follows three pillars – economic, environmental and social. Each pillar upholds the goal of sustainability as outlined by the U.S National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 which seeks to “create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations.” The scope of the three pillars embraces sustainability criteria from air quality, to natural resource accounting, to education. To that end, sustainable manufacturing is made with a mindful consideration of these three pillars. Brands that have sustainable manufacturing practices minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources. Sustainable manufacturing also considers employee, community and product safety.

To understand the key concepts of sustainability regarding the fashion and home furnishings industries, it is first important to grasp the differences between the linear economy and the sustainable business models. The linear consumption model follows the growing high demand for cheap clothing. As a result, this overwhelming demand reinforces the ‘take, make, dispose of’ approach to these products’ lifecycles, leading to immense waste. In this model, products are made with unsustainable materials that are ultimately discarded as waste, with no concern for their ecological footprint and consequences, nor the manufacturer’s unfair and unethical labor practices.

Sustainable companies, on the other hand, pride themselves on ethical business practices, quality manufacturing, evidence of humane factory production and company-wide efforts to reduce global production’s negative effects on the environment. One of the key building blocks for any sustainable company is its efforts in supporting and abiding by the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Companies that support sustainability will openly and transparently show consumers that they are supporting the United Nations efforts to create a sustainable world.

LEARN MORE: EPA’s definition of sustainability