Australian fashion industry stalls on ethical practices and sustainability

Sustainable and ethical practices within the Australian fashion industry have stalled, according to the latest report. Baptist World Aid released its eleventh biennial Ethical Fashion Report, which evaluates five hundred brands across forty-eight measures. These measures include governance, supply-chain tracing, supplier relationships, worker empowerment, and environmental sustainability. Brands averaged a score of thirty-one point five points out of a possible one hundred. This represents an improvement of just zero point two per cent over the past two years.

Findings

Many companies make commitments to supply chain improvements but fail to follow through. The report found that ninety-three per cent of companies have policies for workers' rights and sustainability, but many lack visibility beyond direct suppliers. Almost no garment worker in the supply chain receives a living wage. Grievance mechanisms are only accessible to twenty per cent of workers at less than a quarter of the brands. Luxury and premium brands averaged thirty-eight point six three points, scoring only marginally better than fast fashion brands at thirty-seven point nine one points. Thirty-eight per cent of brands used sustainable fibres, up from thirty per cent previously. However, the overall rise in fibre production, particularly petroleum-based synthetics, outpaced environmental benefits.

Responses

Baptist World Aid ethical fashion lead Katherine Halliday said brands are getting better at setting policies but fall short of implementation. Outdoor and technical brands ranked highest, with Patagonia scoring seventy points. Harriette Richards from RMIT University's School of Fashion and Textiles said fast fashion brands struggle to be sustainable due to high production volumes. She noted that natural or recycled fibres can sometimes be used as a greenwashing tactic. Ms Halliday and industry experts are calling for the Modern Slavery Act to be strengthened to require action rather than just reporting.

Context

The Ethical Fashion Report highlights the ongoing struggle to turn corporate promises into real improvements for garment workers globally. Supply chains in the clothing sector often span multiple countries, making oversight difficult for brands. Consumer demand for cheap clothing frequently conflicts with fair wages and safe working conditions. Independent audits and ratings help create transparency in an industry that relies heavily on outsourced manufacturing.