Stella McCartney has partnered with Google to launch a fashion supply chain platform, the Global Fibre Impact Explorer (GFIE), created as a tool to provide companies with data needed to make responsible sourcing decisions. The tool, also developed in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has as its main goal to aid brands in identifying high-risk fibers in their operations helping them to make conscious and sustainable decisions.
Adidas, Allbirds, and H&M Group were among other brands and retailers involved in the testing and refinement of the tool in the process of the pre-launch. The program, which utilizes technology from Google Earth and the Google Cloud, evaluates the risks of the fibers related to environmental factors including air pollution, biodiversity, climate and greenhouse gases, forestry and water use. Risks assessment is available for over 20 different fibre types, including natural and synthetic materials.

The fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to the global climate and ecological crisis, accounting for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.Much of this impact occurs at the raw materials stage of the supply chain, like when cotton is farmed or trees are cut down to create viscose. But when brands source these materials, they often have little to no visibility on the environmental impact of them.

The tool, furthermore, provides brands recommendations for both targeted and regionally-specific risk reduction, with opportunities to work with farmers, products and communities by supporting regenerative agriculture.

See the video presentation of Global Fibre Impact Explorer

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Photo: Stella McCartney during the presentation of Global fibre impact explorer