The challenge
Fashion and construction are among the top three economic sectors contributing to pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land degradation, water pollution, and threats to biodiversity. Fashion generates more GHG emissions than all global transport combined, while construction significantly impacts water pollution, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and chemical pollution.
The fashion industry, particularly during dyeing and finishing processes, is energy-intensive and emits significant GHGs. Additionally, fashion consumption and care contribute to climate impacts and microplastic pollution.
In construction, pollution hotspots include natural resource extraction, material production, and various stages of the value chain, with GHG emissions primarily from material production, transport, and construction activities.
Both sectors also produce substantial waste, and previous efforts to make them more sustainable have seen limited success. Circular economy initiatives face challenges due to hazardous chemicals in products, hindering recycling efforts and limiting actions to address the broader environmental impacts of these sectors.
Our solution
Financed by the Global Environment Facility the Supply Chains Integrated Program (Supply Chains IP) which spans eight countries, aims to eliminate the environmental degradation caused by globally significant supply chains by enabling their greening, becoming zero pollution and zero waste, nature based and carbon neutral.
The Supply Chains IP supports countries in introducing digital technologies and incorporating design and resource extraction choices for less hazardous chemicals at all stages in the life cycle, from fibre or resource extraction, through to end of life and designing for reuse, repurposing, recycling, remanufacturing, refurbishing and repair.
UNEP’s vision for the Supply Chains IP is built on strong inter-Agency cooperation with UNDP, UNIDO, and FAO as Implementing Agencies, and on strengthening the links with other partners and stakeholders to eliminate the environmental degradation caused by globally significant supply chains.
The Supply Chains IP spans eight countries: Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador, Peru, Mongolia, Pakistan, India and Cambodia
Disclaimer: The inclusion of non-UN events on this map does not imply full endorsement or participation by UNEP, UN-Habitat or other UN agencies.
For more information, contact:
Kevin Helps Portfolio Manager, Chemicals & Waste
