Messe Frankfurt Texpertise Network announced a partnership with the Conscious Fashion Campaign and the UN to integrate the UN’s SDGs into fashion and textile industry operations. The UN SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals that cover areas from poverty to education to climate change and other environmental issues and which the UN hopes to achieve by 2030. Messe Frankfurt is an organizer of trade fairs, congresses and other events. The Messe Frankfurt Texpertise Network initiative is designed to support the SDGs through fashion industry events, including tradeshows, and involving the wider fashion industry. Robert Skinner, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Partnerships, kicked off the presentation pointing out that it takes around 1,800 gallons of water to grow enough cotton to produce just one pair of regular blue jeans. Just this one statistic alone shows the impact the international fashion and textile industry can have on achieving the SDGs, in key areas such as water use, climate change, responsible consumption and production and enabling fair working conditions. [caption id="attachment_101321" align="aligncenter" width="700"] An overview of the conference
Source: Coresight Research [/caption]   Sustainability in production, design and product lifecycle is more than just a marketing tactic. New business models, such as resale, recycling and subscriptions are capturing consumer interest. Around half of global consumers said they would pay more to buy clothing made from natural fibers, according to Skinner. Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board at Messe Frankfurt, added: “We’re very proud to support the Conscious Fashion Campaign and the United Nations Office for Partnerships in the activation and implementation of the goals.” In 2018, the value of sales of sustainable products in Germany climbed 13% to 146 billion euros. Germany is already a big market for sustainably made products, and Messe Frankfurt plans to take the initiative international. Kerry Bannigan, Founder of the Conscious Fashion Campaign, said we need to leverage solutions, scale success stories and implement sustainable business models to secure a future in which no one is left behind.