Speak like a sustainable fashionista. A beginner's glossary

Have you noticed how everyone talks about sustainability in the fashion industry, but the terms they use sometimes don’t make much sense? With so much information out there, the way we talk about sustainability is getting messier.  

People throw around words like carbon neutrality, net-zero emissions, and SBTs, but let’s be honest, most of the time, they don’t really know what they mean.  

To make sure that’s not you, we’ve put together a simple glossary with key concepts. So next time you’re in a conversation about fashion and sustainability, you can actually sound like you know what you’re talking about:

A

• 2030 Agenda: The 2030 Agenda is a global action plan adopted by the United Nations to promote sustainable development. It includes the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Abiotic depletion: The consumption of non-renewable fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal to generate energy for production.

C

• Carbon neutrality: Balancing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted with an equivalent amount of carbon offset or removed from the atmosphere.
• Cradle-to-gate: It refers to the assessment of a product's environmental impact from the extraction of raw materials (the "cradle") to the point it leaves the manufacturer (the "gate").

D

• Decarbonization: The process of reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, particularly from human activities.
• Digital Product Passport (DPP): Originally defined in the European Ecodesign Regulation, this tool is designed to electronically record, process, and share information between companies in the supply chain, authorities, and consumers.

E

• Ecodesign: Designing products with minimal environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.
• Eutrophication: The excessive release of phosphates and nitrates, leading to harmful algal growth that disrupts ecosystems.

G

• Global warming: The greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout the supply chain, contributing to climate change.

I

• Industry standard: Conventional alternative on the market, with the same characteristics, weight, and functionality.
• ISO 14040 standard: This standard outlines the principles and framework for conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCA).
• ISO 14044 standard: This standard provides guidelines for conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), focusing on the requirements for assessing the environmental impact of products and services.

L

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Methodology used to evaluate the environmental impact of a garment or product throughout its entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction and production to use and disposal.

N

• Net-zero emissions: Balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed from it.

O

• Organic materials: Substances derived from natural sources that are grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, or fertilizers.

P

• Plant-based sources: Materials that have been collected, processed, and reused from waste products, rather than being created from new raw resources.

R

• Recycled materials: Materials that have been collected, processed, and reused from waste products, rather than being created from new raw resources.

S

• Science-Based Targets (SBTs): Emissions reduction goals set by companies based on climate science, aiming to limit global warming to 1.5°C to 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A set of 17 global objectives adopted by the United Nations to address urgent social, environmental, and economic challenges. They aim to promote prosperity, equality, and sustainability by 2030.
• Synthetic fibers: Man-made materials created from petrochemicals, such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic.

T

• Tier 1: Manufacturing is defined as the last processing step before obtaining a product. It includes the assembly of all the processed materials into a functional product.
• Tier 2: Material finishing and article finishing. Material finishing enhances the look, feel, and functionality of materials through mechanical or chemical processes. Similarly, article finishing improves the final product using similar techniques. Both can be done individually or in batches to refine the overall quality and performance.
• Tier 3: Raw material processing and material processing. Raw material processing is the first step in a product’s lifecycle, like spinning fibers for fabrics. Material processing then transforms these raw materials into usable forms, such as weaving or knitting fabrics, tanning leather, or molding plastics and rubber.
• Tier 4: Raw material extraction. This is the first step in the supply chain, where raw materials are sourced in their natural state. In fashion, this includes growing crops like cotton and hemp, breeding animals for leather and wool, or extracting oil for polyester. The raw materials can be virgin (new) or recycled/reused.
• Traceability: The ability to track and verify the entire journey of a product, from raw materials to production and distribution, ensuring transparency in the supply chain.

W

• Water consumption: The total amount of freshwater used throughout the product value chain, including surface and groundwater sources such as lakes, rivers, and aquifers.
• Water scarcity: The impact of water use on human communities and ecosystems, measuring the depletion of available water resources.

Do you feel like we missed any terms in this glossary? Don’t worry, something tells us we’ll need to expand it soon. At BCome, we want you to speak with knowledge and confidence. We're here to help you be a part of the sustainable transformation of your business:

• The fashion market is declining: Where will growth come from?
• Everything you need to know about LCA in fashion
• 10 rules to avoid greenwashing in your fashion brand's messaging