A bill, which has been introduced in both houses of the state legislature, would require large clothing companies to disclose and reduce their environmental footprints.
For greenhouse gases, the emissions reduction targets will be determined by independent energy auditors who, following the guidance of the“It’s really important that you find some of the greatest contributors [to climate change] and address those, because we’ve run out of time,” Assembly Member Anna Kelles, who co-sponsored the bill with state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, told Yahoo News.
“That is a really big chunk of all greenhouse gas emissions,” said Kelles. “If we can change that impact, it is a big step.”: Dyeing fabrics is the second-largest polluter of water globally, and textiles cause approximately 9 percent of annual microplastic ocean pollution. “Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned,” the UNEP says.
Companies that refuse to comply would be barred from selling their products in New York state, one of the largest markets — and easily the most high-profile market — in the country for the fashion industry. Companies that continue selling in New York but don’t meet their targets will be publicly named and shamed by the state attorney general — and fined if they don’t shape up.