Fashion has long been synonymous with identity and culture, as well as a sector that encourages big movements in the economy, but its industry is at an inflection point. According to the United Nations, fashion-related companies are responsible for up to 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions, as well as high energy and water consumption and low sustainability data transparency. This weight is beginning to be seen as a challenge, so that the effects of production become visible and traceable.
In Brazil, according to the Fashion Transparency Index, prepared by Fashion Revolution, more than 60% of brands do not disclose complete inventories of gas emissions, and only about 23% inform suppliers of at least one item used as a raw material – the stage where the greatest risks of deforestation, labor exploitation and environmental degradation are detected.
From field to carbon footprint
Amid a scenario of urgent changes and awareness, Future Climate and Almagrino come together in an initiative that connects science, traceability, fashion and purpose.
Future Climate carried out the full carbon footprint of three Almagrino clothing items – a polo shirt, an Oxford shirt and a t-shirt – applying a “cradle to grave” methodology, which takes into account all stages of the chain: cotton growing, spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing, manufacturing, transportation, use and disposal. The results showed different carbon footprint values depending on the part type and production process, accurately revealing the climate impact of each product and reinforcing companies’ commitment to real data, integrity and transparency.
But this was not enough to measure and not report. As a symbol of this movement and all the actions taken, one of the shirts from the Almagrino collection was used by the Future Climate Team during COP30, in Belem. The item, a polo shirt, has its carbon footprint value printed on the sleeves, as well as a QR code that carries information about the entire clothing production chain, right down to the farm where the cotton was grown.
This action represents a concrete way to “set the climate agenda”, combining innovation, purpose and transparent communication. By indicating the number of emissions directly on the item and allowing access to full production information, the initiative demonstrates that transparency and traceability are the path to a more integrated approach to the climate transition. “Wearing a Climate Agenda T-shirt is more than a metaphor, it’s an attitude. At COP30, we want to show that it is possible to turn talk into practice, taking into account the traceability and integrity of our actions right down to the details of what we wear,” said Laura Albuquerque, Executive Director of Climate Affairs at the Future Climate Group.
In the case of the polo shirt, Future Climate’s work showed that production of the garment resulted in the release of 3.21kg of CO2 (carbon dioxide equivalent), from the origin of the cotton to the manufacture of the garment. To measure the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production of a polo shirt, several issues were analysed, including the weight of the cotton fabric, the packaging used in transportation and sales, the distances covered by the product, as well as the use of water and energy at different stages of the process, among other factors.
By measuring his carbon footprint, Almagrino offset the impact of T-shirt production by purchasing carbon credits from the wind energy project of the Rio do Vinto Park, in Rio Grande do Norte.
“At Almagrino, we believe that the future of fashion lies in clarity: from the field to the barn, without hiding anything,” says Pedro Savio, co-founder of Almagrino. “Measuring, communicating and compensating for the carbon footprint of our pieces is part of our DNA and what we want to inspire in this sector.”
Transparency, traceability and purpose
Founded in Cuiabá (MT), Almagrino integrates the entire cotton production chain, from agriculture to clothing. At the “Shirt Farm” located in Campo Verde (MT), an area of 160 hectares is cultivated with special and separated cotton, in addition to using regenerative farming practices, without irrigation. The manufacturing process results in pieces made from premium, traceable cotton.
The partnership between Almagrino and Future Climate translates into a product with a measured carbon footprint, proven traceability and transparent communications, taken to COP30 as a symbol of innovation and climate safety. And the movement doesn’t stop there: In addition to the pieces used at COP30, Almagrino has received enough carbon credits to fully offset the company’s year-round production of clothing, which is approximately 32,000 pieces.
This process reinforces the companies’ commitment to positive-impact and carbon-neutral fashion, demonstrating that transparency can also be worn and that the future of fashion lies in turning talk into practice and purpose into action.