The impact of our daily fashion choices- How to design for durability.

Have you ever thought about the environmental impact sitting in your closet? Yes, clothing can still have an impact even when it leaves the factory or shop shelves. This is called the ‘use phase’ of a product. Something our guest Olof Hoverfält is very familiar with.

Olof conducted an extensive study where he documented EVERY single piece of clothing he wore every day (for 3 years!!) - And monitored the amount he used each piece. This taught him a thing or two about the value and environmental impact of the clothing we use. At Ecochain we have seen time and time again with our clients that the use phase in Life Cycle Assessments can be a major contributor to a product's environmental footprint and therefore very important to take into account. Just like Olof found.

In the episode:

• Findings from Olof’s study - why clothing products' use phase can make all the difference;
• Concrete examples of how to pivot to designing for durability;
• And how to invest in value creation in your products rather than gross profit.

Find out more about Olof’s study from this article! 

Don’t forget to connect with our host Hanni Larma on LinkedIn to keep up to date on the latest sustainability topics.

‘Speaking of Sustainability’ is a podcast where we speak to frontrunners, innovators and experts on how they make their field more sustainable.

In our weekly episodes, we share the knowledge, tools, and tactics, that sustainable business leaders need to make an impact.

Our topics range from climate science and environmental regulations to internal engagement on sustainability, environmental footprinting, and design.

Photo by: Russell Elloway