In 2020, the British Fashion Council launched their world-leading sustainability programme, The Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF). Its mission is to establish a resilient, responsible fashion and textiles UK economy, with a focus on decarbonisation and the circular economy. The IPF Forum is an annual, action-oriented conference designed to galvanise the British fashion industry to achieve a circular fashion ecosystem in the UK by 2030. Deloitte is proud to act as the Delivery Collaborator at the event and the IPF annual forum report.

With the 2030 climate targets looming, the urgency for transformative change has never been greater. This year's Forum brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, from leading designers and brands to policymakers, innovators, and consumers, with the purpose of addressing critical challenges and exploring collaborative solutions. The discussions were wide-ranging, covering everything from circular business models and supply chain transparency to the role of technology in driving sustainability and the importance of social responsibility.

The Forum delved into three core pillars, each crucial for building a resilient and responsible fashion industry:

• Driving circularity: Reimagining design, sourcing, and manufacturing to minimise waste, enhance product longevity, and maximise material reuse. Discussions included exploring circular business models, design for disassembly, and the role of technology in enabling circularity.
• Decarbonising fashion: Strategies for reducing emissions across the entire value chain, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life management. The Forum examined the importance of data transparency, aligning with national climate targets, and leveraging innovative technologies for emissions reduction.
• Empowering positive social change: Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the industry and harnessing fashion's power to create positive social impact. Discussions included the importance of fair labour practices, community engagement, and responsible consumption.

In response to the discussions and solutions explored at the Forum, Deloitte and the British Fashion Council completed a report that outlines the key learnings and actions from government, citizens and businesses.

Key takeaways include:

• Embrace sustainability holistically: Integrate sustainability into core business strategies, fostering transparency, collaborating across the value chain, and setting measurable targets and transparent progress reporting.
• Prioritise circularity: Design for durability, repairability, and recyclability. Explore circular business models like rental, resale, and repair services to maximise product value, extend product lifecycles, minimise waste and foster long-term customer relationships.
• Demand supply chain transparency: Advocate for and implement transparency and traceability throughout your supply chain, disclosing information on material sourcing, manufacturing processes, and labour practices.
• Champion conscious consumption: Educate consumers about the environmental and social impact of their choices, promoting responsible purchasing decisions and supporting sustainable brands.
• Collaborate for systemic change: Engage in cross industry partnerships to develop innovative solutions, share best practices, and advocate for supportive policies and regulations that accelerate the transition to a sustainable fashion industry.

Download the full report to delve deeper into the discussions, explore the key findings, and discover how you can contribute to this vital transformation.