Viscose, the world’s third most widely used textile fibre, is not intrinsically harmful or polluting; nonetheless, the consequences have recently become extremely concerning. With the fast-fashion industry expanding at a quick rate, much viscose is now produced at a low cost utilizing energy, water, and chemically intensive methods that are impacting both people and the planet.
Approximately 30% of the rayon and viscose used in fashion is derived from pulp produced from endangered and old forests. Li & Fung, a Hong Kong-based global conglomerate, has partnered with Canopy to keep trees out of the viscose and paper packaging manufacturing processes. Canopy is a non-profit environmental organisation dedicated to the preservation of forests, biodiversity, and the climate.
Li & Fung, a global and Asian giant, lends great clout to the CanopyStyle project and the efforts of hundreds of firms to green the viscose supply chain. Through Pack4Good, the firm will also seek to reduce the effect of paper packaging in its shipping and operations. “When a business as crucial as Li &Fung decides to alter their sourcing to preserve the world’s forests and climate, it reverberates across supply chains in all corners of the planet,” says Canopy Executive Director Nicole Rycroft.
