According to a recent report, fashion brands are missing a valuable opportunity by not prominently displaying the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) on their labels.

PEFC is a leading global alliance of national forest certification systems. They endorse national forest certification systems developed through multi-stakeholder processes and tailored to local priorities and conditions.

Despite the prevalence of forest-sourced materials in the textile industry, certifications indicating sustainable sourcing are rarely seen on clothing labels. While paper packaging often bears the PEFC label, clothing certifications are rare.

PEFC’s recent event, Textile Exchange conference in London highlighted that nearly 7% of raw materials in textile manufacturing come from trees.

Julia Kozlik, PEFC’s market engagement manager and textile program lead, said, “The textile sector relies almost twice as much on raw materials from trees as it does from wool in terms of quantity.”

Man-made cellulosic fibers (MMCFs) predominantly originate from forests, understanding and promoting sustainable forest management is crucial for fashion brands.

As per Julia Kozlik, the importance of a responsible sourcing policy for brands using wood-based materials to ensure sustainability.

While many fashion brands have shifted to paper-based packaging as a perceived environmentally friendly alternative to plastic, Kozlik cautioned that the sustainability of wood-based materials must also be considered.

Besides, sourcing all tree-based materials from sustainably managed forests can positively impact deforestation and reduce the overall carbon footprint of apparel products.

Notably, sustainable forest certification has a positive impact on a product’s overall footprint.

For this, PEFC certifications are proudly displayed on food and stationery packaging, the fashion sector lags behind in promoting its commitment to sustainable sourcing.

There has been a notable positive shift in the last two years, with fashion brands increasingly recognizing the importance of sustainable forest certification.