of products and suppliers along the value chain, spread across multiple continents.”

Upcycling

Upcycling is taking old garments and giving them a new lease of life, by redesigning and reworking it into a completely new item. This is important when thinking about sustainability, as it preserves new or raw materials from being used, as well as reduces the amount of water and energy needed to produce brand-new clothing.