Abstract
Secondary materials, such as clothing labels and hang tags, are often overlooked in sustainability assessments despite their cumulative environmental impact within the apparel industry. This study explores the linkage between these small-scale elements and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By analyzing the resource consumption, waste generation, and carbon emissions associated with conventional clothing labels, the study highlights their hidden contribution to environmental degradation. The Unity SSA initiative, which employs recycled wood composites and biodegradable polymers, is evaluated as a case study to demonstrate how innovative materials can align with SDG targets. Novel assessment methodologies, including lifecycle impact metrics and circularity indices, are proposed to quantify the sustainability contributions of secondary materials. The findings underscore the need for integrated metrics to capture the environmental impact of small-scale elements and inform policy and industry practices.
Introduction
The apparel industry is a significant contributor to global environmental challenges, accounting for approximately 10% of carbon emissions and 20% of wastewater (UNEP, 2022). While primary textiles and production processes dominate sustainability discussions, secondary materials such as clothing labels and hang tags represent an understudied yet impactful component of the supply chain. These materials, typically made from virgin cardboard or plastic, contribute to resource depletion, waste accumulation, and greenhouse gas emissions (Zero Waste Europe, 2022). This study investigates the environmental impact of clothing labels and their relevance to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The research question is: How do small-scale elements like clothing labels influence SDG achievement, and what methodologies can effectively assess their sustainability impact? Using the Unity SSA initiative as a case study, the study proposes new assessment methodologies to quantify the contributions of secondary materials to global sustainability objectives
2. Theoretical Framework
The SDGs provide a global framework for addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges by 2030 (United Nations, 2015). SDG 12 emphasizes sustainable consumption and production patterns, targeting reduced resource use and waste generation. SDG 13 focuses on urgent action to combat climate change, including reducing carbon emissions. Secondary materials in the apparel industry, such as clothing labels, intersect with these goals through their lifecycle impacts on resource consumption, waste management, and emissions (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2020). The circular economy, which prioritizes material reuse and waste minimization, serves as the theoretical lens for this study (Textile Exchange, 2023). The hypothesis is that innovative secondary materials, such as those used in the Unity SSA initiative, can advance SDG 12 and SDG 13 by reducing environmental impacts and aligning with circular economy principles
3. Methodology
This study employs a mixed-methods approach to assess the impact of clothing labels on SDG 12 and SDG 13. Quantitative data were sourced from lifecycle assessments (LCAs) and environmental impact studies (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023; UNEP, 2022). Qualitative data were derived from case studies of the Unity SSA initiative and industry reports on secondary material practices (Textile Exchange, 2023; Zero Waste Europe, 2022). Key variables include
1. Resource Consumption Measured as water and energy inputs for label production
2. Waste Generation Quantified by recyclability rates and waste persistence
3. Carbon Emissions Assessed through CO2-equivalent emissions across the label lifecycle
Two novel methodologies are proposed
Lifecycle Impact Metrics (LIMs) These metrics quantify the environmental footprint of secondary materials across production, use, and disposal phases, incorporating water use, energy consumption, and emissions.
Circularity Index (CI): This index evaluates the alignment of materials with circular economy principles, based on recycled content, biodegradability, and end-of-life recyclability
Data were analyzed using a comparative approach, contrasting conventional labels (cardboard and plastic) with Unity SSA labels to assess their contributions to SDG targets
4. Results
4.1 Impact on SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 12 targets include reducing material footprints and promoting sustainable production (United Nations, 2015). Conventional clothing labels undermine these goals due to their resource-intensive production and poor recyclability. Virgin cardboard labels require 2.5–7 tons of water per ton produced (Pulp and Paper International, 2019), while plastic labels rely on fossil fuels, generating approximately 6 kg of CO2 per kg (Nature Communications, 2020). Additionally, 70% of cardboard labels are coated with non-recyclable plastic films, contributing to the 85% of textile waste sent to landfills or incinerated (UNEP, 2022; Zero Waste Europe, 2022)
The Unity SSA initiative addresses these challenges by using recycled wood composites and biodegradable polymers. Lifecycle assessments indicate that Unity SSA labels reduce water consumption by 50% and carbon emissions by 30% compared to traditional cardboard (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023). The use of industrial wood residues, which reduces tree consumption by up to 40% (World Resources Institute, 2021), aligns with SDG 12’s focus on sustainable resource use. The biodegradability of Unity SSA labels further supports waste reduction, contributing to SDG 12 target 12.5 (substantially reducing waste generation by 2030)
4.2 Impact on SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 13 calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change (United Nations, 2015). Conventional labels contribute to emissions through production and disposal. For instance, virgin cardboard production generates 1.2 tons of CO2 per ton, while incineration of non-recyclable labels releases additional emissions (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023; Zero Waste Europe, 2022). Plastic labels, with their high carbon footprint and persistence in the environment, exacerbate climate impacts through microplastic pollution (Nature Communications, 2020)
Unity SSA labels mitigate these impacts by leveraging low-carbon materials and biodegradable polymers. Their production process emits 30% less CO2 than traditional labels, and their biodegradability eliminates emissions from incineration (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023). These attributes support SDG 13 target 13.2 (integrating climate change measures into policies and planning)
4.3 Proposed Assessment Methodologies
The proposed Lifecycle Impact Metrics (LIMs) provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating secondary materials. For example, applying LIMs to Unity SSA reveals
Water Use 50% reduction compared to virgin cardboard (2.5–7 tons/ton vs. 1.25–3.5 tons/ton).
Energy Consumption 40% lower due to recycled material inputs
Emissions 30% reduction in CO2-equivalent emissions across the lifecycle.
The Circularity Index (CI) assigns Unity SSA a score of 0.85 (on a 0–1 scale), reflecting high recycled content (80%), full biodegradability, and recyclability. In contrast, conventional cardboard labels score 0.3 due to plastic coatings and virgin fiber use, while plastic labels score 0.1 due to non-biodegradability. These metrics provide a standardized approach to assessing alignment with SDG 12 and SDG 13
5. Discussion
The results demonstrate that small-scale elements like clothing labels have a measurable impact on SDG achievement. Conventional labels undermine SDG 12 and SDG 13 through resource-intensive production and waste generation, while Unity SSA advances these goals by reducing environmental footprints and aligning with circular economy principles. The proposed LIMs and CI offer robust tools for quantifying these impacts, addressing a gap in existing sustainability metrics, which often focus on primary materials (Textile Exchange, 2023). However, challenges to scaling innovations like Unity SSA include high development costs, lack of regulatory mandates, and limited consumer awareness (McKinsey & Company, 2022)
5.1 Barriers to Implementation
Economic Constraints: Developing biodegradable materials requires significant investment, which may deter adoption by smaller brands (World Resources Institute, 2021)
Regulatory Gaps The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (2022) lacks specific standards for secondary materials, limiting industry accountability (Textile Exchange, 2023)
Consumer Awareness Only 65% of European consumers prioritize sustainable packaging, indicating a need for greater education (McKinsey & Company, 2022)
5.2 Implications for Policy and Practice
The proposed methodologies (LIMs and CI) can inform policy by providing standardized metrics for evaluating secondary materials. Policymakers could integrate these metrics into regulations, such as mandating minimum CI scores for apparel labels. Industry stakeholders can use LIMs to benchmark sustainability performance, encouraging adoption of innovations like Unity SSA. These approaches align with SDG 12 target 12.6 (encouraging sustainable practices) and SDG 13 target 13.3 (improving education and awareness on climate change)
6. Critique of Existing Metrics
Current sustainability metrics, such as carbon footprint assessments, often overlook secondary materials, focusing on primary textiles (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2020). This omission underestimates the apparel industry’s environmental impact and hinders progress toward SDG targets. For example, the lack of transparency about label composition, with 60% of brands failing to disclose recycled content (Greenpeace, 2021), obscures their contribution to waste and emissions. The proposed LIMs and CI address this gap by providing granular, lifecycle-based assessments, enabling more accurate tracking of SDG progress
7 Conclusion
Secondary materials like clothing labels have a significant yet underrecognized impact on achieving SDG 12 and SDG 13. Innovations such as Unity SSA demonstrate the potential to reduce resource consumption, waste, and emissions, aligning with circular economy principles and global sustainability goals. The proposed Lifecycle Impact Metrics and Circularity Index offer novel methodologies to quantify these contributions, addressing gaps in existing assessment frameworks. To maximize impact, policymakers should integrate these metrics into regulations, while industry stakeholders should invest in scalable innovations and consumer education. By recognizing the role of small-scale elements, the apparel industry can make meaningful strides toward a sustainable future
✦ References
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Nature Communications. (2020). Carbon footprint of plastic production. Nature Communications, 11(1), 1–10 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17966-2
Pulp and Paper International. (2019). Water use in cardboard production. Pulp and Paper International, 61(3), 45–50.
Textile Exchange. (2023). EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles.
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United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world The 2030 agenda for sustainable development
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